Crold1
11-05-2009, 01:11 AM
The Top 25 Light Heavyweights of All-Time – 11 to 25
By Cliff Rold
The Eight, Pt. 5
Light Heavyweight
This Saturday night, arguably the two premiere Light Heavyweights in the world, Chad Dawson and Glen Johnson, will square off for the second time. Their first turn around the bend was a doozy.
This is a division which has never been short on doozies. Skipping ahead from Lightweight in this series to coincide with the weekend action, Light Heavyweight has always been an interesting place on the scale. The biggest money usually lurked one class below or above and the best Light Heavyweights have often tested the larger waters. Set at 175 pounds since the National Sporting Club established the line in 1909, the division’s gloved era can trace its world title even farther to a 1903 battle between Jack Root and Charles “Kid” McCoy.
As noted in previous editions of this series, the only rule in “The Eight”’ is no one currently active in the division was considered…with one notable exception made this time around. Given the richness and depth of history at Light Heavyweight, it is only fitting that the best of today finish their runs to earn placement with the very best. The reason for the exception will be evident when it comes up in numbers 11-25.
The Top Twenty-Five
25) Virgil Hill (1984-2007): North Dakota’s “Quicksilver” followed a Silver Medal at Middleweight as part of the legendary 1984 U.S. Olympic squad with two lengthy title reigns at 175...career mark of 50-7, 23 KO…WBA titlist 1987-91, 10 defenses; 1992-97, 10 defenses; IBF titlist and lineal World champion 1996-97…turned pro in 1984, at Madison Square Garden, Hill used his quick hands and educated left jab to win his first 18 bouts, earning a shot at WBA titlist Leslie Stewart and scoring a fourth round stoppage…decisioned former IBF titlist Bobby Czyz over the course of his first reign before dropping the strap to the great Tommy Hearns in Hearns last great performance…Hill rebounded with a pair of wins before facing former Olympic teammate Frank Tate for the then-vacant WBA belt in September 1992, wining on points…the second reign would be more impressive than the first with wins over future Cruiserweight titlist Adolpho Washington and future Light Heavyweight titlists Fabrice Tiozzo and Lou De Valle…in his defining win, Hill would travel to Germany and unseat undefeated IBF titlist Henry Maske via spirited split decision…by virtue of his previous win over then-reigning WBA titlist Tiozzo, Hill earned the right to call himself, finally, the true Light Heavyweight champion…it would be a short lived celebration as he would lose his next bout to WBO titlist Dariusz Michalczewski by decision followed by a non-title fourth-round knockout loss to Roy Jones in his next bout…Hill would later go on to a pair of title reigns at Cruiserweight…decisive losses to arguably the three best men he faced at 175 hinder Hill but the Maske fight, and his lengthy title runs, deserve their accolades…Hill has not yet become eligible for a vote to the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF).
24) Dwight Muhammad Qawi (1978-98): Born Dwight Braxton, the “Camden Buzzsaw” began to learn his craft while incarcerated and, with no amateur career, built a lasting legacy in the sport with a take no prisoners style...career mark of 41-11-1, 25 KO…WBC titlist 1981-83, 3 defenses…drawing in his debut, and losing his third fight would be the only setbacks for Qawi in a first 16 bouts which featured a stoppage of former titlist Mike Rossman and a win versus then still-incarcerated fellow Rahway State prison alum James Scott (in the prison)…in his next bout, in December 1981, Qawi would end the thrill ride which was the reign of Matthew Saad Muhammad to win his first title…Qawi followed the tenth round stoppage of Muhammad with three defenses, including a stoppage of Muhammad in six of their rematch, before a unification showdown with WBA titlist Michael Spinks…the more experienced Spinks soundly outboxed Qawi over fifteen to be crowned undisputed Light Heavyweight…Qawi would move up the scale and briefly hold the WBA belt at Cruiserweight, losing what remains that division’s greatest fight in 1986 to a young Evander Holyfield…Qawi was elected to the IBHOF in 2004.
23) Willie Pastrano (1951-65): The New Orleans slickster began his career as a 15-year old Featherweight and toiled methodically for almost twelve years to make good on a shot at the top of the world…career mark of 63-13-8, 14 KO…World Champion 1963-65, two defenses...breakthrough win at Light Heavyweight came in a 1955 decision over former champion Joey Maxim and he would alternate between Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight for years…drew with an aging Archie Moore in 1962…finally snared a title shot against veteran champion Harold Johnson in June 1963, leaving with a competitive 15-round split decision in Las Vegas…he would defend twice, avenging a non-title loss to Gregorio Peralta and stopping former Middleweight champ Terry Downes in 1964…in his final fight, Pastrano was stopped in nine by Jose Torres…Pastrano on his best day could beat almost anyone but also had a penchant for losses at lousy times throughout his career…Pastrano was voted to the IBHOF in 2001.
