Who is the greatest light - middleweight ever

[BOXINGBARMY1]

In my opinion no one can touch tommy hearns at this weight.
I know he had a short reign but prime for prime he would have took some beating.

[stevedoc]

hearns is probably the best light middle ever but he didn't have many fights at the weight whereas norris had well over 20 world title wins at the weight ,mccallum was a great fighter to who never really got the respect he deserved till later on .

i think all 3 could beat each other on there good days .

a bit of a cop out answer so i guess i would say hearns is the best

[Ezzard]

When Emile Griffith won the Middleweight title from Dick Tiger he was almopst a welterweight. I think he was closer to the welter limit than the Light-Middle limit. And Tiger was a beast [pun un/intended]…

[DMA1987]

Tommy Hearns without a doubt in my mind.

[MightyWarrior]

Only one fight, but surely the best to ever win a LM world title is Sugar Ray Leonard

[orbtastic]

I think a lot of people put Hearns as the ATG there for slightly sentimental reasons because he doesn't quite slot into any other ATG lists at any other weight.

McCallum was actually a better boxer than Hearns was, he was more naturally talented. If you watch fights of him around that time he could actually out-Kronk Tommy in terms of boxing in the Kronk style - Left hand low, bringing it across, the feints, the double/triple jabs, mixing to head/body etc. If you look at any interviews of Steward, he held Mike in high regard, despite looking on Tommy as a son he said that Mike could do things that Tommy was just incapable of doing.

I think his resume at 154 slightly tops Tommy's, despite that shellacking of Duran.

I think head to head during that period where they both held titles - I can make a case for either winning. McCallum's chin is a major asset here, too.

[palooka]

I think a lot of people put Hearns as the ATG there for slightly sentimental reasons because he doesn't quite slot into any other ATG lists at any other weight.

McCallum was actually a better boxer than Hearns was, he was more naturally talented. If you watch fights of him around that time he could actually out-Kronk Tommy in terms of boxing in the Kronk style - Left hand low, bringing it across, the feints, the double/triple jabs, mixing to head/body etc. If you look at any interviews of Steward, he held Mike in high regard, despite looking on Tommy as a son he said that Mike could do things that Tommy was just incapable of doing.

I think his resume at 154 slightly tops Tommy's, despite that shellacking of Duran.

I think head to head during that period where they both held titles - I can make a case for either winning. McCallum's chin is a major asset here, too.

Didn't McCallum and Steward fall out though?

I agree; McCallum would have beaten Hearns at the weight as well.

[orbtastic]

They did because Mike felt that Manny was spending too much of his time on Tommy, which was/is true and a pattern that would often repeat itself in the Kronk with Manny.

Tommy would say that he went out of his way to help Mike, essentially vacating his WBA belt so Mike would fight for it (he was the WBA's number one contender) but Mike would tell you a completely different story which is that his ex manager (Finkel) said Manny (manager of both) told the WBA he was stepping aside when in fact he actually wanted to face Duran. He left and went to Duva. So he missed out on a good payday, exposure and a title.

That's where the schism started. I'm sure he took great pleasure in beating up Kronk guys like Braxton & McCrory who he knew well from rounds and rounds of sparring.

[CiganoBoxer]

McCallum

[Terminator666]

Hearns v Mayweather? Be interesting how Maywaeather would have coped with Hearns.

[palooka]

Hearns v Mayweather? Be interesting how Maywaeather would have coped with Hearns.

There's about 5 pages of debate/argument about this on the 'Case for Floyd as GOAT'

[Tom Ford]

Hearns v Mayweather? Be interesting how Maywaeather would have coped with Hearns.

There's about 5 pages of debate/argument about this on the 'Case for Floyd as GOAT'

Great thread it is too!

[black panther]

There was once a chap who was world champion at welterweight and middleweight. There was no lightmiddleweight in his day but he often came in much lower than the middleweight limit and gave away weight to his opponents. If there was a LMW limit when he was around I think he would have been untouchable: he was damn near untouchable in his prime anyway. His name was Walker Smith Jnr though I think he boxed under a different name.

