De La Hoya: Big fights

[Gray-Fox]

How many big fights has this guy had?

It's truly amazing when you think about it. Yes, he's come up short oin almost all of them, but still...his record has some amazing fighters on it. I'm struggling to think of many pound for pound names from the last ten years that aren't on it. When you look at RJ, Hopkins, Mayweather, Toney etc...the guy has fought loads more fighters than those. Is it because he had less to lose than those guys? (Which he did, he was already financially secure from his first title, was a golden boy and not outspoken so he could always have a shot at redemption etc)

[observer1]

How many big fights has this guy had?

It's truly amazing when you think about it. Yes, he's come up short oin almost all of them, but still...his record has some amazing fighters on it. I'm struggling to think of many pound for pound names from the last ten years that aren't on it. When you look at RJ, Hopkins, Mayweather, Toney etc...the guy has fought loads more fighters than those. Is it because he had less to lose than those guys? (Which he did, he was already financially secure from his first title, was a golden boy and not outspoken so he could always have a shot at redemption etc)

DLH may not have won all his big fights, but the reason why he gets respect from Boxing Experts and Fans is because he always goes against the Prime, even if he is a clear underdog. Something alot of other fighters have done once in their entire career.

[Gray-Fox]

How many big fights has this guy had?

It's truly amazing when you think about it. Yes, he's come up short oin almost all of them, but still...his record has some amazing fighters on it. I'm struggling to think of many pound for pound names from the last ten years that aren't on it. When you look at RJ, Hopkins, Mayweather, Toney etc...the guy has fought loads more fighters than those. Is it because he had less to lose than those guys? (Which he did, he was already financially secure from his first title, was a golden boy and not outspoken so he could always have a shot at redemption etc)

DLH may not have won all his big fights, but the reason why he gets respect from Boxing Experts and Fans is because he always goes against the Prime, even if he is a clear underdog. Something alot of other fighters have done once in their entire career.

I wonder if your boy Amir will ever fight a world class boxer...

[Datsue]

. Is it because he had less to lose than those guys? (Which he did, he was already financially secure from his first title, was a golden boy and not outspoken so he could always have a shot at redemption etc)

In my not-so humble opinion, actually it's the inverse, Foxy. He was taunted & whined at early in his career by certain sections of the press, derided as a Pretty Boy et cetera. I think this actually really stung him to start taking the hardcore hardcore fights, starting with Quartey.

I think ever since then he's just been mentally ready for the rest of the big boys, knowing that he truly was on the level of a top top guy in his prime, & -- despite that bloody cheesy grin -- determined to prove those (now-forgotten) naysayers wrong.

As I wrote on another thread, he's got a bazzing record. You can't diss him for the last nine or so years of his career, his fights have been against a Murderer's Row of hard bastards, talented wunderkinds, murderous punchers & utter nutters (stand up & take a bow, Ricardo Mayorga!).

We will miss him when he's gone, in more ways than one.

[banjo]

Remarkable career even though he lost a few and he did get close decisions for and against him but he always went against the best, sure some weren't the fighters they once were but they'd still have beaten most other fighters around at the time.

True LEGEND

[EddieShredder]

He's incredible really, when you think about it.

Could/Should have fought Winky - but other than that, not anyone I can really think of. And no-one wants to go near Winky anyways.... poor bastard.

[stujones]

Yep, and while he has come up short on a few occasions, only 2 of them are universal that he lost and the first Mosley fight was only by 1 point on most peoples card.

Whilst he has also been awarded some controvesial victories - Sturm, Whittikar, Quartey.... I don't think these were near as meaningful as his dodgy defeats - Mayweather, Trinidad, Mosley 2.

Re Terry's comment - I do disagree to an extent (I guess you knew that I would) yes the Forbes fight was a little rediculous, but I've explained my stance on that before - it was a supposed tune up for his final 2 fights which were going to be Mayweather and Cotto... it was announced as such.... best laid plans though!

As for him having a massive size advantage over Mayweather - well Mayweather was THE MAN at 147. He beat the main champion and he also beat the man considered the "most skillful" in the devision. Margarito was busy beating up the likes of Lujan, and Cotto had just started his campaign there. No one mentioned the natural size difference Hagler had over Leonard - most think Hagler was the one who was hard done by in terms of "advantages". Also, as the fight transpired it WASN'T DLH's size that was the problem, infact Mayweather seemed stronger than DLH at times and he hurt DLH far more than DLH hurt him. What bothered Mayweather was DLH's speed, jab, and general skills. Pre fight I thought DLH's size would win, when he is posssibly behind on points. Post fight I thought 1997, 140 LBS, DLH would outbox and beat the 2007, 140 lbs, Mayweather. Never thought that before the fight. The manner of the "defeat" actually enhanced his reputation in many ways more than a victory did.

