Leaping from welterweight to junior middleweight: A historic checklist of hits and misses

The welterweight division has been dwelling to among the absolute best fighters in boxing historical past.

Seven kilos north is the much less conventional junior middleweight class. It was as soon as a stop-over between two of boxing’s glamour divisions welterweight and middleweight, however with time it earned a fame of its personal.

On Saturday, Terence Crawford will look to grow to be a four-weight world champion when he faces WBA 154-pound titlist Israil Madrimov at BMO Stadium (previously Banc of California Stadium), Los Angeles, California.

Beforehand, Crawford had claimed the Ring championship and WBO title at light-weight earlier than changing into Ring junior welterweight champion. Extra lately, he grew to become Ring welterweight champion, and can now bid to hitch a formidable checklist of fighters who’ve equally moved from welterweight to junior middleweight.

Here’s a have a look at the fighters who’ve efficiently made that leap and people who haven’t.

SUCCESSFUL:

WILFRED BENITEZ 

Benitez, who had beforehand gained world titles at junior welterweight and welterweight, stopped WBC ruler Maurice Hope (KO 12) in Las Vegas in Might 1981, to grow to be the youngest three-weight world champion on the age of twenty-two. The supremely gifted Puerto Rican made two profitable defenses earlier than shedding to Thomas Hearns (MD 15).

SUGAR RAY LEONARD

Leonard had gained (Benitez (TKO 15), misplaced (Roberto Duran UD 15) and regained (Duran TKO 8) his Ring and WBC welterweight titles, and was converging on a superfight with fellow phenom Thomas Hearns when he made the transfer to step as much as junior middleweight and beat WBA beltholder Ayub Kalule (KO 9) in Houston in June 1981. He by no means defended his title and promptly dropped again to welterweight for the aforementioned Hearns combat.

THOMAS HEARNS

Hearns had gained the WBA 147-pound title by demolishing Pipino Cuevas (TKO 2) and made three defenses earlier than shedding to Leonard (TKO 14). He then reemerged at junior middleweight. “The Hitman” edged Benitez (MD 15) to choose up The Ring and WBC titles in New Orleans in December 1982. Hearns went on to make three profitable defenses earlier than vacating.

Thomas Hearns (left) lands a left punch towards Roberto Duran throughout the combat at Caesars Palace on June 15,1984 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Thomas Hearns gained the WBC junior middleweight title by a KO 2 – Picture by The Ring Journal/Getty Photographs

ROBERTO DURAN

The light-weight nice had demonstrated how particular he was when he beat Leonard at welterweight, however had come up brief towards Benitez (UD 15) in Las Vegas in January 1982 and proved those that thought he was completed improper by placing a savage beating on Davey Moore (TKO 8) to say the WBA 154-pound title in New York in June 1983. He by no means defended his title and jumped to middleweight for a mega-fight with Marvin Hagler, who got here on robust within the later phases to win a 15-round unanimous choice. Duran did return to 154 kilos later, solely to be brutally stopped by Hearns (KO 2) in Las Vegas in June 1984

DONALD CURRY

After shockingly shedding his undisputed welterweight title to Lloyd Honeyghan (RTD 6), Curry moved up in weight, and after two wins he was stopped by WBA boss Mike McCallum (KO 5) in Las Vegas in July 1987. “The Cobra” struck the second time of asking when he went to San Remo, Italy and beat Gianfranco Rosi (RTD 9) in July 1988. He misplaced his belt in his first protection towards Rene Jacquot (UD 12) in what grew to become The Ring’s Upset of The 12 months.

SIMON BROWN

Brown had gained the vacant IBF welterweight title towards Tyrone Trice (TKO 14) in Paris in April 1988, and after seven defenses he unified scoring a come from behind win towards good buddy Maurice Blocker (TKO 10) to say the WBC title. He vacated the IBF belt and misplaced his WBC laurels to Buddy McGirt (UD 12) in Las Vegas in November 1991. After a handful of wins up at junior middleweight, he brought about The Ring Upset of 12 months by gorgeous Terry Norris (KO 4) to annex the WBC title. After one fast protection Brown dropped the title to a way more cautious Norris (UD 12) in a rematch. Brown later misplaced to Vincent Pettway (KO 6) in an IBF title shot.

