Category Archives: Lightweights

The Greatest Lightweights of All Time

David Martinez, Lightweights, Rankings

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

Over the many years that I have rated fighters in either different weight divisions or from their born countries, this 135 pound weight class is most likely the closest in overall talent.

My usual format is ranking the top dozen (12) with a select group of honorable mentions, but in this division I will rank my top twenty (20) great lightweights.

My rating of boxers is based on the height, peak, prime, pinnacle of their careers as I see fit.  Who-beats-whom at different stages of their careers isn’t a factor in my “pound for pound” formula.

There are many situations where one fighter loses to another, and I actually rate the losing fighter with a higher “pound for pound” ranking.

Some classic examples of my method are, and these are fighters that lost twice to their opponents: Gene Tunney beating Jack Dempsey, Sandy Saddler beating Willie Pep, Jim Jeffries beating Bob Fitzsimmons, Evander Holyfield beating Mike Tyson, Aaron Pryor beating Alexis Arguello, Rafael Herrera beating Ruben Olivares, Iran Barkley beating Tommy Hearns, Oscar De La Hoya beating Julio Cesar Chavez, Riddick Bowe beating Evander Holyfield, Fighting Harada beating Eder Jofre, and it goes on!

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Lopez by Unanimous Decision over Lomachenko

Lightweights, Recent Fights, Tom Donelson

By Tom Donelson / Author, Member Boxing Writers Association of America, and well respected contributor to dmboxing.com since 2008

There was the fight in the ring and then there was the fight on the scorecards. When Teofimo Lopez Jr. and Vasiliy Lomachenko faced each other to decide the official undisputed lightweight championship of the world, the fight in the ring was close and, in the view of many, decided in the final round. I had Lopez up by a 115-113 score, but it could have been 114-114 or 115-113 in favor of Lomachenko. Yes, it was close, and certainly closer than the scorecards indicated.

When Lopez and Lomachenko faced off in this unification bout, the opening rounds saw Lopez control the fight with his jabs followed by body shots.  The first half of the fight was a tactical fight with Lopez dominating the action.

The biggest shock was that Lopez not only kept his composure, but that he also managed to out-box the master boxer, Lomachenko.  He used his jab to keep Lomachenko off balance and used uppercuts and straight rights to the body.  After the sixth round, ESPN had the fight 59-55 and I had it 60-54 in favor of Lopez.  It was hardly a great fight but a tactical fight which Lopez was winning.

Continue reading Lopez by Unanimous Decision over Lomachenko →

Crawford by “KO” over Kavaliauskas

David Martinez, Lightweights, Recent Fights

By David Martinez / dmboxing.com

Saturday night on ESPN, fight fans were treated to an  entertaining three bout boxing show, televised live from New York’s Madison Square Garden.

First up was undefeated featherweight Michael Conlan (13-0 / 7 by KO) who remained undefeated, winning a unanimous 10-round decision over Vladimir Nikitin (3-1 / 0 by KO). The official scorecards were 98-92, 99-91, 100-90 … my scoring was 98-92, eight rounds to two for the winner Conlan.

In the co-feature main event unbeaten Teofimo Lopez (15-0 / 12 by KO) scored a second round knockout over IBF lightweight champion Richard Commey (29-3 / 26 by KO).

After a slow start in the first round, Lopez dropped Commey with a spectacularly executed straight right hand. To my amazement Commey beat the count, but Lopez was on him and landed countless barrage of punches as referee David Fields stopped it at 1:13 time of round two. With the win Lopez captures a part of the 135 lb. title, and is in line for a mega unification fight with WBA/WBC/ WBO champion Vasility Lomachenko, projected for April 2020.

Continue reading Crawford by “KO” over Kavaliauskas →

FROM THE DESK OF: David Martinez

David Martinez, FROM THE DESK OF:, hats, Lightweights, Rankings

(Fall 2019 Edition)

The Fall season is here and once again it’s that time to say thank you to all for making this website one of your choices in boxing. It is my pleasure and I treasure the opportunity to provide the best of boxing as I know it to everyone.