[Goz]

Good post Stu.

I don't think a true boxing fan can take a genuine dislike to De La Hoya surely?

If so it's based on something silly like his looks or the way he talks, something your old nan would use as criteria for liking/disliking a fighter.

He's fought the best, had as many close ones go against him as for him (and in bigger fights) and moved up through 6 weight divisions in his time whilst doing so.

His record is exceptional and people picking holes in it really should go and follow another sport.

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

Although he has handicapped a lot of opponents. To a ridiculous extent in recent times.

Have to agree with this, firstly Delahoya was 1 of the first to take advantage of 36hour weigh ins with diuretics/saunas to gain a 10-20lb weight advantage. At lightweight this just looked insane.

Secondly there's Delahoya getting fighters to come up a weight (plus his rehydrating) - Hernandez/Leija (both life long 130lbers), Gonzalez (LW at 140), Chavez 2/Mosley/Pacquaio (at welter), Mayweather (147-154). These seemed very calculated to get 15+ pounds on his opponent, ie weighing 160lbs on fight night against Chavez

Then there's the fact many of Delahoya's opponents were picked as they were on the decline/inactive - Chavez (coming off Randal loss), Whitaker (looked piss poor against Rivera/Hurtado), Quartey (inactive for 18months and recovering from malaria), Trinidad (prime but tight at the weight), Vargas (looking shot/near shot), Hopkins (39 and made to come in at a catchweight of 157 - 3lbs below the 160 limit in order to drain the champ)

Another gripe is he didn't clean out any division, he didn't face Winky Wright at 154, who proved to be the best at the weight. HE didn't face his mandatory in Vernon Forrest who twice beat the man to dethrown him and he didnt face Tyszu or Randal at 140. You can't face everyone but these are glaring omisions

The OP questioned how many P4P fighters Delahoya faced, at the time he faced them I think only Mayweather, Tito, Hopkins, and maybe Genaro Hernandez were P4P. I'm not sure if Mosley was coming into either Delahoya fight although he obviously was after both but wouldn't have been if Delahoya beat him. Chavez wasn't P4P top10 after Randal beat him

[rob h]

He deserves the respect given to him. He is what a true fighter should be all about.

Hes taken on the best and showed fighting heart. One of my all time favourites for sure.

[stujones]

Although he has handicapped a lot of opponents. To a ridiculous extent in recent times.

Have to agree with this, firstly Delahoya was 1 of the first to take advantage of 36hour weigh ins with diuretics/saunas to gain a 10-20lb weight advantage. At lightweight this just looked insane.

Secondly there's Delahoya getting fighters to come up a weight (plus his rehydrating) - Hernandez/Leija (both life long 130lbers), Gonzalez (LW at 140), Chavez 2/Mosley/Pacquaio (at welter), Mayweather (147-154). These seemed very calculated to get 15+ pounds on his opponent, ie weighing 160lbs on fight night against Chavez

Then there's the fact many of Delahoya's opponents were picked as they were on the decline/inactive - Chavez (coming off Randal loss), Whitaker (looked piss poor against Rivera/Hurtado), Quartey (inactive for 18months and recovering from malaria), Trinidad (prime but tight at the weight), Vargas (looking shot/near shot), Hopkins (39 and made to come in at a catchweight of 157 - 3lbs below the 160 limit in order to drain the champ)

Another gripe is he didn't clean out any division, he didn't face Winky Wright at 154, who proved to be the best at the weight. HE didn't face his mandatory in Vernon Forrest who twice beat the man to dethrown him and he didnt face Tyszu or Randal at 140. You can't face everyone but these are glaring omisions

The OP questioned how many P4P fighters Delahoya faced, at the time he faced them I think only Mayweather, Tito, Hopkins, and maybe Genaro Hernandez were P4P. I'm not sure if Mosley was coming into either Delahoya fight although he obviously was after both but wouldn't have been if Delahoya beat him. Chavez wasn't P4P top10 after Randal beat him

I think this is a WAY to overly harsh assessment.

