Unknown and underappreciated

[Spicoli]

Great group and all superb talent. Lopez being head and shoulders above the others. The only thing not maximized by Finito and promotion was size I think, always bothered me why not creep into the depths with Carbajal, Yuh or a Gonzalez. As much as I like Carbajal I believe Lopez would have done a number on him late on. One of the most sharp, precise and rounded tacticians seen. Ever watch a guy with the top of screen blocked off? Do it with Lopez..textbook on footwork. Too Sharp was...I say this sober ...just a fast as Jones Jr. and had tremendous reflex. Problem was he liked to shoot it out also and was drawn into exchanges when no need. He and Tapia will go down as a "superfight" missed. Norwood truth be told sabotaged himself from where I watched. Top skill but was undisciplined in and out of ring and a real dirty fighter in spots. Canizales had network exposure but again over shadowed by higher divisions at time, same for a Yuri Arbachakov who blazed a path pre world wide web but few knew him. Today they'd still be p4p but main eventing a network.

[mikeeod]

Great group and all superb talent. Lopez being head and shoulders above the others. The only thing not maximized by Finito and promotion was size I think, always bothered me why not creep into the depths with Carbajal, Yuh or a Gonzalez. As much as I like Carbajal I believe Lopez would have done a number on him late on. One of the most sharp, precise and rounded tacticians seen. Ever watch a guy with the top of screen blocked off? Do it with Lopez..textbook on footwork. Too Sharp was...I say this sober ...just a fast as Jones Jr. and had tremendous reflex. Problem was he liked to shoot it out also and was drawn into exchanges when no need. He and Tapia will go down as a "superfight" missed. Norwood truth be told sabotaged himself from where I watched. Top skill but was undisciplined in and out of ring and a real dirty fighter in spots. Canizales had network exposure but again over shadowed by higher divisions at time, same for a Yuri Arbachakov who blazed a path pre world wide web but few knew him. Today they'd still be p4p but main eventing a network.

Great call on Orlando Canizales and Yuri Arbachakov! Yuri was a great puncher for his size and had solid skills, from what I remember. He was the first of the wave of Russian imports like Vitali/Wlad, Kostya...etc. Canizales was just a straight up technician. Talk about a well rounded pro who could do it all in the ring! Great little boxer.

I agree with the Finito vs Carbajal fight. Michael could punch and was a solid boxer, not to mention the bigger man, but I don't think he lasts vs. Lopez. Ricardo was, in my opinion, the best fighter I ever saw in the ring, when you consider the total package. Roy was probably slightly faster and a slightly harder puncher pound for pound, but no where near his versatility or boxing ability. Floyd was faster and just as good of a boxer/technician, but I don't think he has the punch or killer instinct that Finito did. Leonard never looked as polished in the ring or destructive to his opponents body like Lopez was, and as good as Duran was, I don't think he could box like Ricardo. Sweet Pea was as skilled, slightly faster, and better defensively, but nowhere near the offensive threat Lopez was.

[Master]

Small and fighters from the East and not appreciated. Sot Chitlada and Kalaxy brothers were brilliant fighters.

[Ron Swanson]

Great group and all superb talent. Lopez being head and shoulders above the others. The only thing not maximized by Finito and promotion was size I think, always bothered me why not creep into the depths with Carbajal, Yuh or a Gonzalez. As much as I like Carbajal I believe Lopez would have done a number on him late on. One of the most sharp, precise and rounded tacticians seen. Ever watch a guy with the top of screen blocked off? Do it with Lopez..textbook on footwork. Too Sharp was...I say this sober ...just a fast as Jones Jr. and had tremendous reflex. Problem was he liked to shoot it out also and was drawn into exchanges when no need. He and Tapia will go down as a "superfight" missed. Norwood truth be told sabotaged himself from where I watched. Top skill but was undisciplined in and out of ring and a real dirty fighter in spots. Canizales had network exposure but again over shadowed by higher divisions at time, same for a Yuri Arbachakov who blazed a path pre world wide web but few knew him. Today they'd still be p4p but main eventing a network.

Great call on Orlando Canizales and Yuri Arbachakov! Yuri was a great puncher for his size and had solid skills, from what I remember. He was the first of the wave of Russian imports like Vitali/Wlad, Kostya...etc. Canizales was just a straight up technician. Talk about a well rounded pro who could do it all in the ring! Great little boxer.

I agree with the Finito vs Carbajal fight. Michael could punch and was a solid boxer, not to mention the bigger man, but I don't think he lasts vs. Lopez. Ricardo was, in my opinion, the best fighter I ever saw in the ring, when you consider the total package. Roy was probably slightly faster and a slightly harder puncher pound for pound, but no where near his versatility or boxing ability. Floyd was faster and just as good of a boxer/technician, but I don't think he has the punch or killer instinct that Finito did. Leonard never looked as polished in the ring or destructive to his opponents body like Lopez was, and as good as Duran was, I don't think he could box like Ricardo. Sweet Pea was as skilled, slightly faster, and better defensively, but nowhere near the offensive threat Lopez was.

Minor detail but Wladimir and Vitali are not Russian. The Ukraine, especially since they basically built Russia should get their credit. Ukraine also producing Lomachenko and the soon to be champion Oleksandr Usyk.

[Britkid]

Santos Laciar: A brilliant Argentine Fly/Bantam who came to prominence when he was on the wrong end of a pretty bad hometown decision to our very own then future Flyweight world champ Charlie Magri. Laciar went on to win world titles himself at 112/115; and his series with another who could be listed, Gilberto Roman, was compelling.

[Master]

Santos Laciar: A brilliant Argentine Fly/Bantam who came to prominence when he was on the wrong end of a pretty bad hometown decision to our very own then future Flyweight world champ Charlie Magri. Laciar went on to win world titles himself at 112/115; and his series with another who could be listed, Gilberto Roman, was compelling.

Sot Chitalada wiped out Magri.

[Britkid]

Santos Laciar: A brilliant Argentine Fly/Bantam who came to prominence when he was on the wrong end of a pretty bad hometown decision to our very own then future Flyweight world champ Charlie Magri. Laciar went on to win world titles himself at 112/115; and his series with another who could be listed, Gilberto Roman, was compelling.

Sot Chitalada wiped out Magri.

My old man was in awe of Sot that night and got us tickets to the Chitalada/Duke McKenzie fight...

Sadly the Thai was injured and instead we were served up a main event of Horace Notice and one Dean Waters. The only fun was on the undercard when a young gypsy fighter got (rightly) stopped in the opening round and attacked the ref! He had a fair few supporters and at one staged there looked like their might be crowd trouble too.

[Master]

Horace Notice was better than Bruno.