JourneyMen: The GateKeepers

[SlimTrae]

Steve Forbes,

Im still reeling from his win over francesco Bojado.
Bojado was in good shape to get in contentions, but Forbes brought his 'A' game.

I also wanted to say Keith Mullings, but i think he was a tomato can that stopped Terry Norris.

[IamInuit]

Lots of gate keepers have won a strap just to be clear.

I consider Zab Judah a gate keeper just as much as I consider David Tua to be one.

[SlimTrae]

Lots of gate keepers have won a strap just to be clear.

I consider Zab Judah a gate keeper just as much as I consider David Tua to be one.

I consider Zab a mental midget. Serious, the dude had speed, a lethal uppercut, but faded after six rounds. Didn't seem to be a stamina issue to me, more like a mental block.

IMO Zab had the tools to be a legit champ. Most journeymen I think would love to have had his abilities, but somehow he kept falling apart.

Tua, you got me there. Like Lennox said : takes more than a right hand and a haircut to the get the title.

[erics44]

In England we have Ovil Mckenzie

High end journeyman, Beat Ovil and you're a good fighter

[IamInuit]

Lots of gate keepers have won a strap just to be clear.

I consider Zab Judah a gate keeper just as much as I consider David Tua to be one.

I consider Zab a mental midget. Serious, the dude had speed, a lethal uppercut, but faded after six rounds. Didn't seem to be a stamina issue to me, more like a mental block.

IMO Zab had the tools to be a legit champ. Most journeymen I think would love to have had his abilities, but somehow he kept falling apart.

Tua, you got me there. Like Lennox said : takes more than a right hand and a haircut to the get the title.

Tua was not the sharpest knife in the drawer either. ZAB had some nice skills but so did David Reid. The mentalsaspects of a given fighter can be just as much evidence for "gate keeper" status as anything else. I personally believe that the cerebral cortex is the most important organ/muscle/skill in the sport. After all in my mind that is what separated Judah from true elite. It makes no difference to me that he captured a belt or two along the way in a 15 belt per division system. He seems to have matured over the past couple of years and settled down. Shame it happened so late.

Guys like Tua and Miranda are gate keepers that nobody could miss. All one has to do is reflect on the history of the opponents they lost to and who they beat. With Tua, Fres got checked at the gate and Moorer's comeback came to a screeching halt and Rahman was refused entry the first time. Judahs career reflects in a similar manner but people tend to remember the 15 second highlight reel footage of spectacular nature against a no hoper.

Tackie was one hell of test for the key.
Katsidis
Bika
Andrade

You better bring your A game against these guys.

[SlimTrae]

Lots of gate keepers have won a strap just to be clear.

I consider Zab Judah a gate keeper just as much as I consider David Tua to be one.

I consider Zab a mental midget. Serious, the dude had speed, a lethal uppercut, but faded after six rounds. Didn't seem to be a stamina issue to me, more like a mental block.

IMO Zab had the tools to be a legit champ. Most journeymen I think would love to have had his abilities, but somehow he kept falling apart.

Tua, you got me there. Like Lennox said : takes more than a right hand and a haircut to the get the title.

Tua was not the sharpest knife in the drawer either. ZAB had some nice skills but so did David Reid. The mentalsaspects of a given fighter can be just as much evidence for "gate keeper" status as anything else. I personally believe that the cerebral cortex is the most important organ/muscle/skill in the sport. After all in my mind that is what separated Judah from true elite. It makes no difference to me that he captured a belt or two along the way in a 15 belt per division system. He seems to have matured over the past couple of years and settled down. Shame it happened so late.

Guys like Tua and Miranda are gate keepers that nobody could miss. All one has to do is reflect on the history of the opponents they lost to and who they beat. With Tua, Fres got checked at the gate and Moorer's comeback came to a screeching halt and Rahman was refused entry the first time. Judahs career reflects in a similar manner but people tend to remember the 15 second highlight reel footage of spectacular nature against a no hoper.

Tackie was one hell of test for the key.
Katsidis
Bika
Andrade

You better bring your A game against these guys.

A few gems in this post.
1. I've heard quite a few old-timers say that David Reid got rushed- he had a drooping eye problem so it was more of a thing where his handlers cashed in on him. Saying this from memory talking with some geezer I met at a boxing hall of fame.
2. I concede on your point with Zab and the Cerebral cortex-in the end he gatekept.
3. Tua, I guess was too one dimensional, but damn! Why'd you bring up Tua-Moorer I had the brew on ice, ordered a pizza and had a few buddies...30 seconds later...
Not sure if you seen it, but right as Moorer's head lays on the bottom rope- You can see his trainer--clear as day, shake is head and say DAMN! - with a look of, tell me this shit didnt just happen!!
4. Katsidis could have at least got the belt from Casamayor---even he admitted he got himself knocked out. After that his inside game got pegged, thus reduced to the guy everyone else fights to get to the title.
5. Ben Tackie Saki Bika, yeah, they are on quite a few resumes. Edison Miranda, wow, him too.

[SlimTrae]

Peter Manfredo Jr

Really cool guy, probably could make a great comedian!

Doesn't have the best skills but was chosen a few times by Calzaghe, Lacy, Bika and JCC jr, managed a win over Scott Pemberton & Angel Hernandez.

Calzaghe would've won without help, but the stoppage was pure garbage.

[Max Power]

David Tua was one of the best boxers never to win a HW world title!

He layed waste to boxers who were HW champions, unfortunately just not when they were in possession of the title. And he has been a HW title challenger too.

He has also faced many top contender boxers.

This is not the profile of a journeyman.

David Tua might have had limited skillset but he was very strong and very powerful, able to put it together with the very best of them. In fact, only Lennox Lewis (who did) or a Klitschko (who would have) beat him up easily. And even Lennox couldn't knock the guy out.

Calling Tua a journeyman is nothing short of a disgusting insult!

Audley Harrison is a journeyman, Jesse Fergusson was a journeyman. Let's not get confused here!

[Spicoli]

Steve Forbes,

Im still reeling from his win over francesco Bojado.
Bojado was in good shape to get in contentions, but Forbes brought his 'A' game.

I also wanted to say Keith Mullings, but i think he was a tomato can that stopped Terry Norris.

Good call on Forbes. Mullings was in the right place at the right time but earned that shot after a very shady "loss" vs Marquez and all on two weeks notice. He put himself in line for the De La Hoya sweepstakes but fortunately for him came in flat against Castillejo(?).