Who had the longest prime ever?

[Tom Cruise]

From first world class opponent beaten to the last. Even if they dip in form during that time. Some off the top of my head (Feel free to correct some of these, Im just going with the first and last fighters that I recognise as being WC. If I dont recognise any then Im just going with title wins):

Floyd Mayweather: Genaro Hernandez 1998 - Manny Pacquiao 2015 = 17years (2 years retirement)

Bernard Hopkins: Sergundo Mercado 1995 - Jean Pascal 2011 = 16years

Sugar Ray Robinson: Sammy Angott 1941 - Carmen Basilio 1959 = 18 years (2 1/2 yr retirement)

George Foreman: Joe Frazier 1973 - Micheal Moorer 1994 = 21 years (10 year retirement lol)

Roberto Duran: Ken Buchannan 1971 - Iran Barkley 1989 = 18 years

Manny Pacquiao: Catchai Sasakul 1998 - Timothy Bradley 2016 = 18 years

Who else? I suspect Sam Langford, but dont know enough about the names on his resume.

Duran and Pac currently tied at 18 years with no retirements

[Tom Cruise]

Archie Moore will probably be there or there abouts but im not familiar enough with his early resume.

[IronDanHamza]

Interesting topic.

Archie Moore beat Jack Chase in 1942, then got a draw with Pastrano in 1962 that most observers thought Moore won.

That's 20 years.

[Tom Cruise]

Interesting topic.

Archie Moore beat Jack Chase in 1942, then got a draw with Pastrano in 1962 that most observers thought Moore won.

That's 20 years.

Thats insane

20 years at or around world level

[The Old LefHook]

From first world class opponent beaten to the last. Even if they dip in form during that time. Some off the top of my head (Feel free to correct some of these, Im just going with the first and last fighters that I recognise as being WC. If I dont recognise any then Im just going with title wins):

Floyd Mayweather: Genaro Hernandez 1998 - Manny Pacquiao 2015 = 17years (2 years retirement)

Bernard Hopkins: Sergundo Mercado 1995 - Jean Pascal 2011 = 16years

Sugar Ray Robinson: Sammy Angott 1941 - Carmen Basilio 1959 = 18 years (2 1/2 yr retirement)

George Foreman: Joe Frazier 1973 - Micheal Moorer 1994 = 21 years (10 year retirement lol)

Roberto Duran: Ken Buchannan 1971 - Iran Barkley 1989 = 18 years

Manny Pacquiao: Catchai Sasakul 1998 - Timothy Bradley 2016 = 18 years

Who else? I suspect Sam Langford, but dont know enough about the names on his resume.

Duran and Pac currently tied at 18 years with no retirements

Yes, Langford is certainly there, since he kayoed young Tiger Flowers at forty years of age, and beat Joe Gans in his debut. He goes from Joe Gans to Tiger Flowers in his first and last fights, two monsters, from 1903 to 1922--a nice 19 years.

[JAB5239]

Yes, Langford is certainly there, since he kayoed young Tiger Flowers at forty years of age, and beat Joe Gans in his debut. He goes from Joe Gans to Tiger Flowers in his first and last fights, two monsters, from 1903 to 1922--a nice 19 years.

While I agree Langford should be given credit for longevity he did not beat Hans in his debut.

[The Old LefHook]

While I agree Langford should be given credit for longevity he did not beat Hans in his debut.

Doesn't sound right, does it? I was probably viewing an abbreviated record. They have those on Wiki-pegia. He still beat Gans in the year stated. I made a second mistake--Langford did not kayo Flowers in his last fight, though Sam may well have been forty when he did kayo Tiger, as I once read.

[Humean]

From first world class opponent beaten to the last. Even if they dip in form during that time. Some off the top of my head (Feel free to correct some of these, Im just going with the first and last fighters that I recognise as being WC. If I dont recognise any then Im just going with title wins):

Floyd Mayweather: Genaro Hernandez 1998 - Manny Pacquiao 2015 = 17years (2 years retirement)

Bernard Hopkins: Sergundo Mercado 1995 - Jean Pascal 2011 = 16years

Sugar Ray Robinson: Sammy Angott 1941 - Carmen Basilio 1959 = 18 years (2 1/2 yr retirement)

George Foreman: Joe Frazier 1973 - Micheal Moorer 1994 = 21 years (10 year retirement lol)

Roberto Duran: Ken Buchannan 1971 - Iran Barkley 1989 = 18 years

Manny Pacquiao: Catchai Sasakul 1998 - Timothy Bradley 2016 = 18 years

Who else? I suspect Sam Langford, but dont know enough about the names on his resume.

Duran and Pac currently tied at 18 years with no retirements

The Duran-Buchanan fight was 1972 not 1971, however you can push his date farther back to 1970 for his win over Ernesto Marcel. Plus, and this is more dubious, but Duran has a win over Jorge Castro in 1997!

[TJ highway]

Tom Cruise said: Floyd Mayweather: Genaro Hernandez 1998 - Manny Pacquiao 2015 = 17years (2 years retirement)

How convenient to avoid a rematch with Oscar De La Hoya who many experts in boxing consider he lost.

Floyd: "I am sorry I have to leave the sport at this time, knowing I still have my God-given abilities to succeed and future multi-million dollar paydays ahead, including the one right around the corner," he said of the now-canceled De La Hoya rematch. "But there comes a time when money doesn't matter. I just can't do it anymore. I have found a peace with my decision that I have not felt in a long time.

Got him past Kostya "Thunder from Down Under" Tszyu as well!

[BennyST]

The Duran-Buchanan fight was 1972 not 1971, however you can push his date farther back to 1970 for his win over Ernesto Marcel. Plus, and this is more dubious, but Duran has a win over Jorge Castro in 1997!

I wouldn't call it dubious as a world class win, considering Castro was coming off a championship reign including wins over top champs of that era like Reggie Johnson and John David Jackson.

But it would definitely be from Marcel to Castro. Both were world champions and world class, especially Marcel who is one of his most underrated wins. Great, great champion.