Who is the best Lightweight since Duran

[nobleart1978]

Who do you consider to be the best at 135 since Duran vacated in 1979 ?

- Arguello
- Chavez
- Whitaker
- De La Hoya
- Mosley
- Mayweather

I know a few of these had short reigns as champions but it is interesting nontheless.

[elmersalsa]

The great Pernell Whitaker.

[Abradolf Lincler]

Whitaker. There have been plenty of great fighters that passed through, but not many that had lengthy reigns. They simply didn't stay long enough. Mosley did, but didn't unify and the opposition he faced there was pretty damn weak. Plus, Whitaker was just better than all the rest, full stop.

[DrDuke]

I'm with Whitaker too. An exceptional talent.

[APerno]

Camacho at 135 beats Whitaker; out boxes him, better movement, faster hands. At welter maybe a different story, Whitaker moved up with more strength.

[Abradolf Lincler]

Camacho at 135 beats Whitaker; out boxes him, better movement, faster hands. At welter maybe a different story, Whitaker moved up with more strength.

Young pre-pro Whitaker gave prime Camacho an epic beating in the gym, by all counts. Macho may've been faster, but Whitaker was flat out better.

[scorpio83]

No doubt it's Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker.

[APerno]

Camacho at 135 beats Whitaker; out boxes him, better movement, faster hands. At welter maybe a different story, Whitaker moved up with more strength.

Young pre-pro Whitaker gave prime Camacho an epic beating in the gym, by all counts. Macho may've been faster, but Whitaker was flat out better.

Gym stories are just that "gym stories."

[SenorPipino]

Camacho at 135 beats Whitaker; out boxes him, better movement, faster hands. At welter maybe a different story, Whitaker moved up with more strength.

Young pre-pro Whitaker gave prime Camacho an epic beating in the gym, by all counts. Macho may've been faster, but Whitaker was flat out better.

Gym stories are just that "gym stories."

True, but in this case it's possible.

No matter what the weight, a seasoned Whitaker would have owned Camacho.

At his best he was brilliant and untouchable.

His near shutout performance against the legendary Nelson is overlooked.

A young Azumah gave Sanchez a nip and tuck battle. He couldn't do a thing with Sweet Pea.

[paddy chavez]

Mosley for me a beast at light weight

[SenorPipino]

Mosley for me a beast at light weight

Was really good and incredibly fast at 135.

His competition at lightweight was very weak though.

[paddy chavez]

Mosley for me a beast at light weight

Was really good and incredibly fast at 135.

His competition at lightweight was very weak though.

To be fair Whitaker hardly fought anyone at light weight with former feather weight Nelson and paez the best names

[SenorPipino]

Mosley for me a beast at light weight

Was really good and incredibly fast at 135.

His competition at lightweight was very weak though.

To be fair Whitaker hardly fought anyone at light weight with former feather weight Nelson and paez the best names

I think that Whitaker had pretty good competition at lightweight. Maybe not a bunch of HOF fighters, but solid.

TWO wins over Ramirez (forget what the judges ruled in the 1st bout) Haugen, Nazario, Pendleton and a pre-title waltz vs Mayweather.

Again not ATGs but very representative.

Mosely's best wins over Holliday and Molina.

Meh.

That's not to say that Mosely wouldn't have given any of the lightweights mentioned a real battle and probably pull off some wins.

But his resume of opponents at that weight doesn't justify placing him above Whitaker.

[Abradolf Lincler]

Mosley for me a beast at light weight

Was really good and incredibly fast at 135.

His competition at lightweight was very weak though.

To be fair Whitaker hardly fought anyone at light weight with former feather weight Nelson and paez the best names

To be fair, that's not being fair at all.

Whitaker also beat Roger Mayweather, Jose Luis Ramirez (twice in reality), Greg Haugen, Freddie Pendleton, and KO'd Juan Nazario in the first round. Nazario was no big name in the grand scheme, but he was fresh off a KO win over Edwin Rosario and Whitaker unified the titles by beating him. Apart from Ramirez, all of these guys were in their primes.

Mosley beat Molina, Leija, and Holiday. Two of them being natural 126/130 pounders. Didn't unify, either.

[gilgamesh]

Toss up between Whitaker and Mayweather. Mayweather mostly was less than stellar at 135 though actually. He was better at the other weight classes he competed at. He seemed to struggle at 135 a little more. At least against Castillo. He had some difficulty with Victoriano Sosa too. He looked brilliant against Ndou though.

[paddy chavez]

Was really good and incredibly fast at 135.

His competition at lightweight was very weak though.

To be fair Whitaker hardly fought anyone at light weight with former feather weight Nelson and paez the best names

To be fair, that's not being fair at all.

Whitaker also beat Roger Mayweather, Jose Luis Ramirez (twice in reality), Greg Haugen, Freddie Pendleton, and KO'd Juan Nazario in the first round. Nazario was no big name in the grand scheme, but he was fresh off a KO win over Edwin Rosario and Whitaker unified the titles by beating him. Apart from Ramirez, all of these guys were in their primes.

Mosley beat Molina, Leija, and Holiday. Two of them being natural 126/130 pounders. Didn't unify, either.

Complete rubbish , all decent but not great light weights

[Abradolf Lincler]

To be fair Whitaker hardly fought anyone at light weight with former feather weight Nelson and paez the best names

To be fair, that's not being fair at all.

Whitaker also beat Roger Mayweather, Jose Luis Ramirez (twice in reality), Greg Haugen, Freddie Pendleton, and KO'd Juan Nazario in the first round. Nazario was no big name in the grand scheme, but he was fresh off a KO win over Edwin Rosario and Whitaker unified the titles by beating him. Apart from Ramirez, all of these guys were in their primes.

Mosley beat Molina, Leija, and Holiday. Two of them being natural 126/130 pounders. Didn't unify, either.

Complete rubbish , all decent but not great light weights

When did I call them great fighters? His opposition on the whole at Lightweight was solid to strong. Much moreso than Mosley's.