22) Paul Berlenbach (1923-33): An Olympic Middleweight qualifier in 1920, sometimes errantly cited as a Gold Medalist though he missed Antwerp, New York’s “Astoria Assassin” turned to pugilism after a short run in amateur pugilism…career mark of 39-8-3, 33 KO, 1 no decision, 1 no contest…World champion 1925-26, 3 defenses…the big punching Berlenbach was matched tough from early on, stopped in only his 11th fight by future champion Jack Delaney…drew with Hall of Famer Young Stribling in 1924 and stopped former champion Battling Siki in ten the following year to set up a title shot…two years after winning the AAU Heavyweight wrestling title, Berlenbach defeated Mike McTigue in May 1925 on points for Boxing’s Light Heavyweight crown…lost one of seven fights over the next year, a non-title points loss to Johnny Risko, but successfully defended against the Hall of Fame trio of Delaney, Stribling, and Jimmy Slattery…dropped the title to Delaney in July 1926 and slid away from his prime as quick as he got there with additional losses to McTigue, Delaney and Mickey Walker by the end of 1927…while his peak was short, Berlenbach packed a lot into a short run…Berlenbach was voted to the IBHOF in 2001.
21) Dariusz Michalczewski (1991-2005): Following an excellent amateur mark of 133-15-2, Poland’s “Tiger” used a phone pole jab, powerful right, and crowd pleasing style to build a strong mark in class…career mark of 48-2, 38 KO…WBO titlist 1994-2003, 23 defenses; WBA/IBF titlist 1997; Lineal World champion 1997-2003, 14 defenses…Michalczewski won his first major title with a decision over Leeonzer Barber in September 1994 and made eight defenses, along with a one off WBO Cruiserweight title win, before a shot at the WBA and IBF belts and the lineal crown against Virgil Hill in June 1997…Michalczewski won a commanding decision over twelve…notably stopped former titlist Montell Griffin in four and avenged a controversial 1996 disqualification win over Graciano Rocchigiani in 2000 by decision…was 48-0 before suffering a first loss at age 35 to Julio Gonzalez in October 2003…stopped for the only time in his final bout in 2005 against Fabrice Tiozzo…suffers for sometimes poor opposition and the lack of a fight with the man who dominated the division in parallel to him, Roy Jones…gets credit for setting the overall consecutive title defense mark in the division as well as tying the consecutive lineal defense mark set by Bob Foster. Note: In a previous article, Michalczewski was errantly given credit for topping Foster’s mark at 15. The correction is noted here.
20) Joey Maxim (1941-58): Born Giuseppe Antonio Berardinelli, Cleveland’s Maxim, behind tremendous defense and a chin which could be dented only once in over 100 bouts, fought one of the toughest slates of foes ever seen in the sport…career mark of 82-29-4, 21 KO…World Champion 1950-52, 2 defenses…on his way up the ranks, avenged his only knockout loss (by first round KO in 1943) in his very next fight with a decision over Curtis Sheppard…lost to the outstanding Lloyd Marshall in 1994 but won the first of three contests with future Heavyweight king Jersey Joe Walcott in 1946…between 1948-49, defeated the rugged Bob Satterfield, avenged an early loss to Hall of Famer Jimmy Bivins, decisioned former World champion Gus Lesnevich while losing close in the third of five career fights with Ezzard Charles...crossed the pond to London in January 1950, scoring a rare stoppage in ten to win the title from Freddie Mills…fell short in a shot at then-Heavyweight champion Charles in 1951 but picked up his most notable win the following year, outlasting the great Sugar Ray Robinson to defend the title in a legendarily humid, outdoor Bronx battle; it was the only stoppage loss of Robinson’s career…lost the title in his following bout to Archie Moore, their first of three contests…upset a young Floyd Patterson in 1954 before beginning a final slide of eight losses in his final ten bouts…Maxim may have been seen as even greater in a less loaded era as eleven of his first 16 losses came to Hall of Fame greats Walcott, Moore, Charles and Bivins and two others came in his first twelve bouts…Maxim was voted to the IBHOF in 1994.
