Is Roberto Duran the best lightweight of all time?

[rocco1252]

200 fights says something!

[leoz12]

no doubt duran rules

[DMikeS4321]

Sugar Ray (the REAL Sugar Ray)?

The only real alternative to Duran as greatest lightweight ever would be Sugar Ray Robinson, but I don't think he could stay with Duran. Roberto Duran in his prime was simply a force of nature. As a lightweight, I don't think anyone could beat him.

[DMikeS4321]

Brain fart; don't know what I was thinking (or NOT thinking)... Sugar Ray didn't fight professionally as a lightweight, making my point ****** and moot. But, I guess that cements Duran's position, doesn't it?

[PerfectPunch]

it does, theres no doubt about it duran is the best and greatest lightweight in the history of boxing

[Yogi]

Brain fart; don't know what I was thinking (or NOT thinking)... Sugar Ray didn't fight professionally as a lightweight, making my point ****** and moot. But, I guess that cements Duran's position, doesn't it?

Suck that brain fart of yours back in, don't be too hard on yourself, and take a look at The Ring's lightweight rankings for Nov. of 1941;

Champion: Lew Jenkins

1: RAY ROBINSON
2: Sammy Angott
3: Jackie Wilson
4: Davey Day
5: Dave Castilloux
6: George Latka
7: Ray Lunny
8: Harry Hurst
9: Nick Castiglione
10: Maxie Shapiro

Robinson defeated some of those fighters very early in his career (which was spent as a lightweight), including Sammy Angott, who just a few short months later defeated Lew Jenkins for the world championship.

[DMikeS4321]

Wow, good knowledge, and thank you very much. I thought I remembered something way back in the dim, dark reaches of my reptilian brain. So, what if...??

[DMikeS4321]

Hey Yogi, you know your ****. Tell me, do you remember a fighter named Chuck Davies? He was a friend of my Dad's; went to college together. He was a hot prospect until he got seriously thumped by Kid Gavilan.

[Yogi]

Hey Yogi, you know your ****. Tell me, do you remember a fighter named Chuck Davies? He was a friend of my Dad's; went to college together. He was a hot prospect until he got seriously thumped by Kid Gavilan.

I can't write a bio on him or anything, but sure I remember Chuck Davey and even have his fight with Gavilan on tape...Chuck Davey was a good welterweight contender back in the 50's (a quick handed and talented southpaw, who beat guys like Graziano and Basilio to earn a high ranking as a welterweight contender) and was certainly a very popular TV attraction since quite a few of his fights were shown live on the old Gillette series. Some of that popularity alluded to something you mentioned, and that was the fact that he was a pro boxer at the same time he was also a college student. That's pretty rare no matter the era you're fighting in, but especially in the 50's when it was even more so...Davey had an interesting story, for sure, and it made for good TV back in the day (also helped out by Chuck reportedly being one helluva nice guy!).

He wasn't an all-time great or anything like that, but Chuck Davey had a boxing career that he could certainly be very proud of...and I'd bet that 99% of all fighters throughout history wished they had a boxing career like him.

[brownpimp88]

I am surprised no one has mentioned pernell whitaker. He is by far the most skilled fighter at lightweight. Head movement, footwork, combos, jab, defence. This guy would have given carlos ortiz major problems, and i know that in a head to head matchup he would beat benny leonard. Sorry, but pernell whitaker is the best lightweight that ever lived cuz he has the most skills. The guys he defended his welterweight belt against are better than the ones armstrong fought, hell didnt armstrong defend his belt against a guy with losing record, lol.