The 5 Greatest Welterweight Bouts in Boxing History
The welterweight division holds mythic status in the history of boxing. It was one of the eight original divisions of the sport, and over the years, some of the best boxers ever to lace up their gloves have competed in the weight class.
The consistent depth of talent at welterweight — which is restricted to fighters weighing between 140 and 147 pounds — has meant that boxing fans have been treated to any number of great matchups. Looking back chronologically on the history of the weight class, let’s take a look at what experts say are five of the best.
1. Barney Ross vs. Jimmy McLarnin (May 28, 1934)
Barney Ross held both the lightweight and junior welterweight belts when he came up in weight to challenge Northern Ireland native Jimmy McLarnin. McLarnin, for his part, had become the welterweight champion in his previous fight, a first-round TKO of Young Corbett III that was one of the biggest upsets the division had seen in years.
The contest, which took place in front of 60,000 fans at the Madison Square Garden Bowl in Queens, New York, saw both boxers achieve success, with each scoring knockdowns in the ninth round. Ultimately, native New Yorker Ross outworked and outsmarted the Belfast Spider to score a split-decision victory.
McLarnin would regain his title only four months later before the American capped off the trilogy with a razor-thin decision victory exactly one year to the day after the first fight. As a testament to the skill and talent of each man, both Ross and McLarnin would go on to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
2. Sugar Ray Robinson vs. Kid Gavilan (July 11, 1949)
Experts disagree on which of the two bouts between these two Hall of Famers was the superior one, but their second matchup gets the nod here for being five rounds longer and for the drama of Robinson having to overcome significant adversity to secure the win.
Robinson had claimed the welterweight title in December of 1946 in a hard-fought victory against Tommy Bell (a fight that could have also easily made this list). A year and a half later, in July of 1948, he successfully defended his belt in his first matchup with Kid Gavilan. The win did not come without difficulty, as the Cuban staggered Sugar Ray in the eighth round before Robinson regained control over the remaining two frames.
Gavilan’s performance was enough to earn him a rematch a year later. Once again, he gave Robinson trouble, cutting the all-time great above his right eye early in the contest. Blood poured into Sugar Ray’s eyes over the remaining frames, but the boxer considered by many to be the greatest ever still found a way to outpoint his opponent and score a 15-round decision victory.
3. Roberto Duran vs. Sugar Ray Leonard (June 20, 1980)
The biggest fight since Ali-Frazier III took place in front of more than 46,000 fans at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium. The setting was of particular significance to Leonard, who four years earlier had risen to fame by winning a gold medal at the Montreal Olympics.
Duran, meanwhile, was the lightweight champion coming up in weight to challenge for the welterweight crown. His hard-punching, brawling style was contrasted by the slick boxing of Sugar Ray, whose record at this point was unblemished.
With the Montreal fans surprisingly cheering him on, Duran succeeded in drawing Leonard into a slugfest. The undefeated Sugar Ray fought hard and well, but the pace suited his Panamanian opponent. After 15 hotly contested rounds, the Brawl in Montreal culminated with Duran being awarded the victory via an exceptionally close unanimous decision.
4. Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Tommy Hearns (September 16, 1981)
The depth of talent in the welterweight division was perhaps never as deep as it was in the early 1980s. In addition to Duran and Leonard, fellow greats like Wilfred Benitez and Tommy “The Motor City Cobra” Hearns fought to stake their claim to divisional supremacy.
Among these legends, it was Leonard and Hearns who sat together atop the weight class at the time of this 1981 contest. Sugar Ray, who had beaten Duran in their rematch, held the WBC title, while Hearns was the owner of the WBA strap. The unification bout at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas would not only determine the true welterweight king but also the best boxer in all of the sport.
After multiple momentum swings, Leonard found himself clearly down on the scorecards heading into the 13th round. It was then that his trainer, Angelo Dundee, uttered his now-famous reprimand “You’re blowing it now, son.” Sugar Ray responded by launching a blistering attack that put Hearns on the canvas for good, leaving no doubt who reigned supreme atop the boxing world.
5. Pernell Whitaker vs. Julio Cesar Chavez (September 10, 1993)
Mexican legend Julio Cesar Chavez was attempting to enter the ranks of boxing immortality by winning his fourth divisional title. Standing in his way was Pernell “Sweat Pea” Whitaker, the WBC welterweight champion and one of the best boxers of his era.
Held at the Alamodome in San Antonio, the fight saw Chavez relentlessly charging his opponent. Whitaker, a southpaw, responded by continuously sidestepping “El Cesar del Boxeo” and stinging him with sharp jabs and left-right combinations.
After 12 rounds, seemingly no one in attendance believed Sweat Pea hadn’t won. This, unfortunately, did not include two of the three judges, who scored the fight even. The majority-draw decision was so controversial that even many of Chavez’s fellow Mexicans jeered it.