Firstly - Whittikar might have been on decline - but was still regarded in the top 5 P4P at the time (check the boxing Monthly at the time of the fight) and was the #1 in the devision at the time. If you want to be critical of that win, then you must share a similar view on Hatton vs Tszyu.

Chavez = is the same.

DLH didn't clean out a devision - okay so who was the glearing lightweight ommision?

Vargas - near shot? Well he was so shot that he actually won a title before the fight and was (at the time) considered the #1 Light Middle. Winky? Well Winky lost to Vargas and did naff all to prove he was any better AT THE TIME.

So you are critical of DLH vs Chavez 1, but wanted to see DLH vs a shot to pieces Randall? Who won the rematch between Chavez and Randall again?

You say the Leija was a career long Super Feather - ummm..... he was in the top ten at Light Welter for years after his lightweight fight with Oscar.

Mosley was in the P4P bracket prior to DLH 1 without a doubt and I would also say Molina was.

Trinidad tight at the weight? Where was the evidence? Not on his prior performances. And when he has been up against slick, fast, defensive fighters at Middle/LightMiddle and Light Heavy - he has looked slow and pedestrian - tight at the weight then?

[mark thompson]

Although he has handicapped a lot of opponents. To a ridiculous extent in recent times.

Have to agree with this, firstly Delahoya was 1 of the first to take advantage of 36hour weigh ins with diuretics/saunas to gain a 10-20lb weight advantage. At lightweight this just looked insane.

Secondly there's Delahoya getting fighters to come up a weight (plus his rehydrating) - Hernandez/Leija (both life long 130lbers), Gonzalez (LW at 140), Chavez 2/Mosley/Pacquaio (at welter), Mayweather (147-154). These seemed very calculated to get 15+ pounds on his opponent, ie weighing 160lbs on fight night against Chavez

Then there's the fact many of Delahoya's opponents were picked as they were on the decline/inactive - Chavez (coming off Randal loss), Whitaker (looked piss poor against Rivera/Hurtado), Quartey (inactive for 18months and recovering from malaria), Trinidad (prime but tight at the weight), Vargas (looking shot/near shot), Hopkins (39 and made to come in at a catchweight of 157 - 3lbs below the 160 limit in order to drain the champ)

Another gripe is he didn't clean out any division, he didn't face Winky Wright at 154, who proved to be the best at the weight. HE didn't face his mandatory in Vernon Forrest who twice beat the man to dethrown him and he didnt face Tyszu or Randal at 140. You can't face everyone but these are glaring omisions

The OP questioned how many P4P fighters Delahoya faced, at the time he faced them I think only Mayweather, Tito, Hopkins, and maybe Genaro Hernandez were P4P. I'm not sure if Mosley was coming into either Delahoya fight although he obviously was after both but wouldn't have been if Delahoya beat him. Chavez wasn't P4P top10 after Randal beat him

I think this is a WAY to overly harsh assessment.

Firstly - Whittikar might have been on decline - but was still regarded in the top 5 P4P at the time (check the boxing Monthly at the time of the fight) and was the #1 in the devision at the time. If you want to be critical of that win, then you must share a similar view on Hatton vs Tszyu.

Chavez = is the same.

DLH didn't clean out a devision - okay so who was the glearing lightweight ommision?

Vargas - near shot? Well he was so shot that he actually won a title before the fight and was (at the time) considered the #1 Light Middle. Winky? Well Winky lost to Vargas and did naff all to prove he was any better AT THE TIME.

So you are critical of DLH vs Chavez 1, but wanted to see DLH vs a shot to pieces Randall? Who won the rematch between Chavez and Randall again?

You say the Leija was a career long Super Feather - ummm..... he was in the top ten at Light Welter for years after his lightweight fight with Oscar.

Mosley was in the P4P bracket prior to DLH 1 without a doubt and I would also say Molina was.

Trinidad tight at the weight? Where was the evidence? Not on his prior performances. And when he has been up against slick, fast, defensive fighters at Middle/LightMiddle and Light Heavy - he has looked slow and pedestrian - tight at the weight then?

great post

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

Although he has handicapped a lot of opponents. To a ridiculous extent in recent times.

Have to agree with this, firstly Delahoya was 1 of the first to take advantage of 36hour weigh ins with diuretics/saunas to gain a 10-20lb weight advantage. At lightweight this just looked insane.

