Heavyweights that would've been successful in lower classes

[elmersalsa]

What heavyweights in your view would have been very successful if they were competing in any weight class under 175lbs?

Like for example, I do not think that guys like the greats Muhammad Ali nor George Foreman, would have been great fighters with that type of skill. At heavyweight they were successful, but it appeared in my mind what if both of them were middleweights or flyweights or they were in any other weight classifications, would they be successful with their skill?

Like if I put Ali or Foreman fighting the great Wilfredo Gomez at 122lbs, (let's say that Ali is 5'6" and 122lbs fighting Gomez) would he win with that style?

Or Ali or Foreman fighting greats like Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Robinson, Roberto Duran, Salvador Sanchez, Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Kid Gavilan or Henry Armstrong, would they beat those guys? (If Ali or Foreman were the same weight and height against these guys)

But in the contrary, I could see the great Mike Tyson being successful fighting in lower weight classes. His style was excellent.

What do you guys think?

What heavyweight of the past or present would have been a great fighter in lower weight classes and what heavyweights would not.

[Seamus]

Good thread Elmer. Usually most topics involving heavyweights have been argued adnauseum.

Here's 3 HW's who would have done very well at 175.

James J Corbett
Tom Sharkey
Bob Pastor

[Seamus]

Tommy Burns could have been a dominant Light Heavyweight.

[Robinson]

Id say Tommy Burns would have been better at 160lbs.

[Ezzard]

Don't know about a 5'6" Valuev versus a 160 lb Jimmy Wilde but...

Tommy Burns is an interesting fighter. A MW who blew away many HWs. Obviously totally out of his depth with Johnson but also, realistically, totally out of his weight class too. He's overlooked so much he doesn't even make those "underrated" threads.

[jimglen]

two who were not really HW's Don Cockell & Floyd Paterson and of course there must be dozens more.

[IKSRTFO]

James Toney

[metchampion]

Henry Cooper

[dr_devious]

Rocky Marciano and Jack Dempsey would have been killers at cruiserweight. I think they would have been world champs at any weight if they were smaller guys, especially Dempsey

[elmersalsa]

I would say that Floyd Patterson from 175lbs down would have been a terrific fighter with that "Peek a boo" style. He had fast hands, move well around the ring, and had excellent technique. He was BLOWN OUT by the heavyweights mainly because guys like Ingemar Johansson, Sonny Liston and Muhammad Ali were WAY BIGGER THAN HE.

Another fighter that I think that would have been a terrific all-time great fighter besides the heavyweight would have been the great Joe Frazier. He applies constant pressure needed in the lower weight classes. His speed was decent and had great infighting skills.

The great Ezzard Charles proved it...He was great in any weight class he was in.

What about the great Jersey Joe Walcott, folks?

[observer1]

I guess HWs that were NOT Flat-Footed an danced around in the ring utilising ombos and speed would be succesful in pretty much most divisions, so i agree, Tyson would be Succesful in nearly any division with his technique. Infact he was even P4P no.1 at some point in his Prime.

A Prime Ali would fair pretty well due to his speed and falir.

Foreman? Well he was a slugger relyinh on heavy bombs. Not sure how that would fair in the lower-weight divisions.

[Robinson]

People fight the way they do because of the body they are in..
most HWs do what they do because,,,they are big.

[Minotauro]

I think Patterson would have been one of the greatest light heavys had he stayed there I feel he would have beaten Foster there were a lot of quality fighters at that weight during his time like Johnson, Torres, Moore and Tiger among others.

[dr_devious]

Foster kayoes Patterson at 175lbs

[Martin Sosa Cameron]

Rocky Marciano and Jack Dempsey would have been killers at cruiserweight. I think they would have been world champs at any weight if they were smaller guys, especially Dempsey

Yes, especially Rocky. Tunney, too!

[elmersalsa]

Styles of Ali and Foreman in lower weight classifications HAS NEVER BEEN SUCCESSFUL. They with that style outside the HWs would have been crushed with horrendous knockouts.

[Crease]

Marciano.
Dempsey.
Johnson (I think).

They would have been Cruiserweights/KLight Heavyweights...

God help their victims.

[dr_devious]

Jack Johnson had the defense and all round skills to have been highly successful in other divisions had he been smaller. Ditto Jersey Joe Walcott

[Seamus]

Elmer initially asked what Heavyweights would have done well at 175, not Cruiserweight. Most of the guys named, Foreman, Ali, Dempsey, Walcott, Johnson etc would have been so weight drained at 175 that they would have gotten beaten by journeymen.

I think basically any good fighter who weighed 185 or less would have a decent shot at being a good LHW.

[Minotauro]

Foster kayoes Patterson at 175lbs

No way, who did Foster beat that was as good, quick and powerful as Patterson? Nobody every time he went to heavy he got beat bad the only people to knock Patterson out were Johansson and Liston who both hit much harder then Foster. Foster was ko'd by Doug Jones and probably wouldn't have been a dominant if Mauro Mina had stuck around and not retired early due to injuries.