BoxRec

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

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.

HomicideHenry wrote: ↑26 Sep 2018, 05:33 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.

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.

HomicideHenry wrote: ↑26 Sep 2018, 05:33 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.

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

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