Great fighters of the past who would have thrived in a later weight class

[janitor]

Name some great fighters of the past who would have benefited from the curent multitude of weight clases.

I dont think that Jack Dempsey would have benefited much from a cruiserweight division because he did just fine against guys over 200 lbs.

Are there any notable fighters of the past who would have thrived in say, a junior welterweight or supermiddleweight division if it had existed?

Are there perhaps some modern fighters who would have done better under the old eight weight divisions, because it would have chanelled them towards the big fights which they would have won?

[Titan1]

Ray Robinson-Junior Middleweight
Ezzard Charles-Cruiserweight
Bob Foster-Cruiserweight.
Mickey Walker-Junior Middleweight.

[McGrain]

A CW would hav benifited Jack Dempsey no end in the pound for pound department, because he would have dominated it so utterly, so I disagree Janitor. Sam Langford could have done a lot of great work at 168, I would guess. Charley Burley wouldn't have been chased quite so far away from his best weight when Zivic came to the title.

Basically - all of them!

[janitor]

A CW would hav benifited Jack Dempsey no end in the pound for pound department, because he would have dominated it so utterly, so I disagree Janitor.

The cruiserweight division would have saved Dempsey from the likes of Fulton, Willard and Firpo but would have given him no protection against Gene Tunney who might want the cruiserweight title before stepping up to fight for the heayweight title.

[McGrain]

The cruiserweight division would have saved Dempsey from the likes of Fulton, Willard and Firpo but would have given him no protection against Gene Tunney who might want the cruiserweight title before stepping up to fight for the heayweight title.

Well things MIGHT have worked like that, on the other hand, Dempsey might have got Gene earlier, and then, who knows?

[jc]

Armstrong could have gone fore 5 titles held at the same time...

[TommyV]

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Great article that springs a few boxers to mind.

[janitor]

Well things MIGHT have worked like that, on the other hand, Dempsey might have got Gene earlier, and then, who knows?

Even if he had, the 1930s actreses would have got their shot at Dempsey and would have softened him up for Sharkey or Schmeling.

[McGrain]

Even if he had, the 1930s actreses would have got their shot at Dempsey and would have softened him up for Sharkey or Schmeling.


More than likely, though he was no Harry Greb. Here's how I see it - he gets a chance to take Tunney earlier, he stays active longer, he knows himself better when he steps in with the top HW's.

Dempsey's standing would be enormously enhanced.

[Longhhorn71]

Carmen Basilio and Rocky Graziano would have been ideal Jr. Milddleweights.

Floyd Patterson was obviously a cruiserweight.

[Boilermaker]

Who would he have one the cruiserweight title against? I am guessing that it would probably be Sam Langford? Not an easy fight at all. At cruiser, to dominate like he did at heavy, he has to beat the likes of Greb and Tunney. Sure he has a better chance than the aged version did, but that doesnt mean he beats them. Even if he does beat Tunney, at some stage, Dempsey would fight the Slow overated heavy champion, more than likely this would be Wills as he would get a shot eventually at the likes of Willard and Firpo and would more than likely win. If Dempsey is to be rated as highly, he has to beat his nemises Wills, again, not guaranteed. This leaves us with a champion Dempsey again. But how long is it before Tunney gets his rematch with an aging champion. More than likely Tunney dominates an aging Dempsey again. Looking logically at this likely sequence of events, even if we assume that Dempsey wins through, it is a far harder road, and it is even unlikely that if he succeeds it, he is rated any higher than he currently is anyway.

[sweet_scientist]

Packey McFarland, Jack Blackburn and Ike Wiliams all could have done with an 140 pound weight class.

[JohnThomas1]

Floyd Patterson would have been some cruiserweight. Pretty decent heavyweight tho and maybe he wouldn't swap that success in hindsight.

[Maxmomer]

Floyd Patterson at Cruserweight and Archie Moore at cruserweight. I think Dempsey naturally did better against big, slower opposition, it was the smaller, quicker guys like Miske and Gibbons that gave him the most trouble,

[Bo Bo Olson]

Joe Choynski at mostly 167, fought guys 15 or more pounds heavier than him, so Super Middle was his natural fighting weight. Or even Lt. Heavy...161-175.
Corbett was a natrual Cruiser.
Though back then 161 made you a heavyweight, and there were as few good men over 200 then as there are today at 250.
Billy Conn fought mostly at 167 also...back when Lt. Heavy was 161 to 175. 167 was his natural fighting weight...which was more important than bulking up for some odd reason.
Dammed near any boxer you can think of could have used the half weight divisions of today, especially later in their carreer, wehn it was harder to make the weight and the next weight up was a big jump, in weight, height and reach.
Carmin Bascilio, jr. Middle.

[janitor]

Joe Choynski at mostly 167, fought guys 15 or more pounds heavier than him, so Super Middle was his natural fighting weight. Or even Lt. Heavy...161-175.


Perhaps the best answer so far.

Even under the traditionaly eight weight classes Choynski would almost certainly have been light heavyweight champion at some point. Give him a super midleweight division and things swing even further in his favour.

[frankwornank]

In the mid 50's Angelo De Fendis was a guy that weighed about 167 at his best. He punched like a mule and was as tough as they come. There was no super middleweight division at the time. If there were, he would have been right up there at the top.

[radianttwilight]

Fitzsimmons is one of the obvious answers - super-middleweight. Granted, he wouldn't of racked up as many impressive HW wins, but he was never really dominant at HW like he could have been if there was a SMW division.