PERNELL WHITAKER

Whitaker had established his credentials by profitable The Ring light-weight championship. He had a short pit cease at junior welterweight earlier than touchdown at welterweight. “Candy Pea” bested McGirt (UD 12) and made three defenses earlier than electing to go as much as face the a lot larger and bodily stronger however far much less gifted Julio Cesar Vasquez (UD 12) in Atlantic Metropolis in March 1995. He shortly vacated and went again to welterweight the place he made an additional 5 defenses earlier than shedding a debatable choice to Oscar De La Hoya (UD 12).

FELIX TRINIDAD

The charismatic Puerto Rican burst onto the scene as a fresh-faced 20-year-old, smashing Maurice Blocker (KO 2) in June 1993. He went on to make 15 profitable defenses and added Oscar De La Hoya’s (MD 12) WBC belt in September 1999. Having struggled to make weight, he lastly relented and headed to junior middleweight the place he gained the WBA title towards David Reid (UD 12) and made one profitable protection earlier than unifying with IBF titlist Fernando Vargas (TKO 12). “Tito” vacated and headed to middleweight.

Felix Trinidad (proper) throughout his combat on September 18,1999 towards Oscar De La Hoya – Picture By Jose Jimenez/Primera Hora/Getty Photographs

OSCAR DE LA HOYA

De La Hoya gained world titles at junior light-weight, light-weight and junior welterweight earlier than the burnished star settled in at welterweight and have become well known as the perfect pound-for-pound fighter on the earth. “The Golden Boy” beat Whitaker (UD 12) in considerably controversial trend and made seven defenses however misplaced controversially to Trinidad (MD 12) in a unification. He stepped as much as 154-pounds and dominated Javier Castillejo (UD 12). The uber in style American unified with fierce rival and WBA incumbent Fernando Vargas (TKO 11) however misplaced to Shane Mosley (UD 12). He briefly held a middleweight title, shedding a unification with Bernard Hopkins however regained his WBC junior middleweight belt towards Ricardo Mayorga (TKO 6) however misplaced it to Floyd Mayweather Jr. (SD 12).

DANIEL SANTOS

Santos misplaced his first world title combat towards WBO welterweight kingpin Akhmed Kotiev (SD 12) in Germany however returned and stopped him in 5 rounds. After three profitable defenses he headed as much as junior middleweight the place he beat Yori Boy Campas (TKO 11) for the vacant WBO belt. The gifted Puerto Rican went on to make 4 defenses earlier than shedding to Serhiy Dzindziruk (UD 12) in Germany. He did recapture a model of the junior middleweight throne when he beat Jose Antonio Rivera (TKO 8) for the WBA title in 2008. Nonetheless, he misplaced it in his first protection towards Yuri Foreman (UD 12).

SHANE MOSLEY

Having introduced himself at light-weight, Mosely elected to leap junior welterweight altogether and bested previous newbie rival De La Hoya (SD 12) altering his recreation plan within the second half to attain a really spectacular win to choose up the WBC welterweight crown. “Sugar” Shane lived as much as his appreciable billing with three defenses however got here unstuck towards the taller, savvy boxing expertise of Vernon Forrest (UD 12). Mosley misplaced a direct rematch however rebounded to controversially beat De La Hoya (UD 12) for the Ring junior middleweight championship and WBA/ WBC titles. He misplaced his belts when he tried to additional unify with IBF counterpart Winky Wright (UD 12). The Californian misplaced a rematch to Wright (MD 12) and over the following a number of years switched between each weights the place he gained some and misplaced some to the massive names of his time together with Fernando Vargas (TKO 10/ TKO 6), Miguel Cotto (L UD 12), Floyd Mayweather (L UD 12), Manny Pacquiao (L UD 12) and Canelo Alvarez (UD 12).