A small team of people that help enhance dmboxing.com and whom I would like to acknowledge are: Bob Quackenbush (Lead Assistant / Proof Reader); Kathy Kraft (Proof Reader); Jim Amato (Senior Boxing Writer / Boxing Historian); Tom Donelson / Author, Member Boxing Writers Association of America); Steve Corbo (Boxing Writer / Proof Reader); Harold Lederman (R.I.P. / Hey Harold / HBO World Championship Boxing); and Rusty Rubin (R.I.P. / In Rusty’s Corner / Glove2Glove). [Note: Rusty was the first to contribute to dmboxing in July 2007].

The young ladies that have modeled my products over the years have certainly added beauty and, although not professional models, they have contributed with class and charm.

The attractive website hat displayed in the photo above (thank you model Sandria) is a top selling product. It is embroidered with the official logo on the front and website address on the backside. It has an adjustable Velcro strap to fit all sizes. To order, send check or money order (NO cash please) in the amount of $18.50 to: David Martinez Boxing, 810 Coronel Street, Santa Barbara, California 93109 … and this includes FREE shipping to anywhere in the USA mail zones.

It has now been two months since we lost one the greatest boxers, Pernell Whitaker. He was a champion in four different weight divisions, and accumulated an outstanding professional record of 40 wins, 4 losses, one draw, and one no-contest, with 17 by knockout. Many have asked me where I rank him amongst the elite lightweights of all time. My ranking is at #6, with my top ten being (in order) Benny Leonard, Roberto Duran, Joe Gans, Tony Canzoneri, Jimmy McLarnin, Pernell Whitaker, Carlos Ortiz, Ike Williams, Freddie Welsh, and Battling Nelson.

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It’s Lomachenko in Dominant Win Over Campbell

David Martinez, Lightweights, Recent Fights

By David Martinez / dmboxing.com

Vasiliy Lomachenko (14-1 / 10 by KO) added the vacant WBC title belt to his current WBA/WBO lightweight title belts, in defeating Luke Campbell (20-3 / 16 by KO) by a twelve round unanimous decision in an entertaining fight with 20,000 watching at the 02 Arena in London, England.

After a feel out first round, won by Campbell, Lomachenko would control every round thereafter, with some of those early rounds being close. Round five was defining for Lomachenko who won that round huge.

The British fighter Campbell certainly fought as well as he could and stunned Lomachenko in round seven, but the Ukranian fighter Lomachenko asserted himself and turned it around to finish the round strong.

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What if (?) … Ken Buchanan vs. Mando Ramos

Dream Fights, FLASHBACK, Jim Amato, Lightweights

*** FLASHBACK –  this article originally appeared on dmboxing.com on October 11, 2013

By Jim Amato / Senior Boxing Writer

Ken Buchanan-crop

In the time that I have followed boxing there are many matches that could have happened and should have happened. Some, like Archie Moore-Sugar Ray Robinson and Jake LaMotta-Rocky Graziano, were before my era. They might have been thrilling matches, but for one reason or another they just never came off.

One from “my era,” the early 1970’s, was Ken Buchanan against Mando Ramos. Mr. Ramos was one of my early favorites. He was just a few years older than me when he won the lightweight title in his second try versus the talented Carlos Teo Cruz, when he was barely 20 years old. He lost the title soon after to Panama’s slick former world champion Ismael Laguna. Mando was cut up by the jabs and quick hands of Laguna. He also had trouble with Laguna’s fast feet and shifty style. Soon after Ismael Laguna handed the crown to another crafty boxer, the gritty Ken Buchanan of Scotland.

