Best UK Fighter in each weight class?

Here's my list.

Heavyweight - Lennox Lewis
Cruiserweight - David Haye
Light Heavyweight - Dennis Andries
Super Middleweight - Nigel Benn
Middleweight - Randolph Turpin
Jnr Middleweight - Maurice Hope
Welterweight - Lloyd Honeyghan
Jnr Welterweight - Jackie Kid Berg
Lightweight - Freddie Welsh
Jnr Lightweight - Jim Mcdonnell
Featherweight - Barry McGuigan/Jim Driscoll
Super Bantam - Duke McKenzie
Bantamweight - Duke Mckenzie
Flyweight - Jimmy Wilde

Who do you rate as the best in each weight?

Calzaghe in place of Benn at SMW, for sure. Presume that was just an oversight on your part?

Naseem Hamed at bantam, super-bantam and feather.

Agree with Fists re Calzaghe, can't believe we are having to correct a welsh man on that!

Would also have Conteh above Andries at light heavy and having Barry tied with Driscoll is very generous to Barry, would have him behind Naz as well.

John Conteh at Light Heavyweight.

Would agree with most of this however going on the crazy list Scott found the other week surely Johnny Nelson above Haye at CW!! Naz would be there for SBW and Feather surely no offence Duke and calzaghe for Benn at SMW surely!

Damn your eyes, rotley.

Fear not Tina am considering making an argument for Bomber Graham at middle, am sure I'll be on my own on that one.

Fists of Fury wrote:Calzaghe in place of Benn at SMW, for sure. Presume that was just an oversight on your part?

Naseem Hamed at bantam, super-bantam and feather.

An oversight. Unfortunately not. I've struggled long and hard with the pick over the years but favour Benn over my fellow compatriot.

WelshDevilRob wrote:

Fists of Fury wrote:Calzaghe in place of Benn at SMW, for sure. Presume that was just an oversight on your part?

Naseem Hamed at bantam, super-bantam and feather.

An oversight. Unfortunately not. I've struggled long and hard with the pick over the years but favour Benn over my fellow compatriot.

I disagree, but just wait till Steffan sees your choice, can only be grateful you didn't pick Froch.

Ted Lewis at welter?

Good call Union, embarrased I forgot about him, he has to be the choice.

I'd also rate Freddie Mills above Andries.

Added to that, he was in a couple of Carry On films...

Heavyweight: Lennox Lewis
Cruiserweight: David Haye
Light-Heavyweight: John Conteh (by a country mile)
Super-Middleweight: Joe Calzaghe
Middleweight: Randy Turpin
Light-Middleweight: Maurice Hope
Welterweight: Ted 'Kid' Lewis (surely above Honeyghan?)
Light-Welterweight: Jack 'Kid' Berg
Lightweight: Ken Buchanan (more or less tied with Welsh)
Super-Featherweight: Cornelius Boza-Edwards (If you accept him as a Brit)
Featherweight: Jim Driscoll
Super-Bantamweight: Duke McKenzie
Bantamweight: Pedlar Palmer
Super-Flyweight: ? (Can't think of anyone at the moment)
Flyweight: Jimmy Wilde
Light-Flyweight: Paul Weir
Strawweight: Paul Weir

88Chris05 wrote:
Super-Featherweight: Cornelius Boza-Edwards (If you accept him as a Brit)

If this ends in a Fitzsimmons - Mclarnin debate I will hold you personally responsible Chris

No place for Naz, Chris?

He is a nailed on choice at featherweight for me. Driscoll runs him close but I don't feel that his level of opposition beaten was as consistently high as that of Naz.

rowley wrote:

88Chris05 wrote:
Super-Featherweight: Cornelius Boza-Edwards (If you accept him as a Brit)

If this ends in a Fitzsimmons - Mclarnin debate I will hold you personally responsible Chris

The best things come in threes, Rowley.

rowley wrote:

WelshDevilRob wrote:

Fists of Fury wrote:Calzaghe in place of Benn at SMW, for sure. Presume that was just an oversight on your part?

Naseem Hamed at bantam, super-bantam and feather.

An oversight. Unfortunately not. I've struggled long and hard with the pick over the years but favour Benn over my fellow compatriot.

I disagree, but just wait till Steffan sees your choice, can only be grateful you didn't pick Froch.

I'd never pick Froch.

Joe Calzaghe had a perfect record but I think everybody admits he fought alot of dross. I also scored for Benn in the Eubank rematch. Head to head I believe Benn would have beaten Joe but thats just an opinion. Rate both fighters very highly and both above Froch.

Cornelius Boza-Edwards is a very good choice. My list is a few years old but had forgotten about Boza.

Fists of Fury wrote:No place for Naz, Chris?

He is a nailed on choice at featherweight for me. Driscoll runs him close but I don't feel that his level of opposition beaten was as consistently high as that of Naz.

Misses out behind Driscoll by a small margin, for me. Wouldn't particularly argue with anyone who sees it the other way around.

Lewis, Haye, Conteh, Calzaghe - nailed on.

MW - Fitzsimmons. Can't believe no-one else has mentioned him actually.

LW - Welsh - Attell, Leonard - better than Buchanan but not by much for me.

Agree with the consensus for the rest

oxring wrote:MW - Fitzsimmons. Can't believe no-one else has mentioned him actually.

Erm...Who wants to go first?

Yeah, Fitz isn't British. Or good.

Scottrf wrote:Yeah, Fitz isn't British. Or good.

Is there some desire on the boards to see me explode, or reduced to tears?

If Fitz isn't British, nor's Lewis.

Mercifully, nor would Audley be, given his propensity for training/living stateside.

