Light Punching/No Offence Heavyweights Make Me Sad
Is there anything more depressing than a big strong looking heavy weight fighter who simply has little to no power or simply no offense worth mentioning?
Here are the top 3 Heavyweights that make me sad every time I watch one of their fights...
1) Eddie Chambers (as heavy weight) My old favorite that I was forced to give up on when it became apparent that his lack of power was a serious liability at the upper levels. One of the few heavy weights Wladimir didn't even have to fear being hit by.
2) Kevin Johnson - Oh so sad. He didn't have a high enough work rate and when he did punch, the opponent didn't have much to worry about. Vitali didn't have to flinch. Tyson Fury felt pretty safe that no harm would befall him.
3) Malik Scott - Just cannot keep people off of him. He does have speed but it was so apparent, for example, against Chisora, that the best Scott could hope for was that Chisora would run out of steam before he did, having to constantly high tail it out of there while throwing everything at Chisora to try to slow him down, but to no avail.
Can anyone else think of other heavy weights that you originally had hopes for but then reality hit like a ton of bricks?
Re: Light Punching/No Offence Heavyweights Make Me Sad
Cant think of any particular ones but if i went looking, I'd start with former Cuban Olympians. Generally good boxing skills for heavyweights, but the olympic points system drills that mentality that a knockdown punch scores the same as a jab just takes all then intent away.
Re: Light Punching/No Offence Heavyweights Make Me Sad
Chris Byrd. He may have had good defense in his prime but by the time he faced Wlad, he had nothing to show for besides heart and determination.
It was pretty sad watching Wlad beat on him. That was a savage beating and I thought he was going to get seriously injured.
Re: Light Punching/No Offence Heavyweights Make Me Sad
Quote:
Originally Posted by
FinitoElDinamita
Chris Byrd. He may have had good defense in his prime but by the time he faced Wlad, he had nothing to show for besides heart and determination.
It was pretty sad watching Wlad beat on him. That was a savage beating and I thought he was going to get seriously injured.
Which time? The decision or the TKO?
Chris Byrd was a solid fighter...he was tricky and had some very impressive wins for such a light hitting heavyweight.
Re: Light Punching/No Offence Heavyweights Make Me Sad
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ninjaspy3
I thought the KO of Chris Byrd was pretty sad to watch although in the first fight it was like waiting for the inevitable.
He was the first to try and test out the "Well I'm just going to pressure Wlad until he's tired" strategy......didn't work out too well for him though.
I think his fight at light heavy was worse...but hey he made a bunch of money and had a very successful career. I rather liked Byrd, he had some fun fights to watch but not the Williamson fight......yeeeesh :-\
Re: Light Punching/No Offence Heavyweights Make Me Sad
Feather fisted fighters - especially HW's - always fascinated me because it's such a huge disadvantage when a fighter has no respect for your power and you don't have the pop to keep him honest. The feather fisted guys always had to be that much more slick and that much more skilled to stay above water.
I'm not talking about guys like Pernell Whitaker and Mayweather, who, althought they weren't one-punch KO guys by any stretch, at least had enough power to hurt guys and keep them from charging in face first. Mayweather has enough power to make guys think before coming in, which is a big key to his style.
Guys like Malignaggi and Byrd though couldn't bust a grape. I liked Byrd especially, because he was this blown up middleweight who was taking on pure beasts like Tua, Klitschkos, Ibeabuchi, ect ect. I think young boxers can learn a lot from Byrd, because to me he displayed the Sweet Science extremely well and was very underrated IMO.
That to me is still one of the most interesting things about boxing: in front of a guy who can literally kill you with his bare hands, how do you not only avoid getting incapacitated but also do more damage to him than he does to you? Chris was very good at that.
Re: Light Punching/No Offence Heavyweights Make Me Sad
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Beanflicker
Feather fisted fighters - especially HW's - always fascinated me because it's such a huge disadvantage when a fighter has no respect for your power and you don't have the pop to keep him honest. The feather fisted guys always had to be that much more slick and that much more skilled to stay above water.
I'm not talking about guys like Pernell Whitaker and Mayweather, who, althought they weren't one-punch KO guys by any stretch, at least had enough power to hurt guys and keep them from charging in face first. Mayweather has enough power to make guys think before coming in, which is a big key to his style.
Guys like Malignaggi and Byrd though couldn't bust a grape. I liked Byrd especially, because he was this blown up middleweight who was taking on pure beasts like Tua, Klitschkos, Ibeabuchi, ect ect. I think young boxers can learn a lot from Byrd, because to me he displayed the Sweet Science extremely well and was very underrated IMO.
That to me is still one of the most interesting things about boxing: in front of a guy who can literally kill you with his bare hands, how do you not only avoid getting incapacitated but also do more damage to him than he does to you? Chris was very good at that.
Byrd is definitely the best of the light punching heavy weights.