Secondly there's Delahoya getting fighters to come up a weight (plus his rehydrating) - Hernandez/Leija (both life long 130lbers), Gonzalez (LW at 140), Chavez 2/Mosley/Pacquaio (at welter), Mayweather (147-154). These seemed very calculated to get 15+ pounds on his opponent, ie weighing 160lbs on fight night against Chavez

Then there's the fact many of Delahoya's opponents were picked as they were on the decline/inactive - Chavez (coming off Randal loss), Whitaker (looked piss poor against Rivera/Hurtado), Quartey (inactive for 18months and recovering from malaria), Trinidad (prime but tight at the weight), Vargas (looking shot/near shot), Hopkins (39 and made to come in at a catchweight of 157 - 3lbs below the 160 limit in order to drain the champ)

Another gripe is he didn't clean out any division, he didn't face Winky Wright at 154, who proved to be the best at the weight. HE didn't face his mandatory in Vernon Forrest who twice beat the man to dethrown him and he didnt face Tyszu or Randal at 140. You can't face everyone but these are glaring omisions

The OP questioned how many P4P fighters Delahoya faced, at the time he faced them I think only Mayweather, Tito, Hopkins, and maybe Genaro Hernandez were P4P. I'm not sure if Mosley was coming into either Delahoya fight although he obviously was after both but wouldn't have been if Delahoya beat him. Chavez wasn't P4P top10 after Randal beat him

I think this is a WAY to overly harsh assessment.

1. Firstly - Whittikar might have been on decline - but was still regarded in the top 5 P4P at the time (check the boxing Monthly at the time of the fight) and was the #1 in the devision at the time. If you want to be critical of that win, then you must share a similar view on Hatton vs Tszyu.

2. Chavez = is the same.

3. DLH didn't clean out a devision - okay so who was the glearing lightweight ommision?

4. Vargas - near shot? Well he was so shot that he actually won a title before the fight and was (at the time) considered the #1 Light Middle. Winky? Well Winky lost to Vargas and did naff all to prove he was any better AT THE TIME.

5. So you are critical of DLH vs Chavez 1, but wanted to see DLH vs a shot to pieces Randall? Who won the rematch between Chavez and Randall again?

6. You say the Leija was a career long Super Feather - ummm..... he was in the top ten at Light Welter for years after his lightweight fight with Oscar.

7. Mosley was in the P4P bracket prior to DLH 1 without a doubt and I would also say Molina was.

8. Trinidad tight at the weight? Where was the evidence? Not on his prior performances. And when he has been up against slick, fast, defensive fighters at Middle/LightMiddle and Light Heavy - he has looked slow and pedestrian - tight at the weight then?

Firstly I'll admit I'm being a critical bastard but I'm continuing anyway

1. Whitaker was still prob P4P no1, the numero uno at Welter, but he was past prime and I had him winning 7-5 from memory
2. Chavez was way past prime
3. Nazarov was 1 of the better champs and the other Ruelas, and MAG (who he fought at 140 with a bigger weight advantage)
4. Yes Vargas was near shot, Tito is widely regarded as ruining Vargas and he was down against no marks twice prior to the Hoya match up and he was gifted the WBA belt. And yes DLH should have fought Winky.
5. Chavez quit in the Randall rematch and was awarded a gift of a TD
6. Leija was a Super Feather upto the Delahoya fight and after, yes years later he'd fight at 135 and 140, well past his best I might add
7. Mosley being P4P top10 prior to Delahoya is a stretch his opposition at 135 was VERY weak and he was only a titlist, he obviously had the ability but at the time didn't have the resume. Molina P4P? Are you having a laugh he hadn't even faced the best super feathers.
8. The evidence is he wanted to move to 154 years before and stayed at 147 for the Delahoya fight, after he 'won' he never fought at 147 again

[stujones]

Firstly I'll admit I'm being a critical bastard but I'm continuing anyway

1. Whitaker was still prob P4P no1, the numero uno at Welter, but he was past prime and I had him winning 7-5 from memory
2. Chavez was way past prime
3. Nazarov was 1 of the better champs and the other Ruelas, and MAG (who he fought at 140 with a bigger weight advantage)
4. Yes Vargas was near shot, Tito is widely regarded as ruining Vargas and he was down against no marks twice prior to the Hoya match up and he was gifted the WBA belt. And yes DLH should have fought Winky.
5. Chavez quit in the Randall rematch and was awarded a gift of a TD
6. Leija was a Super Feather upto the Delahoya fight and after, yes years later he'd fight at 135 and 140, well past his best I might add
7. Mosley being P4P top10 prior to Delahoya is a stretch his opposition at 135 was VERY weak and he was only a titlist, he obviously had the ability but at the time didn't have the resume. Molina P4P? Are you having a laugh he hadn't even faced the best super feathers.
8. The evidence is he wanted to move to 154 years before and stayed at 147 for the Delahoya fight, after he 'won' he never fought at 147 again