Lewis moved back to England, won the British title and built his pro career in England. Fitz didn't fight here or live here as an adult.

Hardly the same circumstances.

Well if Fitz is British so is Jimmy Mclarnin, born in Northern Ireland.

P.S. I hate you Chris.

Post some lists then people.

The article refers to UK fighters, not British.

Fair point Union, Mclarnin is retracted, and Chris I no longer hate you.

Born in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Will have to scrap Lloyd Honeyghan off my list.

Lennox Lewis for the pedantic amongst you was born in London so qualifies.

Scottrf wrote:Lewis moved back to England, won the British title and built his pro career in England. Fitz didn't fight here or live here as an adult.

Hardly the same circumstances.

Born in England, moved, went to school and college in Canada, fought for Canada, built his career and following in the UK, then went back to Canada and now Miami Beach. I would count him British if he chooses so to be. I would also count Fitzsimmons, by nationality listed, as British.

If he's not, then Turpin at MW.
______________
EDIT: Rob says born in any of the countries of the union. Fitz at MW.

Now you say Rob, Mclarnin is back on the table then, does he shift Kid Lewis at welter though. I am going to have to say yes.

As much a fan of Benn as I am it is tough to have him above both Calzaghe and Eubank.

Really hated saying that as I'm a huge Benn fan and would always try to put him forward whenever possible.

88Chris05 wrote:

oxring wrote:MW - Fitzsimmons. Can't believe no-one else has mentioned him actually.

Erm...Who wants to go first?

Should I have a go?

azania wrote:

88Chris05 wrote:

oxring wrote:MW - Fitzsimmons. Can't believe no-one else has mentioned him actually.

Erm...Who wants to go first?

Should I have a go?

If it's gonna be like some of your other far out theories then please god no!

azania wrote:

88Chris05 wrote:

oxring wrote:MW - Fitzsimmons. Can't believe no-one else has mentioned him actually.

Erm...Who wants to go first?

Should I have a go?

Do Rowley for his McClarnin pick az. I'm still recovering from yesterday.

Which modern day average WW are you going to pick over McClarnin?

Think Amir has the potential to go on and be the best WW we've ever had to be honest.

oxring wrote:

azania wrote:

88Chris05 wrote:

oxring wrote:MW - Fitzsimmons. Can't believe no-one else has mentioned him actually.

Erm...Who wants to go first?

Should I have a go?

Do Rowley for his McClarnin pick az. I'm still recovering from yesterday.

Which modern day average WW are you going to pick over McClarnin?

Am fairly sure Colin Lynes would take him to the cleaners oxy.

rowley wrote:

oxring wrote:

azania wrote:

88Chris05 wrote:

oxring wrote:MW - Fitzsimmons. Can't believe no-one else has mentioned him actually.

Erm...Who wants to go first?

Should I have a go?

Do Rowley for his McClarnin pick az. I'm still recovering from yesterday.

Which modern day average WW are you going to pick over McClarnin?

Am fairly sure Colin Lynes would take him to the cleaners oxy.

And Takaloo? Who wins - Takaloo or McClarnin?

oxring wrote:

azania wrote:

88Chris05 wrote:

oxring wrote:MW - Fitzsimmons. Can't believe no-one else has mentioned him actually.

Erm...Who wants to go first?

Should I have a go?

Do Rowley for his McClarnin pick az. I'm still recovering from yesterday.

Which modern day average WW are you going to pick over McClarnin?

I'd go for Honeyghan. Special K will go far also. In terms of talent I can name at least half a dozen. Should I? Come on Oxy, you love it really.

6?

That's a big, big claim Az. Go for it.

oxring wrote: 6?

That's a big, big claim Az. Go for it.

Please don't

oxring wrote: 6?

That's a big, big claim Az. Go for it.

Honey, Jones, Laing, Kell, Mittee, Driscoll (one for the oldies there). All would beat him handily. Too much knowledge.

rowley wrote:

oxring wrote: 6?

That's a big, big claim Az. Go for it.

Please don't

Too late

To*

oxring wrote:

rowley wrote:

oxring wrote:

azania wrote:

88Chris05 wrote:

oxring wrote:MW - Fitzsimmons. Can't believe no-one else has mentioned him actually.

Erm...Who wants to go first?

Should I have a go?

Do Rowley for his McClarnin pick az. I'm still recovering from yesterday.

Which modern day average WW are you going to pick over McClarnin?

Am fairly sure Colin Lynes would take him to the cleaners oxy.

And Takaloo? Who wins - Takaloo or McClarnin?

The Tak from Prizefighter would just be squeezed out.

AlexHuckerby wrote:To*

No.

Takaloo was born in Iran, and is therefore ineligible.

Fools.

You're just being silly now, in Jimmy Mclarnin you are talking about a guy the IBRO have as the 11th best welterweight ever, to wit in one of the original eight divisions there have only been 10 better fighters ever, and you are claiming he would only squeak past a domestic level fighter who got knocked into next week by Wayne Alexander. It's nonsense of the highest order, don't know if you are serious or trying to top your previous nonsense but whichever it is please stop it.

rowley wrote:You're just being silly now, in Jimmy Mclarnin you are talking about a guy the IBRO have as the 11th best welterweight ever, to wit in one of the original eight divisions there have only been 10 better fighters ever, and you are claiming he would only squeak past a domestic level fighter who got knocked into next week by Wayne Alexander. It's nonsense of the highest order, don't know if you are serious or trying to top your previous nonsense but whichever it is please stop it.

That's why I said "talent".

Scottrf wrote:

AlexHuckerby wrote:To*

No.

Yes. But for the one above that.