Read the rest at: http://www.boxingscene.com/index.php?m=show&id=23255
By Cliff Rold
The Eight, Pt. 5
Light Heavyweight
This Saturday night, arguably the two premiere Light Heavyweights in the world, Chad Dawson and Glen Johnson, will square off for the second time. Their first turn around the bend was a doozy.
This is a division which has never been short on doozies. Skipping ahead from Lightweight in this series to coincide with the weekend action, Light Heavyweight has always been an interesting place on the scale. The biggest money usually lurked one class below or above and the best Light Heavyweights have often tested the larger waters. Set at 175 pounds since the National Sporting Club established the line in 1909, the division’s gloved era can trace its world title even farther to a 1903 battle between Jack Root and Charles “Kid” McCoy.
As noted in previous editions of this series, the only rule in “The Eight”’ is no one currently active in the division was considered…with one notable exception made this time around. Given the richness and depth of history at Light Heavyweight, it is only fitting that the best of today finish their runs to earn placement with the very best. The reason for the exception will be evident when it comes up in numbers 11-25.
The Top Twenty-Five
25) Virgil Hill (1984-2007): North Dakota’s “Quicksilver” followed a Silver Medal at Middleweight as part of the legendary 1984 U.S. Olympic squad with two lengthy title reigns at 175...career mark of 50-7, 23 KO…WBA titlist 1987-91, 10 defenses; 1992-97, 10 defenses; IBF titlist and lineal World champion 1996-97…turned pro in 1984, at Madison Square Garden, Hill used his quick hands and educated left jab to win his first 18 bouts, earning a shot at WBA titlist Leslie Stewart and scoring a fourth round stoppage…decisioned former IBF titlist Bobby Czyz over the course of his first reign before dropping the strap to the great Tommy Hearns in Hearns last great performance…Hill rebounded with a pair of wins before facing former Olympic teammate Frank Tate for the then-vacant WBA belt in September 1992, wining on points…the second reign would be more impressive than the first with wins over future Cruiserweight titlist Adolpho Washington and future Light Heavyweight titlists Fabrice Tiozzo and Lou De Valle…in his defining win, Hill would travel to Germany and unseat undefeated IBF titlist Henry Maske via spirited split decision…by virtue of his previous win over then-reigning WBA titlist Tiozzo, Hill earned the right to call himself, finally, the true Light Heavyweight champion…it would be a short lived celebration as he would lose his next bout to WBO titlist Dariusz Michalczewski by decision followed by a non-title fourth-round knockout loss to Roy Jones in his next bout…Hill would later go on to a pair of title reigns at Cruiserweight…decisive losses to arguably the three best men he faced at 175 hinder Hill but the Maske fight, and his lengthy title runs, deserve their accolades…Hill has not yet become eligible for a vote to the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF).
24) Dwight Muhammad Qawi (1978-98): Born Dwight Braxton, the “Camden Buzzsaw” began to learn his craft while incarcerated and, with no amateur career, built a lasting legacy in the sport with a take no prisoners style...career mark of 41-11-1, 25 KO…WBC titlist 1981-83, 3 defenses…drawing in his debut, and losing his third fight would be the only setbacks for Qawi in a first 16 bouts which featured a stoppage of former titlist Mike Rossman and a win versus then still-incarcerated fellow Rahway State prison alum James Scott (in the prison)…in his next bout, in December 1981, Qawi would end the thrill ride which was the reign of Matthew Saad Muhammad to win his first title…Qawi followed the tenth round stoppage of Muhammad with three defenses, including a stoppage of Muhammad in six of their rematch, before a unification showdown with WBA titlist Michael Spinks…the more experienced Spinks soundly outboxed Qawi over fifteen to be crowned undisputed Light Heavyweight…Qawi would move up the scale and briefly hold the WBA belt at Cruiserweight, losing what remains that division’s greatest fight in 1986 to a young Evander Holyfield…Qawi was elected to the IBHOF in 2004.
23) Willie Pastrano (1951-65): The New Orleans slickster began his career as a 15-year old Featherweight and toiled methodically for almost twelve years to make good on a shot at the top of the world…career mark of 63-13-8, 14 KO…World Champion 1963-65, two defenses...breakthrough win at Light Heavyweight came in a 1955 decision over former champion Joey Maxim and he would alternate between Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight for years…drew with an aging Archie Moore in 1962…finally snared a title shot against veteran champion Harold Johnson in June 1963, leaving with a competitive 15-round split decision in Las Vegas…he would defend twice, avenging a non-title loss to Gregorio Peralta and stopping former Middleweight champ Terry Downes in 1964…in his final fight, Pastrano was stopped in nine by Jose Torres…Pastrano on his best day could beat almost anyone but also had a penchant for losses at lousy times throughout his career…Pastrano was voted to the IBHOF in 2001.