Who is the most disappointing: "Fast" Eddie with his sometimes lacking work rate? or maybe Kevin Johnson with his being unwilling to use more than 1 hand or resorting almost to only defense with horrible work rate?
When I think about it that way, Malik Scott almost looks good. But then again, Chisora was his biggest test. :(
Re: Light Punching/No Offence Heavyweights Make Me Sad
When you got a guy like that with no workrate its awful. At least Malignaggi and Byrd stayed busy.
Re: Light Punching/No Offence Heavyweights Make Me Sad
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ninjaspy3
Is there anything more depressing than a big strong looking heavy weight fighter who simply has little to no power or simply no offense worth mentioning?
Here are the top 3 Heavyweights that make me sad every time I watch one of their fights...
1) Eddie Chambers (as heavy weight) My old favorite that I was forced to give up on when it became apparent that his lack of power was a serious liability at the upper levels. One of the few heavy weights Wladimir didn't even have to fear being hit by.
2) Kevin Johnson - Oh so sad. He didn't have a high enough work rate and when he did punch, the opponent didn't have much to worry about. Vitali didn't have to flinch. Tyson Fury felt pretty safe that no harm would befall him.
3) Malik Scott - Just cannot keep people off of him. He does have speed but it was so apparent, for example, against Chisora, that the best Scott could hope for was that Chisora would run out of steam before he did, having to constantly high tail it out of there while throwing everything at Chisora to try to slow him down, but to no avail.
Can anyone else think of other heavy weights that you originally had hopes for but then reality hit like a ton of bricks?
ninjaspy3 you are a bloody disgrace
For four decades I went around the world pissing off the audience. I have been booed in Malaysia, USA and Britain. I am proud to say I have been kicked out of two countries, but I have found a home with my thick seemingly Afrikans accent in good ol' Australia mate!
No effort, just glad to be there, signing it in; you name it, I have avoided it. I made an art out of wasting my talents.
I pissed the Poms off early, beating their ancient Sir 'enry. Sure he was giving up 16 years and 25lbs, and only lost by a controversial decision, but you know mate I won, I was boring and I pissed off the crowd. So that was three wins not one.
But then I was pressured into fighting properly; so I met this fella Smokin' Joe was his name. Huge left hook. They must of drugged me or something because I stood there and took some right old wallops, got decked a couple of times too.
At the end of the fight I lost the decision. And what was worse was the commentators said I gave it a go, and to add insult to injury a few fans were cheering. I am proud to say I made sure that never happened again!
I went to Malaysia fought Ali; went 15 rounds with him. It was boiling, so I kept effort down to minimum as I had a swimming lesson booked after the fight. This ol' boy Ali kept pushing the fight, sweating all over me as he punched away. He almost knocked my 70s hairdo out of place, bloody bastard, anyone would think he was trying to win! Anyway I was not the one exhausted on a drip after the fight, no I was doing my lengths in the pool, drinking my champagne.
Went to Australia in the mid 80s, and was offered a fight with Bomber Bruno in 87. Easy money, let big Frank swing a way, but he caught me in the eighth so I go down to get away, and he kept thumping me. The referee did nothing, he was a disgrace, but what really annoyed me were the fans were cheering. We are boxers, we should not worry about that. Take the money, that is all that matters, sod your talent and potential.
Anyway still living Down Under, made a few dollars back in the 90s when I came back. Tried my best not to excite too many fans, but you know I am loved now!
Yours 'Aussie' Joe Bugner
Re: Light Punching/No Offence Heavyweights Make Me Sad
Quote:
Originally Posted by
J_Undisputed
Cant think of any particular ones but if i went looking, I'd start with former Cuban Olympians. Generally good boxing skills for heavyweights, but the olympic points system drills that mentality that a knockdown punch scores the same as a jab just takes all then intent away.
Would have been interesting to see how Stevenson, Savon and the boys would have worked out but I agree with you with today's crop. Mike Perez to name one. I had high hopes for that clown.
Imo the division has relied to heavily on power. It's one thing to target the champ but it seems everybody is just looking to land that one shot and when they get in there and find its not as easy to get under that jab let alone over top of it they fold. Frazier may not have had much hope but at least he would have kept bobbing, weaving and throwing.
Boxing generally has been eroding at a pretty constant pace away from actual pugilism in search of the highlight reel. A wide selection of fans consider watching this "sweet science" at work boring. For many unless there was a knockout it was not really worth the time.
Its a shame that those light punchers mentioned did not have the skill ( save Byrd who was just to small) to be that short on power. I don't think we will be seeing a Billy Conn type Louis clinic anytime soon or an Ezzard Charles. Oh Ezzard could punch but after the death of Baroudi he relied much more on his boxing. The division has gone to far the other way, the best trainers are dieing off and being replaced by pseudo celebrities. Sorry to be so grim;D