[stevedoc]

There was once a chap who was world champion at welterweight and middleweight. There was no lightmiddleweight in his day but he often came in much lower than the middleweight limit and gave away weight to his opponents. If there was a LMW limit when he was around I think he would have been untouchable: he was damn near untouchable in his prime anyway. His name was Walker Smith Jnr though I think he boxed under a different name.

never heard of him ....does anyone else know of him

[Final round]

Bodysnatcher

[hurlock]

Trinidad
Duran looked spectacular against Moore

[orbtastic]

There was once a chap who was world champion at welterweight and middleweight. There was no lightmiddleweight in his day but he often came in much lower than the middleweight limit and gave away weight to his opponents. If there was a LMW limit when he was around I think he would have been untouchable: he was damn near untouchable in his prime anyway. His name was Walker Smith Jnr though I think he boxed under a different name.

never heard of him ....does anyone else know of him

Emile Griffith would be eligible on that basis, also.

[lurkyshaka]

For me I suspect Hearns would have beaten Norris, Norris would have beaten McCallum and McCallum would have beaten Hearns. Its rock, paper, scissors with these 3 imo.

Hearns range and power would have probably been too much for Norris to handle more often than not.....though I think Norris's speed, combinations and movement would have given McCallum hell......but I reckon McCallum would have been able to get at and break Hearns down.

All 3 incredible fighters, very good thread!

[misterpunch]

i'm with black panther - a peak robinson was perfect at this weight. he beats all comers in my view

[polecateddy]

Winky Wright.

[Syntax Error]

Mike McCallum for me.

Hearns is also a worthy shout, but I just believe that McCallum would have had the chin to repel Hearns' bombs & he would have put the pressure on Hearns & we all know what happened to Tommy Hearns when he was put under pressure.

[palooka]

McCallum would have broken Tommy's ribs else Hearns would have done for Mikes jaw - fight of the year no doubt.

[MightyWarrior]

Mike would be a slight favourite over Tommy in a punch out, as he had the better chin, other wise Tommy would likely out box him.

Mike could really take a good shot, just have a look at when he gets hit by maybe the hardest 154 puncher going, Julian Jackson. It's one of the best two rounders you'll see: the then unknown bomber Jackson ambushes him the 1st, nearly flooring him - but the body snatcher re groups and takes out Jackson in the next round, Stunning stuff

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kbKe9cvEBI

[Syntax Error]

Mike would be a slight favourite over Tommy in a punch out, as he had the better chin, other wise Tommy would likely out box him.
Mike could really take a good shot, just have a look at when he gets hit by maybe the hardest 154 puncher going, Julian Jackson. It's one of the best two rounders you'll see: the then unknown bomber Jackson ambushes him the 1st, nearly flooring him - but the body snatcher re groups and takes out Jackson in the next round, Stunning stuff

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kbKe9cvEBI

Agree with this.

Tommy's only chance of beating McCallum would have been to outbox him.

Tommy was a excellent boxer when he wanted to be & even though McCallum could be outboxed (as in Kalambay 1), I don't think he would have had the stamina to box 15 rounds against McCallum, as Mike would have been putting the pressure on throughout & Tommy's stamina usually deserted him in hard fights where he was put under a lot of pressure.

Would have been a cracking contest though, between two marvellous warriors of the boxing ring.

[SamWise72]

I think both men beat Norris; he didn't have the chin or defence to deal with either, though he wouldn't go easy. Hearns/McCallum would be interesting; the Tommy who beat Hill could stick on the outside and outjab McCallum, but whether he would keep his focus for 12 or 15 rounds.....less certain. In a firefight, McCallum's superior chin probably does the business, but you can't rule out a man who left Duran asleep on his face; if Hearns lands that long right just so, McCallum's going. I can't pick a winner, though I suppose I'm leaning toward McCallum.