RICARDO MAYORGA

The Nicaraguan wild man reeled off a number of wins earlier than gatecrashing the world scene towards WBA titleholder Andrew Lewis (NC 2/ TKO 5). In his subsequent bout he surprised Vernon Forrest (TKO 3) so as to add the WBC title in a unification. Mayorga misplaced his titles to IBF ruler Cory Spinks (MD 12) however claimed the vacant WBC junior middleweight title towards Michele Piccirillo (UD 12). He performed the pantomime villain expertly when he dropped the title to a comebacking De La Hoya (TKO 6), beat Vargas (MD 12), misplaced to Mosley (KO 12) and in a ultimate title shot towards WBA 154-pound beltholder Miguel Cotto (TKO 12).

JOSE ANTONIO RIVERA

Rivera was a stable fighter who was a hard-nosed professional for over a decade earlier than heading to Germany to face beforehand unbeaten Michel Trabant for the vacant WBA title. The New Englander edged issues by 12-round majority choice. He misplaced the title in his first protection when he met Luis Collazo (SD 12). That defeat noticed him transfer to junior middleweight, and in his first outing beat WBA champion Alejandro Garcia (UD 12). Once more, he misplaced the title in his first protection when he met Travis Simms (TKO 9).

Cory Spinks hits Ricardo Mayorga throughout their welterweight championship bout on the Boardwalk Corridor on December 13, 2003 in Atlantic Metropolis, New Jersey – Picture by Al Bello/Getty Photographs

CORY SPINKS

The son of former heavyweight champion Leon Spinks and nephew of undisputed mild heavyweight titleholder Michael Spinks appeared very unfortunate to lose a controversial choice for the vacant IBF welterweight title to Michele Piccirillo (UD 12) in Italy. A bit beneath a yr later he returned to the scene of the crime and duly claimed the title besting Piccirillo (UD 12). He efficiently unified and claimed the vacant Ring belt towards Mayorga (MD 12). He defended towards Zab Judah (UD 12) and former light-weight titlist Miguel Angel Gonzalez (UD 12) however was stopped by Judah (TKO 9) in a rematch. That despatched him to junior middleweight the place in his first combat be beat Roman Karmazin (MD 12) for the IBF title. He made one profitable protection earlier than going to middleweight the place he was unfortunate towards Ring champion and WBC/WBO titleholder Jermain Taylor (SD 12). Spinks then misplaced his IBF 154-pound title to Verno Phillips (SD 12). He wasn’t finished and briefly reigned a second time beating fellow St. Louis native Deandre Latimore (SD 12) for the vacant IBF belt however dropped it to Cornelius Bundrage (TKO 5).

FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR.

Mayweather excelled at junior light-weight, light-weight and made a pit cease at junior welterweight earlier than touchdown at welterweight the place he bested Zab Judah (UD 12) for the IBF title after which moved on to defeat Ring champion and WBC titlist Carlos Baldomir (UD 12), who had beforehand upset Judah. Mayweather made a short dalliance at junior middleweight edging previous De La Hoya (SD 12) to say the WBC belt. “Cash” dropped again to welterweight and fought there for the remainder of his Corridor of Fame profession aside from fights towards Miguel Cotto (UD 12) and Canelo Alvarez (MD 12) although by no means weighed greater than 151 for both bout.

VERNON FORREST

Though Forrest represented America on the 1992 Olympics, his skilled profession was one thing of a gradual burn. He needed to wait 31 fights till 2000, when Trinidad had vacated his IBF title, to get a shot on the vacant title. And even then he needed to do wait, after his first combat towards Raul Frank led to a 3rd spherical no-contest. Forrest outboxed Frank (UD 12) of their rematch in Might 2001. The Atlanta native vacated his throne however captured the WBC belt beating Mosley (UD 12/ UD 12) however then twice misplaced to Mayorga (TKO 3/ MD 12). Forrest rose once more up at 154-pound the place he gained the vacant WBC title towards Baldomir (UD 12). After one protection he misplaced to Sergio Mora (MD 12) however regained his title in a direct rematch by 12-round unanimous choice. Tragically, Forrest was shot and killed in July 2009.

