The lightweight division has played host to some of boxing’s greatest talents, and in the eyes of former WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew, there is only true king of the 135lb scene ‘that nobody could beat’.
Benny Leonard ruled as the world lightweight champion for eight years between 1917 and 1925 – a reign that remains as the longest in the history of the division over a century later and one that is unlikely to ever be broken, given the way that modern fighters move through divisions.
Meanwhile, Floyd Mayweather famously hung up the gloves with an undefeated record after 50 professional contests and rose to superstardom as a super-featherweight, in what is now referred to as his more aggressive ‘Pretty Boy’ era.
Although, he controversially beat Jose Luis Castillo to claim the WBC lightweight title on divisional debut and then made three defences before moving up.
Yet, speaking on a potential scrap between Mayweather and Roberto Duran, on the Fight Your Corner Podcast, Bellew declared his belief that no fighter in boxing history could beat Duran as a lightweight.
“I look at Duran and the Duran that goes through the lightweight division and just tears everybody apart. I don’t think that anybody beats Duran at lightweight, no, I don’t think that anybody in history beats him.”
Duran lost just one of his first 73 fights, that being against lightweight foe Esteban De Jesus, whom he then defeated twice to avenge the loss and then win their trilogy.
The remaining 15 defeats of Duran’s career all came at welterweight or above, with his 135lb wins over Ken Buchanan, Hector Thompson and Ray Lampkin considered to be some of his best career performances.
