BoxRec

who do you guys reckon were the best welterweight boxers of the 1980's?

How the hell can you have Hearns at number 6 WW of the 80s, hes probably number 6 of all time
My top 10
1. Leonard
2. Hearns
3. Duran
4. Curry
5. Benitez
6. Starling
7. Brown
8. Cuevas
9. Breland
10. Honeyghan

Hearns took Leonard to the verge, and I take into account what he did in the higher weight divisions when I rank him at 5 or 6 all-time, and number 2 in the 80s.
Cuevas was still champ in 1980, and still a contender in the early 80s. Im not sure in reterospect he should be top 10 in the 80s.
Duran deserves to be high on the list for beating Leonard.

I guess it depends on what criteria you use for determing if a fighter belongs in this decade.

Do you count fights in the 1970's (or the 1990's for that matter) in evaluating a guy who had fights in the 1980's?
If so, then someone like Cuevas, Duran (only his welterweight fights) ,Leonard, and Hearns would benefit.
If not, then you are rating these guys on a very limited amount of fights.
It seems like you guys are including their fights from the 1970's so I am as well.

However, I don't think that you can justify ranking Benitez. He never had a fight at welterweight in the 1980's.

Anyway here is what I have:
1. Leonard
2. Hearns
3. Duran
4. Curry
5. Starling
6. Brown
7. Honeyghan
8. Cuevas
9. Breland
10. McCrory

My list is similar to drdevious. I think Hearns has to be #2. Not only did he have the great fight with Leonard and crush Cuevas, he also had several decent wins- Weston,Espada,Shields,Gray etc.

In terms of achievement Alp's list is probably about right.

In terms of ability it's much more difficult.

Leonard-Duran-Hearns are all capable of beating one another on a given night.

Behind them is the Curry-Starling-Brown-Honeyghan group... I'm a fan of Honeyghans' and think at their best he takes Curry and Starling.

By the 80s Cuevas is in that 3rd pool.

A name I'd like to add is Colin Jones. He got a draw with McCrory (maybe could have won that one) and he beat the vastly underrated (on this board) Laing twice.

I dont think Duran would ever beat Hearns - Tommy had too many physical advantages.
Good call on Colin Jones and Kirkland Laing, both are very underated

ojing-a wrote:I get confused between Colin Jone and the guy that got his asskicked by SRL.
From number 8 down, Vaca, LaRocca, Colin Jone are all interchangeable.
I just remember reading some old 80' ring mag and Nino LaRocca was ranked number one for like 6-7 years. Italians call him their greatest welterweight so I put in there.
LaRocca vs. Curry or Jones vs. Curry.. which figher was more competent?
You pick

Dave 'Boy' Green

Lloyd Honeyghan
Simon Brown
Don Curry
Ray Leonard
Thomas Hearns
Roberto Duran
Tyrone Trice
Johnny Bumphus
Mini Mouse
Marlon Starling (This guy is for the birds)