(Photo taken courtesy David Martinez at World Boxing Hall of Fame Banquet of Champions, October 20, 2001,  Westin Bonaventure, Los Angeles, California)

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Lomachenko by 4th Round Knockout … Retains WBA/WBO Lightweight Title Belts

Lightweights, Recent Fights, Tom Donelson

By Tom Donelson / Author, Member Boxing Writers Association of America … contributor to dmboxing.com since 2008

Anthony Crolla faced Vasiliy Lomachenko in a battle for Lomachenko’s lightweight title belts. I wouldn’t use the word battle as Lomachenko chased Crolla throughout the bout, rarely in trouble. Crolla had very little answers and did very little in punching back. Using body shots along with jabs, Lomachenko dominated the action from the first round.  At the end of the third round, Lomachenko landed a combination that was counted as a knockdown as the rope kept Crolla from hitting the canvas. After an eight count, the bell ended the fight. Crolla was Lomanchenko’s punching bag.

Lomachenko ended the bout with a right hand hook from his southpaw position as Crolla hit the canvas face first. Lomachenko is now 14-1 with 11 knockouts but this record is even more impressive since he has fought the best in his division.  I doubt any fighter has as impressive a list of opponents over their first fifteen fights as Lomachenko who started his career fighting Jose Ramirez who was 25-3 and a title contender, winning by a knockout.

Continue reading Lomachenko by 4th Round Knockout … Retains WBA/WBO Lightweight Title Belts →

Freddie Welsh

David Martinez, History, Lightweights

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

One of Britain’s greatest boxers, is certainly Freddie Welsh.  Born by the name Frederick Hall Thomas, on March 5, 1886, in Pontypridd, South Wales, United Kingdom.  Welsh started his professional career in 1905 in Philadelphia.  He would later win the lightweight championship by 20 round decision over Willie Ritchie on July 7, 1914.   He would go on to hold the title until 1917, when he then lost to Benny Leonard by knockout in 9 rounds.

After the Leonard fight, Welsh went on to serve in United States Army during World War I, and helped disabled veterans at Walter Reed Hospital.  After being discharged at the rank of captain, he returned to the ring after a three year layoff resumed his boxing career in December 1920 .

Welsh would only fight six bouts in 16 months winning four, with one draw and losing a 10 round decision in his final fight, and he would retire in April 1922.

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Lomachenko by Decision over Pedraza in Lightweight Unification Bout

David Martinez, Lightweights, Recent Fights

By David Martinez / dmboxing.com

On Saturday night WBA World Lightweight Champion Vasiliy Lomachenko (12-1 / 9 by KO) scored a twelve round unanimous decision over WBO World Lightweight Champion Jose Pedraza (25-2 / 12 by KO).  With both titles on the line, the bout took place in the Hulu Theater, at Madison Square Garden, New York, and was televised nationally on ESPN.

This was really a tactical matchup with Lomachenko controlling the action. Although Pedraza certainly came to fight, he did his best to make it a competitive affair.  This may well have been Pedraza’s best performance ever, but it came against, arguably, the best “pound for pound” fighter in the world today and it just wasn’t enough.

Lomachenko put an exclamation point on the fight in round eleven as he battered Pedraza in a dominant performance and scored two knockdowns!  A gutsy Pedraza was reeling and ready to go, but was saved by the bell.

While some may have thought the fight was close, Lomachenko clearly won round after round.  The official scores were: 119-107, 117-109, 117-109, while I also scored the bout 117 -109.  All in favor of Lomachenko.

With competition in lightweight division relatively thin, Lomachenko has called out undefeated WBC World Lightweight Champion Mikey Garcia (39-0 / 30 by KO).  But that will have to wait until after Garcia’s March 16, 2019 showdown with undefeated IBF World Welterweight Champion Errol Spence Jr. (24-0 / 21 by KO).

In the meantime, potential fights that would make sense for Lomachencko would be with undefeated WBA World Junior Lightweight Champion Gevonta Davis (20-0 / 19 by KO) or once beaten Miguel Berchelt (34-1 / 30 by KO) … assuming they can agree on the issue of weight.