Quote:
Originally Posted by
marbleheadmaui
Here are the rules. One fight for each of today's seventeen divisions. Whatever fight you'd love to have been able to time travel and make. Explanations as to why make this more fun!
105-Jimmy Wilde v. Ricardo Lopez-probably the two finest tiny men in the sport's history. Wilde routinely fought at 95 pounds or so. Lopez is taller, longer and more technically proficient. But the Ghost with a Hammer in his Hand might have been p4p the hardest puncher in history. Wilde would be favored is my guess.
108-Michael Carbajal and Jung-Koo Chang-Two gigantic fighting spirits. Chang would be favored.
112-Masao Obha and Venice Bhorkasor-The Japanese champion who died too young and the southpaw Thai warrior. Why them? They probably would have met had Obha not been killed. Both are famous for overcoming injuries during fights to win. Obha would be favored here.
115-Johnny Tapia and Khaosai Galaxy-Fire and ice. The ebullient Mi Vida Loca and the nearly robotic lefthanded Terminator. Nobody ever had more fun in the ring that Tapia and nobody ever was a more emotionless destroyer of men than Galaxy. Slick or the gigantic puncher? This really is a pick'em.
118-This is one of the hardest for me. There are about five fights I'd like to see. But I guess it is the two guys who I think are the greatest bantams. Brazil's legendary Eder Jofre and Puas, Ruben Olivares. The spectacular technician and maybe the finest bodypuncher the sport has ever known. Jofre would be a slight favorite I think.
122-Erik Morales and Wilfredo Bazooka Gomez-Absolutely the easiest pick for me. The only possible choice. Terrible is, as he should be, a boxing legend, but Bazooka at 122 was from another planet. Bazooka would be the betting favorite.
126-Sandy Saddler and Salvador Sanchez-While the boxing police may arrest me for not having Willie Pep in a fight here, the contrast between the strangely long, immensely powerful and nasty Saddler and the technical excellence, fitness and counterpunching of Sanchez just makes for a perfect contrast. No idea who'd be favored here.
130-Alexis Arguello and Flash Elorde-Again a study in contrasts. Elorde the speedy, slick Filipino southpaw who got a split with Saddler and the long, tall, relentless and immensely powerful Nicaraguan, Arguello who could be made to look slow and clumsy by guys like Elorde...for a while. But he almost always tracked them down. No idea who is favored here.
135-Another impossible division in which to pick'em. But I got myself into this. Roberto Duran and Pernell Whittaker. I get goosebumps just thinking about this one. If I had to pick just one fight? This might be it. Pick'em.
140-One side of this is an absolute no brainer. The Hawk, Aaron Pryor. Coming up with a guy who can match that athleticism, will and stamina at 140 just isn't easy. OK, this division didn't exist when this guy fought but he was champ at both 135 and 147. Henry Armstrong. Keep the women and children out of the arena and make sure there are several doctors in the house. Good Lord!
147-Tommy Hearns and Ray Robinson-I've always thought this was maybe the matchup that favored someone other than Robinson. Why? Ray was used to being the taller, longer, bigger punching guy. In this case he would be none of those. 6 footer Joe Basora gave Ray all he could handle one night, getting a draw. Now don't get me wrong, if these guys fought multiple times? Hearns has no shot except in fight one due to his odd size. My upset special.
154-Carmen Basilio and Mike MaCallum-Yeah there was no 154 in Basilio's day but he was champ at 147 and 160 so I am going to include him. Why these two? because it would be a battle of the ribcages. These are both gut-busting bodypunchers and both corners might be dealing with cracked ribs before this one is over. My guess is Macallum would be a slight favorite.
160-Carlos Monzon and Marvin Hagler-Another easy choice for me. The two greatest middles of the last fifty years. Bennie Briscoe, who fought both men and was a longtime Hagler sparring partner said he thought Hagler would be too rugged for Monzon. But I don't know. Marvin sometimes sort of froze up mentally against legends (see Duran and Leonard). This one would be a purists delight. The technical give and take would be incredible.
168-A big part of me thinks this division has been sort of a joke since it's inception. The best guys found ways not to fight one another for 20 years. But I guess the recent tourney gives this division some cred. Some. 1996 Roy Jones and the 2002 or so Joe Calzaghe. Two astonishing athletes at their athletic, if not their boxing peaks. Jones would be heavily favored, but the athleticism gap is narrower than Jones is accustomed to and I'm convinced Calzaghe was a genuinely tough man. This is a better fight than many would say. Oops. Late word, the two camps couldn't agree on the color of the ropes so this fight won't happen.
175-Another absolutely brutal set of choices here. Fitzsimmons and Langford? Ezzard and Foster? Spinks and the Mongoose? Loughran and Philly Jack? How can one go wrong? I'm going to take the division's two physical giants. Michael Spinks and Bob Foster. Both guys might well go down in this one. No idea who'd be favored.
Cruiser-This division has been around for such a short time I'm going to go with two men who almost always fought under 200 pounds but who pre-date the division. 1919's Jack Demspey is going to get in the ring with a man who terrified him. 1910 or so's Sam Langford. Two huge punchers, but two men who fight at completely different paces and in different ways. The rules chosen here would be a big deal. I suspect Demspey would be the betting favorite in a 15 round fight.
Heavyweight-Cassius Clay and Joe Louis-A very easy choice, perhaps the greatest offensive force the sport has ever known and the greatest athletic talent ever to step into the ring. Technical excellence and otherworldly speed. I think this fight only works the way I want with a pre-1967 Ali, hence the name.
Waddya think and waddya got and why?
Can't believe i missed this thread i love thread's like this, im going to do fighters i like.
Heavyweight = Larry Holmes vs George Foreman
Cruiserweight = Rocky Marciano vs Evander Holyfield
Light Heavyweight = Matthew Saad Muhammad vs Bob Foster
Super Middleweight = Roy Jones Jr vs Nigel Benn
Middleweight = Marvin Hagler vs Bernard Hopkins
Jr Middleweight = Terry Norris vs Mike McCallum
Welterweight = Tommy Hearns vs Felix Trinidad
Jr Welterweight = Aaron Pryor vs Roberto Duran
Lightweight = Pernell Whitaker vs Hector Camacho
Super Featherweight = Julio Cesar Chavez vs Alexis Arguello
Featherweight = Salvador Sanchez vs JMM
Super Bantamweight = Erik Morales vs Wilfredo Gomez
Bantamweight = Ruben Olivares vs Jeff Chandler
Super Flyweight = Khaosai Galaxy vs Johnny Tapia
Flyweight = Yuri Arbachakov vs Manny Pacquiao
Jr Flyweight = Giovani Segura vs Michael Carbajal
Minimumweight = Ricardo Lopez vs Ivan Calderon
