Mike Weaver vs Jimmy Young

[scorpio83]

Who would win in their prime between former WBA Heavyweight Champion Mike Weaver and the underrated smooth boxing counter puncher Jimmy Young?

[HomicideHenry]

Weaver was champion 1980-1982, and Young at that time was getting blasted out by Gerry Cooney & dropping decisions to Greg Page and others. I think it's easy to imagine Weaver easily beating Young. However, prime for prime, Young makes Weaver look like absolute crap.

[sweetviolenturge]

Weaver was champion 1980-1982, and Young at that time was getting blasted out by Gerry Cooney & dropping decisions to Greg Page and others. I think it's easy to imagine Weaver easily beating Young. However, prime for prime, Young makes Weaver look like absolute crap.

It's a bit surprising that the two never actually fought with their primes being so close together & their years of activity coinciding for as long as they did. But, you're spot on. Had a fight between the two taken place anywhere before 1978 then Young wins by a wide margin on points while after that, Weaver likely beats him via decision or late round stoppage.

[HomicideHenry]

It's the heartbreaking side of boxing when two people never fight or they fight well after it was important. Off the top of my head I can think of Frazier never facing Norton, and of course Lewis facing Tyson years after it really mattered.

[DrDuke]

Weaver was champion 1980-1982, and Young at that time was getting blasted out by Gerry Cooney & dropping decisions to Greg Page and others. I think it's easy to imagine Weaver easily beating Young. However, prime for prime, Young makes Weaver look like absolute crap.

Sounds right.

[scorpio83]

That would be a 50/50 fight if they should have fought.

[drunkenpiper36]

Not sure. At first thought it’s easy to imagine the elusive Jimmy Young staying out of harms way and boxing circles around Weaver. But then when I think of how he gave boxers like Holmes, Tate and Williams such problems, it doesn’t seem so cut and dry