1) Well it was close no disputing that, but it was still a P4P guy that you forgot to mention in your post.... aint disputing he was on the slide, but he was still the best the devision had to offer - DLH couldn't help the Birth Certificate, and slightly different to Hatton he had to build to being a Welterweight.

2) Yes, Chavez was over the hill - but again was universally considered the #1 at Light Welter at the time, possibly mainly on past record. But if Joe took on Chad Dawson without Hopkins, he would have had several criticisms. Chavez still was often thought of in the P4P stakes at the time (lower half of the 10).

3) Well first Gabriel Reulas wasn't a Lightweight he was a super feather - never winning a world title at Lightweight and only campaigning there when Oscar was at 140 or 147. Okay, I'll grant you Navarov but it was hardly a goer cause he based himself in Asia for the most part of his career. MAG was okay, never particularly awesome, but DLH had a limited shelf life at Lightweight and I think crammed in more important and significant fights than against the slow MAG - who never would have beaten him in a million years no matter what the wait.

4) I aint saying Vargas didn't take a shellacking vs Tito - but due to the size difference (which no one mentions!) I think that he fought Vargas at the first possible opportunity. And Vargas was good enough to win the title back and also run Mosley close (the first time) after DLH.

5) Chavez won officially whether it was corrupt or not, Randall never looked good in his 2nd reign as champion and DLH vs Randall would have been a terrible mismatch. DLH vs Tszyu is something though I think is missing.

6) Leija wasn't a small Super Feather if he could compete well at 140 lbs past his prime.

7) Well I rated Mosley and actually it was the ONLY time I actually picked DLH to lose was prior to the first meeting. I even thought DLH was going to outbox Hopkins. He might not have had the greatest competition, but he looked mustard as a Lightweight. Molina was a champion for 6 years beating the likes of Vargas (who lets not forget was in many P4P lists around that time), Medina, Lopez, etc.

8) I think you are right that Tito was tight at the weight, but he looked good in smashing Whittikar and Pineda in his fights before. I don't think he was as tight as people make out, he didn't look cut at Middle and Winky Wright out muscled him.

[Autobarn]

Has anyone been as consistently disappointing in big fights as ODLH?

[sharpei_louis]

I think he's slightly overrated, but deserves all the props for making and taking big fights. While you can talk about him fighting at lightweight and jnr welter, I think it's harsh to then criticise him for fighting smaller guys when he moved up himself. He's transcended weights IMO - what we all forget is that a lot of these guys are roughly similar sizes. DLH hasn't got a massive frame (a bloody big head tho!) but he's moved up weights and fighting other guys moving up shouldn't be cause for criticism.
You can't knock him for 'manufacturing' a weight advantage in one fight and then also knock him for 'forcing Hopkins to drain' in another, that's hypocrisy.

[Autobarn]

He was a massive super feather and lightweight, his size advantage was freakish. He was either battering guys too small for him, or struggling badly if a fight went late (disputed win, JJ Molina).

[ArtOfWar]

DLH has got one of the best resumes in boxing history in terms of who he's fought, that's just an absolute fact. He's lost a few of the big ones which hurts his legacy, but picking away at who he's fought is just ridiculous. No one since the old day's has been involved in so many big fights. Not Leonard, not Holyfield, not Hagler, no one.

[stujones]

Hagler fought Hearns, Duran and Leonard. Leonard fought Hagler, Hearns, Benitez, Duran and others. Hearns fought Hagler, Leonard and Duran.

Duran, Hagler, Leonard and Hearns are better than any of the fighters on Oscar's resume, except maybe, and it is a big maybe, Floyd.

Tito and the like are very good fighters, but they are not legends. The above four legends all tussled with one another for huge prizes. Oscar may have fought those guys had he lived in that era, but the result would have been a bunch of losses.

