Best Light Heavyweight Ever ?

[nobleart1978]

Who was the best at 175.

Taking into consideration:
Jab
Hand speed
KO %
Ring generalship
Quality of opponents faced etc...

[Ezzard]

Ezzard Charles

[BoxBuzz]

Maybe the best way to ask this question is what is the Best LHW ever that did NOT attain the HW championship.

It appeals to me....because of course I'm bias....I like Archie. And it leaves him as the only sensible answer.

[nobleart1978]

The question is simple as it is at the top of the poll ?

Nothing to do with the heavyweight title.

[nobleart1978]

Who is the best out of the list above.
Simples.

[BoxBuzz]

Well it's still Archie....but some will be swayed by the one on one outcomes or the attainment of the HW belts.

But not I.....I see beyond the jabberwocky, as my vision is clear and focused.

[Ezzard]

Archie of the 4 above... But Ezzard was better than Archie...at least on three nights.

[Kalan]

Charles was easily better at his peak than Moore was at his peak... Spinks was the best ever... Very good height, size, and punching power. Spinks was very strong, fast, and skilled... He may be the most underrated boxer in the history of the game because of the way his career ended.

He's the only great Light Heavyweight Champion who was completely unchallenged... and the only great one who won the Heavyweight Title.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Ezzard Charles

Definitely.

[cfang]

charles

[dr_devious]

Ezzard Charles

This

[Nile4000]

Either Ezzard, or Archie, could make a small case for Foster.

[Kalan]

Ezzard Charles was better than Archie Moore... They fought 3 X in their primes with Charles winning every time and knocking Archie out.... He was a little stronger, quicker, and slicker.... Charles won 40 straight fights heading into his 3rd fight with Joe Walcott... I'm counting his fight with Elmer Ray as a win because every sportswriter at ringside had Charles winning... It was another fixed fight of which there were many during that period where Jim Norris had mafia buddies and fixed the judges...

Charles seemed to fall off a cliff in the his 3rd Walcott encounter and was never as sharp after that.... Charles eventually died from ALS -- a really creepy nerve degenerative disease that can take 25 years to finish you off.

People always say that killing Sam Baroudi in the ring destroyed Charles... but he had some great wins after that so I don't believe that affected his psyche as much as some say... It was the early inroads of ALS that got him.

But Michael Spinks was the best Light Heavyweight of all time.... He was so big and strong compared to other Light Heavyweights, and so dominant so early in his career it was ridiculous.... He had no other place to go but the Heavyweight Division... Spinks's knees went and he retired very young after cashing out verses a young, undefeated, peak career MIke Tyson... Michael pretty much knew he couldn't win that one -- the only defeat he ever suffered.

[dr_devious]

Ezzard Charles

[SenorPipino]

Foster.

And in truth, he very well wasn't the best.

But I think any light heavy in history would have nightmares over having to face the Bob Foster of 1968-1972.

[dalcumly]

These type of debates are very interesting but very often the 'favourite ' is usually from the era most preferred.
For what it's worth I do believe that no light heavyweight from any generation could have lived with Bob Foster at his peak. He was a light heavyweight version of Tommy Hearns. freakishly tall for the weight, punishing jab and a right hand to avoid at all costs. Very focussed and confident.
However I would never have dreamed of putting him in with Frazier.

[littlepug]

Not my era but what ive seen of Foster is frightening, the guy looked a beast

[gilgamesh]

Another vote for Ezzard Charles

[Nile4000]

Could Gene Tunney and Harry Greb be added to the list?

[cfang]

Charles

[Kalan]

Could Gene Tunney and Harry Greb be added to the list?

That's one I didn't think of.... Tunney was probably better than Charles.

[scorpio83]

On that list of the best Light Heavyweight ever is Archie Moore, but most writers claimed Ezzard Charles was the best Light Heavyweight ever even though he outgrew the division in the late 1940s and won the vacant NBA Heavyweight Title.

[Nile4000]

Could Gene Tunney and Harry Greb be added to the list?

That's one I didn't think of.... Tunney was probably better than Charles.

Tommy Loughran is another name that could be added.

[Trent]

Ezzard charles

[Ambling Alp II]

I know that Spinks is not listed, but I think he is #1. He fought in a great era for the division and never lost at the weight.