Pernell Whitaker - 40-4-1 (17 KOs)
Few fighters seem so suited to their given sobriquet than the implausibly gifted
southpaw, affectionately known as 'Sweet Pea'.
Cynically robbed in his first word title tilt vs Jose Luis Ramirez in an unlikely
location in France in 1988. Whitaker went on to annexe world titles from
lightweight to light middleweight.
Reversing his injustice against Ramirez the following year with a flawless display
of pugilistic efficiency that prompted mentor, Lou Duva to shout, "Sugar Ray
Robinson couldn't do it any better, baby..!" the former Olympic Gold medallist
can count Greg Haugen, Azumah Nelson and Buddy McGirt amongst his notable
scalps.
Decidedly unlucky to given a draw against Mexican great, Julio Cesar Chavez,
there was also a sizeable body of opinion to say he rightfully beat Oscar De La
Hoya in their 1997 welterweight super fight.
The other fighters on this rarified list may knock him cold statistically but boxing
is not all about the numbers. A bona fide all time great and 4 weight world
champion with one of the most visually beautiful styles to all but the ignoramus,
'Sweet Pea' richly belongs.
Tommy Loughran - 90-25-10 (14 KOs)
Born in 1929 and dubbed 'The Phantom of Philly' on account of his fabled evasive
proficiency, this former world light heavyweight champion holds wins over three
former heavyweight champions in Jim Braddock, Jack Sharkey and Max Baer.
A fluid boxer with footwork reminiscent of Gene Tunney and a hands down style,
Loughran relied on speed and an uncanny judgement of distance to avoid the
malevolent intentions of his countess top tier rivals.
A failed bid to relieve a 265 pound Primo Carnera of the New York version of the
World Heavyweight Title via 15 round decision in 1934 was immortalised for many
years as the greatest weight disparity in any title fight in history. The record stood until
David Haye outpointed another freak of nature in Nikolai Valuev 65 years later.
Victories over hall of fame confederates like Mickey Walker, Young Stribling and
Jimmy Slattery cement Loughran's place amongst this roll call of lighter hitting
legends.
Nicolino Locche 117-4-14 (14 KOs)
Born in Tunuyan in 1939 and a winner of 117 of 122 amateur fights the Argentine
wizard known as 'El Intocable' (The Untouchable) looked for all the world like a
sawn off Juan Domingo Roldan but boxed like a precursor to Pernell Whitaker.
Balding, barrel chested and squat his visage stood in sharp contrast to an
effortlessly beautiful ring style.
Floyd Matweather's nigh on impregnable defence is about expedience and
probability but Locche would invite disaster for fun and leave his aggressor
looking foolish and ineffectual.
With hands dangling by his sides the Latin maestro would lean in and dare his
opponent to pull the trigger while exhibiting supernatural upper body movement
to diffuse their offense.
Travelling to Tokyo in December 1969 to deprive Takeshi Fugi of ѡ