Greatest Light Heavyweight of all time ?

[luke_ski]

Going by pure record, Michael Moorer (knocked out every guy he faced at LHW) was THE guy. Shows what records mean eh?

Btw... Good call on Ezzard Charles. Man's a legend. Although I've always thought of him as a Heavyweight.

[javelin_fangs]

who was the best light heavyweight of all time and why?

Bob Foster because he fought tall and caught everyone no matter the style they had at the end of his right cross. Unlike many of the so called action fighters today, Foster didn't need guys to stand in front of him to get rid of them. Foster was the greatest.

[Scott9945]

Ahh.....Saad is one of the most exciting fighters ever. He was a very good light heavyweight, but I wouldn't put him up there among the greatest light-heavyweights ever like Foster, Charles, Moore, Spinks, etc...

His first fight with Marvin Johnson is one of my favorite fights ever.

Both of his fights with Johnson were tremendous. Did you ever see his one punch KO over Lotte Mwale? Once of the best ever.

[Thread Stealer]

Both of his fights with Johnson were tremendous. Did you ever see his one punch KO over Lotte Mwale? Once of the best ever.

I missed that one. Uppercut, right?

The best uppercut ever thrown IMO (or at least that I've seen) was Spinks-Johnson.

[crold1]

Ezzard Charles and it's not really that close. Beat Moore three times with a stop, Burley twice, Marshall 2 of 3 (or 4?) with stops...Foster was solid but his opp was weak at 175 for the most part. Spinks is right there battling for two as is Moore.

[Scott9945]

I missed that one. Uppercut, right?

The best uppercut ever thrown IMO (or at least that I've seen) was Spinks-Johnson.

Yeah, it was a devastating uppercut that nearly decapitated the guy. I didn't even see it until a few years ago when someone sent me a tape. But I remember seeing the one you mentioned on live TV. That was a strong era for lightheavies.

[FRKO]

Gene Tunney

Yep, that guy was something else.

[crold1]

Tunney would be a solid choice for 2 as well; can't rate him 1 because he was a racist and refused to fight black fighters even in non-title afairs in an era with some very good ones. Even Dempsey fought at least a few.

[tyson]

Tunney would be a solid choice for 2 as well; can't rate him 1 because he was a racist and refused to fight black fighters even in non-title afairs in an era with some very good ones. Even Dempsey fought at least a few.

This explains Tunney...

[Thread Stealer]

Yeah, it was a devastating uppercut that nearly decapitated the guy. I didn't even see it until a few years ago when someone sent me a tape. But I remember seeing the one you mentioned on live TV. That was a strong era for lightheavies.

Yeah a terrific era. Poor Marvin Johnson. He was a good fighter, but always seemed to be losing to the top guys in exciting or brutal fashion. Saad, Spinks, E. M. Muhammad. Eddie was a talented guy who was lazy, but still managed to give Spinks a competitive fight despite barely making weight. I was impressed with his performance against Marvin Johnson. He absolutely brutalized Johnson's ribs with left hooks. I was also surprised by how nonchalant he threw his right hand. He just shot it out there and was SSOOOOOOO open when he threw it. But Johnson wasn't able to take advantage.

Qawi was a favorite of mine. I think he's made a whole lot out of not too much physical gifts. He was like 5 foot 6, a light-heavyweight, without blazing speed or devastating power, and limited experience other than prison boxing. I loved watching his crouching defense. He had some entertaining performances at light-heavy, but one of my favorite moments was during his loss to Holyfield at CW. He made Holyfield miss like a dozen straight punches at one point. Just standing in front of him and slipping shot after shot.