Quote Originally Posted by IamInuit View Post
Quote Originally Posted by mikeeod View Post
Since we r doing "who wins?" threads, who do u think would've won this match up? Both were undefeated champs gunning for Oscar. Tito was a slow starter who was chinny early but would come on strong late and had one punch power that hadn't been seen at the weight since Tommy Hearns (Tito had a left hook where Tommy was a better boxer with a deadly right). Ike was a beast at 147 who looked like a middleweight, had a great jab n raw strength, could take a punch, but tended to fade late in tough fights. I think this would've been the fight everyone hoped both guys' fights vs Oscar would've been, but I think Ike's jab would've allowed him to get the close, disputed decision.
Shame this didn't happen but Tito went to 154. It was always a fight I wanted back then but the calenders didn't jive. Tito's bad chin is a little stretched. He never had a bad chin but he would get caught out of position or off balance when he went down and I dont recall him being hurt anytime he hit the canvas. He would normally get up and then dust off the opponent. I agree with you, Ikes jab was something else and a real fight controller. I think it could be the difference in the fight but Ike could be dragged into a war he didn't need to fight.

Great hypothetical matchup that actually could have been made.
I agree. Just to clarify, when I'm saying Tito was chinny, I just meant that guys would catch him n put him down earlyin some of his big fights. U r correct though, prior to Hop Tito would get up and punish the other guy for putting him down. Tito was very strong at 147 and took some good shots from punchers like Oscar, Yori Boy Campas, Fernando Vargas (154) and David Reid (154) without being stopped. Don't want to make it seem like I was saying Tito had a bad or even decent chin, as I think his fights proved he had a very good chin and great heart.