MIGUEL COTTO

Cotto gained the WBO junior welterweight title and made six profitable defenses, the place he began to grow to be an attraction at Madison Sq. Backyard. After outgrowing the division he took himself as much as welterweight and bashed up beforehand unbeaten compatriot Carlos Quintana (RTD 5) to say the vacant WBA title. The Puerto Rican reeled off 4 defenses however misplaced a grueling battle with Antonio Margarito (TKO 11). He bounced again by profitable the vacant WBO title in his subsequent combat towards Michael Jennings (TKO 5) and made an additional two defenses. He misplaced to a chief Manny Pacquiao (TKO 12). That noticed him transfer as much as junior middleweight and cease an injured Yuri Foreman (TKO 9) to grow to be WBA boss. He misplaced to Mayweather (UD 12) after which to Austin Trout (UD 12). He later efficiently claimed the Ring and WBC middleweight titles and the WBO junior middleweight title.

MANNY PACQUIAO

As a teen, Pacquiao gained the WBC flyweight title however shortly outgrew that division and landed at junior featherweight the place as a late sub he annexed the IBF 122-pound title. His legend grew by beating Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales, all of the whereas profitable The Ring featherweight title, adopted by world titles at 130, 135 and one other Ring title at 140 kilos the place he bludgeoned Ricky Hatton (KO 2). He got here into his personal throughout a very particular spell within the late 2000s-early 2010’s when he gained welterweight and junior middleweight world titles towards larger males and largely a who’s-who of his time. He was nonetheless competing on the highest stage into his 40s.

INTERIM

PAUL WILLIAMS

Williams was a tall and awkward proposition for his opponents with a excessive punch output, throwing a 100-punches round. He struggled at occasions to get folks to combat him and competed between 147 and 160-pounds. He took Walter Matthysse (Lucas older brother) unbeaten file, stopping the Argentine fighter in 10-rounds after which light former 140-pound titlist Sharmba Mitchell (KO 6). That helped him get a combat with WBO welterweight titlist Antonio Margarito, who he edged previous in a superb motion combat through shut 12-round unanimous choice. He surprisingly dropped the title to Carlos Quintana (UD 12) however bounced again emphatically in a direct rematch (TKO 1) to regain his throne. With choices scarce, Williams headed to 154-pounds the place he beat grizzled veteran Verno Phillips (RTD 8) for the interim WBO title. He was by no means in a position to full consummate the title and headed to middleweight however noticed his profession reduce brief after a motor bike accident confined him to a wheel chair.

UNSUCCESSFUL

MILTON MCCRORY

McCrory claimed the vacant WBC welterweight title on the second time of asking after battling with Colin Jones (D 12/ SD 12). The Detroit native went on to make 4 profitable defenses. He met Donald Curry for the undisputed welterweight championship and brutally knocked out within the second spherical. McCrory moved as much as junior middleweight and after a handful of fights unsuccessfully challenged Mike McCallum (TKO 10) for the WBA title.

MELDRICK TAYLOR

Taylor gained gold on the 1984 Olympics as a 17-year-old. The precociously gifted Philadelphia fighter gained the WBA junior welterweight title towards Buddy McGirt (TKO 12) at simply 21 and reeled off two defenses earlier than going through WBC counterpart Julio Cesar Chavez. Regardless of a quick begin, the Mexican reeled him in and stopped him in dramatic trend with two seconds remaining within the bout. Taylor went as much as welterweight and beat Aaron Davis (UD 12) for the WBA title however had left the perfect of him within the ring towards Chavez. He went up in weight however fought Terry Norris for the WBC title at a catchweight 149-pounds and was stopped in 4 rounds. He subsequently yielded his WBA 147-pound title to Crisanto España (TKO 8).