22) Paul Berlenbach (1923-33): An Olympic Middleweight qualifier in 1920, sometimes errantly cited as a Gold Medalist though he missed Antwerp, New York’s “Astoria Assassin” turned to pugilism after a short run in amateur pugilism…career mark of 39-8-3, 33 KO, 1 no decision, 1 no contest…World champion 1925-26, 3 defenses…the big punching Berlenbach was matched tough from early on, stopped in only his 11th fight by future champion Jack Delaney…drew with Hall of Famer Young Stribling in 1924 and stopped former champion Battling Siki in ten the following year to set up a title shot…two years after winning the AAU Heavyweight wrestling title, Berlenbach defeated Mike McTigue in May 1925 on points for Boxing’s Light Heavyweight crown…lost one of seven fights over the next year, a non-title points loss to Johnny Risko, but successfully defended against the Hall of Fame trio of Delaney, Stribling, and Jimmy Slattery…dropped the title to Delaney in July 1926 and slid away from his prime as quick as he got there with additional losses to McTigue, Delaney and Mickey Walker by the end of 1927…while his peak was short, Berlenbach packed a lot into a short run…Berlenbach was voted to the IBHOF in 2001.
21) Dariusz Michalczewski (1991-2005): Following an excellent amateur mark of 133-15-2, Poland’s “Tiger” used a phone pole jab, powerful right, and crowd pleasing style to build a strong mark in class…career mark of 48-2, 38 KO…WBO titlist 1994-2003, 23 defenses; WBA/IBF titlist 1997; Lineal World champion 1997-2003, 14 defenses…Michalczewski won his first major title with a decision over Leeonzer Barber in September 1994 and made eight defenses, along with a one off WBO Cruiserweight title win, before a shot at the WBA and IBF belts and the lineal crown against Virgil Hill in June 1997…Michalczewski won a commanding decision over twelve…notably stopped former titlist Montell Griffin in four and avenged a controversial 1996 disqualification win over Graciano Rocchigiani in 2000 by decision…was 48-0 before suffering a first loss at age 35 to Julio Gonzalez in October 2003…stopped for the only time in his final bout in 2005 against Fabrice Tiozzo…suffers for sometimes poor opposition and the lack of a fight with the man who dominated the division in parallel to him, Roy Jones…gets credit for setting the overall consecutive title defense mark in the division as well as tying the consecutive lineal defense mark set by Bob Foster. Note: In a previous article, Michalczewski was errantly given credit for topping Foster’s mark at 15. The correction is noted here.
20) Joey Maxim (1941-58): Born Giuseppe Antonio Berardinelli, Cleveland’s Maxim, behind tremendous defense and a chin which could be dented only once in over 100 bouts, fought one of the toughest slates of foes ever seen in the sport…career mark of 82-29-4, 21 KO…World Champion 1950-52, 2 defenses…on his way up the ranks, avenged his only knockout loss (by first round KO in 1943) in his very next fight with a decision over Curtis Sheppard…lost to the outstanding Lloyd Marshall in 1994 but won the first of three contests with future Heavyweight king Jersey Joe Walcott in 1946…between 1948-49, defeated the rugged Bob Satterfield, avenged an early loss to Hall of Famer Jimmy Bivins, decisioned former World champion Gus Lesnevich while losing close in the third of five career fights with Ezzard Charles...crossed the pond to London in January 1950, scoring a rare stoppage in ten to win the title from Freddie Mills…fell short in a shot at then-Heavyweight champion Charles in 1951 but picked up his most notable win the following year, outlasting the great Sugar Ray Robinson to defend the title in a legendarily humid, outdoor Bronx battle; it was the only stoppage loss of Robinson’s career…lost the title in his following bout to Archie Moore, their first of three contests…upset a young Floyd Patterson in 1954 before beginning a final slide of eight losses in his final ten bouts…Maxim may have been seen as even greater in a less loaded era as eleven of his first 16 losses came to Hall of Fame greats Walcott, Moore, Charles and Bivins and two others came in his first twelve bouts…Maxim was voted to the IBHOF in 1994.
Read the rest at: http://www.boxingscene.com/index.php?m=show&id=23255