I think Pacquiao can compare and I would also say Hopkins and Shane could aswell. Not saying they should be higher, but I certainly think Pacquaio and Hopkins could be in the same bracket as Hearns and Benitez anyway - and Duran at Welter or Above.

Duran wasn't a monstersly massive Lightweight, yet the size difference between Hagler and Duran gets less criticism than Pacquiao vs DLH.

[ArtOfWar]

Hagler fought Hearns, Duran and Leonard. Leonard fought Hagler, Hearns, Benitez, Duran and others. Hearns fought Hagler, Leonard and Duran.

Duran, Hagler, Leonard and Hearns are better than any of the fighters on Oscar's resume, except maybe, and it is a big maybe, Floyd.

Tito and the like are very good fighters, but they are not legends. The above four legends all tussled with one another for huge prizes. Oscar may have fought those guys had he lived in that era, but the result would have been a bunch of losses.

Yeah, but none of those guy's have the quantity of big names on their records that DLH has. DLH has a better resume than anyone in the last 50 or so years, he just hasn't won enough of those big fights to be ranked as highly as those guy's.

[Poncey]

I can't believe people are comparing Floyd and DLH to the Four Kings.

I think I need to lie down.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I think to be fair to Oscar, it's not really been possible for him to emulate the likes of Leonard (not that he is as good however), because the competition hasn't been there for him. It's such a rarity to have four such amazing fighters around near enough each others weight to make for competitive fights.

Hearns was a real freak, a lightweight amateur who won a title at cruiserweight late in his career!

[stujones]

Hearns was a freak, but also a freak who lost to fighters that DLH wouldn't have lost to. Whose best wins came against a hoplessly outsized Duran and a faded Benitez.

I always have Hagler and Leonard significantly above Hearns, due to the fact that he lost to Hagler (emphatically, I might add) and got KO'D by Leonard when both were in their primes.

I think if DLH shouldn't be considered an ATG - then neither should Hearns.... Benitez was a mater boxer, but accomplished more than Mosley.... I think not.

And I, like Enzo Calzaghe, have Ray Leonard as the #1 boxer of all time, but I like to see non bias when it comes to comparing the generations. It seems like when we compare the class of 1980's with that of the 2000's - we seem to forget Leonard fought an over the hill Hagler with all those advantages.... yet Terry et al - will not even include the Chavez and Whittikar wins for debates. Chavez and Whittikar, probably the fighters with the greatest historical standing out of all of DLH's opponents....

So its alright to slag off Pacquiao for being too small, but not Duran... alright for Hagler being too old but not Chavez or Whittikar.

I just think when the likes of Barrera, Pacquiao, Hopkins, DLH, Mayweather etc have all LONG packed it in - we will remember them more favourably than some of us do now.

Benitez was a wonderful talent, but shouldn't be considered more significant than Mayweather, Mosley etc. Let alone Chavez, Whittikar.

[Poncey]

Duran had to move up because he couldn't make the weight limit, even with Arcel's diaretic potions. Pacman makes the limit with relative ease and it's his walking weight. Duran's walking weight at the time was around 160-170, dependent on whether he fought in NY or not as he partied hard there.

Benitez is roughly level with Mosley (and I'm being kind to Shane there for arguments sake!). I'd be willing to put sizeable amounts of money on Barkley beating DLH, as he struggled with Sturm and he sure as shit ain't no Blade.

Prime for prime, the 4 Kings are at least in the top 5 of a division, at least 1 should be considered as the greatest in that division. I would say 2 but I'm biased. DLH, Mosley and Floyd were/are exceptional fighters, but couldn't hold a candle to any of them on their best days in any division they've fought in.

In the words of George Kimball, the Four Kings was the last great era of boxing. We will never see an era like that again.

[stujones]

EPNG - Yes, I am sure Barkley the Middleweight would beat Oscar due to the size difference. However, there was no size difference between Barkley and Hearns... so think of a Welterweight/Light Welter equivalent of Barkley and we might have a fairer assessment.

Due to Duran's lifestyle it is always hard to guage just how much of a struggle it was to make the limit. He didn't look "cut" as a Welterweight, let alone a Light Middle - infact his body resembled DLH's vs Sturm when he was at Light Middle. His weight flucated so much it was hard to tell - one fight he was 133, next fight he was 147, then back down again.... he started at 119 lbs. But I think he could make 147 comfortably enough if he didn't party.

Hatton wouldn't be walking around at 160+ if he didn't like his chips, guiness and pie.