Terry Norris decks Meldrick Taylor en path to a fourth-round stoppage win – Picture from The Ring archive

MAURICE BLOCKER

Blocker misplaced his first world title try when he dropped a call to IBF/WBC welterweight titleholder Lloyd Honeyghan (UD 12). The tall Washington D.C technician used his top and attain to maintain Marlon Starling (MD 12) trustworthy to say the WBC title the second time round. He appeared to unify with good buddy and IBF titlist Simon Brown however was stopped in a superb combat whereas he was narrowly forward on all three scorecards in 10 rounds. He picked up the vacant IBF title towards Glenwood Brown (UD 12) and made one protection earlier than he jumped to junior middleweight the place he was stopped by WBC boss Terry Norris (TKO 2). He dropped again to welterweight and misplaced to a rising, younger Felix Trinidad (KO 2).

AARON DAVIS

Davis was in a position to off-set the larger expertise of WBA titlist Mark Breland and make it a canine combat which suited him and allowed him to put on his fellow New Yorker down in nine-rounds. He misplaced his title in his first protection towards the superlative expertise of WBA welterweight titlist Meldrick Taylor (UD 12). He stepped as much as junior middleweight and in his solely combat for a world title their misplaced a razor-thin choice to WBA beltholder Julio Cesar Vasquez (MD 12).

IKE QUARTEY

Quartey upset WBA welterweight ruler Crisanto España (TKO 11) in 1994. The Ghanaian boxer-puncher lived as much as his “Bazooka” nickname blasting by his first 4 defenses. He had a harder time with the hard-luck Oba Carr (MD 12) and twice obtained off the ground to combat unheralded Jose Luis Lopez to a draw. Sadly, Quartey didn’t combat for 16-months and was stripped of his WBA belt, which was hardly the perfect preparation for his greatest combat when he confronted Oscar De La Hoya. The 2 exchanged knockdowns however finally the American famous person edged issues by 12-round break up choice. Quartey returned simply over a yr later at 154-pounds and misplaced to IBF titlist Fernando Vargas (UD 12). He didn’t combat for almost 5 years, and although had some massive fights by no means fought for a world title once more.

CARLOS BALDOMIR

Argentina’s Baldomir had been an expert for 13 years and fought in Denmark, South Africa, UK, USA and Germany. He has been undefeated in 19 fights over a seven-year span by the point he landed a shot at Ring welterweight titleholder Zab Judah. Baldomir didn’t care a lot for fame and scored what was later voted Ring Journal 2006 Upset of The 12 months. He then stopped Arturo Gatti (TKO 9) earlier than shedding his Ring and WBC belts to Floyd Mayweather Jr. (UD 12). In his subsequent bout up at junior middleweight he misplaced to WBC boss Vernon Forrest (UD 12).

KERMIT CINTRON

Cintron ran by his first 24 opponents earlier than hitting a brick wall within the type of WBO welterweight beltholder Antonio Margarito (TKO 5). He rebounded strongly to say the vacant IBF title towards Mark Suarez (TKO 5). Two profitable defenses adopted earlier than he misplaced his title to Margarito (KO 6) in a rematch. He then moved as much as junior middleweight and held WBC Interim champion Sergio Martinez to a draw and later misplaced to WBC titlist Canelo Alvarez (TKO 5).

ANTONIO MARGARITO

Margarito was reduce from a conflict of heads within the opening spherical towards Daniel Santos, and their WBO welterweight combat was dominated a no-contest. Margarito went toe-to-toe with Antonio Diaz earlier than sporting him down and stopping him in 10 to say the vacant WBO title. He reeled off seven defenses. Within the midst of his reign he jumped to 154-pounds however misplaced a seventh-round technical choice to Santos. His championship tenure got here to an finish in a thriller towards Paul Williams (UD 12). He went on to grow to be IBF titleholder by beating Cintron (KO 6) after which gained the WBA title towards Miguel Cotto (KO 11). He misplaced the WBA title Shane Mosely (TKO 9) and headed to junior middleweight the place he was unsuccessful towards WBC titlist Manny Pacquiao (UD 12) and previous rival and WBA beltholder Cotto (RTD 9).

All instructed, 18 of the 26 males who have been welterweight champions and headed to junior middleweight succeeded, which equates to 69.2 p.c success price.