Nice Britain has at all times been well-stocked in terms of proficient lightweights, and listed here are 10 of the perfect…
1 Ken Buchanan
Buchanan received the British light-weight title in 1968, then outpointed Ismael Laguna in 1970 to take the world light-weight title. That belt he misplaced towards Roberto Duran in ’72, but Buchanan nonetheless went on to win British and European titles after that.
2 Freddie Welsh
Welshman Welsh received British, European and world light-weight titles in a profession that began again in 1905. He received the world title in 1914, when outpointing Willie Ritchie over 20 rounds, and went on to beat males like Benny Leonard, Battling Nelson, and Advert Wolgast earlier than retiring in 1922.
3 Jim Watt
After dropping his first British title shot in 1972, Watt rebounded by profitable the title later that yr after which profitable the European in ’77 and world light-weight title in ’79, stopping Alfredo Pitalua in spherical 12. He defended the belt 4 occasions earlier than dropping towards Alexis Arguello in ’81.
4 Ricky Burns
Following success at super-featherweight, Burns landed the WBO light-weight title in 2011 when outpointing Michael Katsidis. It was a belt he retained on 4 events earlier than developing brief towards Terence Crawford in 2014.
5 Anthony Crolla
A preferred Mancunian, Crolla picked up the British light-weight title in 2011, when beating Willie Limond, and received the WBA title towards Darleys Pérez in 2015. He defended the belt as soon as towards Ismael Barroso and misplaced it towards Jorge Linares.
6 Terry Flanagan
Flanagan turned British light-weight champion in 2014, beating Martin Gethin by way of retirement stoppage, after which received the WBO light-weight title with one other retirement stoppage, this time towards Jose Zepeda, who pulled out injured. 5 defences adopted earlier than Maurice Hooker dethroned him in 2018.
7 Billy Schwer
Having received British and Commonwealth titles, Schwer retired (resulting from cuts) towards Rafael Ruelas in 1995 for the IBF light-weight title. He would later win the European title, a belt he defended thrice, in ’97.
8 Gavin Rees
Although his world title arrived at light-welterweight, Rees nonetheless campaigned efficiently at light-weight, profitable the British title in 2010 with a stoppage of John Watson, then outpointing Andy Murray the next yr to change into European champion.
9 John Murray
All-action and thrilling, Murray twice received the British light-weight title, stopping Lee Meager and Jon Thaxton, and likewise lifted the European title, a belt he retained twice, after knocking out Gary Buckland within the eleventh spherical.
10 Dave Charnley
Often called the “Dartford Destroyer”, Charnley got here up brief in a world title shot in 1959 and 1961, when overwhelmed on each events by Joe Brown, however was nonetheless British, Commonwealth and European light-weight champion, beating Willie Toweel, Mario Vecchiatto and Fernand Nollet in title fights.
