Who was the best early-00s British LMW?

[oliverfennell]

We all remember the heady days of the early 00s when Britain had a whole slew of championship-grade light-middleweights, but very few of them fought, despite - or perhaps because - many of them holding titles simultaneously. None of them quite made it to world class but they were all very good and most matches you could make between them would have been pick'em affairs. Also a good mix of styles, from bangers to technical boxers to slicksters to gritty aggressors. But who was the best? Discuss.

I didn't include Ryan Rhodes as he was up at middleweight at the time, or Jamie Moore, because he hadn't yet got to title contention stage.

[Datsue]

Sergio Gabriel Martinez.

[DIRT SUGAR]

Still think Tak could've been best of the lot of them. Think he just got burned out really quickly though through over-training (warning to James Degale who I here is doing all the hard work Tak used to do, some of it which I just felt was pointless) and was so unlucky against Alexander, just let blood rush to his head after he got cut and well, we know the remember the rest... more than he does probably!

He was more of a boxer in the amateurs and would let guys come onto his punches, but Jimmy Mac turned him into a warrior, surprisingly considering Jim was a speed merchant who couldn't bang, which wasn't really his style and thus he struggled with boxers, he was just a bit slow of foot. Also, he always looked million dollars in the gym, but something happened fight time too.

[Priff]

Great thread.
I remember Gary Lockett was in the mix too.
I went for Williams, but it was time time of personality and partisanship too so there were many reason to have a favourite.
They were great domestic level fighters; Great fights were too be had and the fans knew it.
I remember it as a very frustrating time when we were not getting the fights we wanted.
Promotors wanted to maintain winning streaks (to maximise earnings), but all of their careers ebbed away without at least producing those fights that people remember. Those fights that large numbers of fans would recognise a boxer for in 10 years time and bore them to death with their memories of.
Everyone lost out.

[DIRT SUGAR]

Tak did fight Alexander and Farnell and I know he'd have boxed any of them given the chance.

[Newport Daz]

I went for Williams. He was a really smooth operator with great skills. My favourite though was Wayne Alexander. He had some world class power in his fists and was in some great fights. I suppose he was the definition of a skinny, chinny, banger though.

[Chambers2]

Richard 'the Secret' Williams

IMO

[DIRT SUGAR]

Richard had skills but was fragile. Great on-top fighter but injury/illness prone. Shame. Found his level against Martinez, which is no bad thing when you see how well he's done.

Tak gave it a go against Santos, but again, level between domestic UK and former Olympic silver medallist and quality operator just too much.

Alexander – puncher's chance against anyone, again, found out a top level albeit on short notice against another really good fighter in Simon.

Lockett could bang but again, opportunities never really arose and he was just given pay-day v Pavlik when past his best and out of real division.

Roberts, decent boxer but never really top class, same goes for Farnell.

[boxingchat]

Probably Ryan Rhodes or Wayne Alexander. All round skill would be Rhodes for me.