How good were these British fighters that I watched growing up.

[BIG H]

Dave 'Boy' McAuley - His 2 fights with Fidel Bassa were quality, loved watching him

Paul 'Hoko' Hodkinson - 2 great fights with Marcus Villisana - was one of my favourite fighters as a kid

Duke McKenzie - I always thought he was crap tbh and that he won 3 very weak straps

Tony 'Sibbo' Sibson - Didn't watch much of Sibbo, saw him get battered by Hagler, but he was a quality fighter in his time.

Lloyd Honeyghan - IMO Could've been the greatest British fighter ever, but for some reason just went punchy overnight. I have always said that at his best he would've beaten Breland and Starling

Billy Schwer - Many lesser British fighters have gheld World Titles than Billy. Another one prone to cuts and brusing. Never quite had that extra something to be absolutely world class - good little fighter though

[ICB]

Dave 'Boy' McAuley - His 2 fights with Fidel Bassa were quality, loved watching him

Paul 'Hoko' Hodkinson - 2 great fights with Marcus Villisana - was one of my favourite fighters as a kid

Duke McKenzie - I always thought he was crap tbh and that he won 3 very weak straps

Tony 'Sibbo' Sibson - Didn't watch much of Sibbo, saw him get battered by Hagler, but he was a quality fighter in his time.

Lloyd Honeyghan - IMO Could've been the greatest British fighter ever, but for some reason just went punchy overnight. I have always said that at his best he would've beaten Breland and Starling

Billy Schwer - Many lesser British fighters have gheld World Titles than Billy. Another one prone to cuts and brusing. Never quite had that extra something to be absolutely world class - good little fighter though

Too be honest mate i've not really seen that much, of either fighter on your list probably as much as you, maybe less the only one i've really seen enough of Lloyd Honeyghan. So i guess i'll just respond on Lloyd Honeyghan.

i don't think he's quite as great as you say BIG H. And i think he always would of lost to Marlon Starling, just because Marlon Starling lost two competitive decision's to Donald Curry. Doesn't mean he would of lost to Lloyd Honeyghan, im not saying your saying that.

But i've always thought Marlon Starling was very impressive, loved his defensive work. His only problem was laziness other than that he was a great fighter.

And his masterclasss over Lloyd Honeyghan, was as good as Lloyd Honeyghan's performance over Donald Curry. Lloyd Honeyghan tried to be aggressive early on against Marlon Starling, but as soon as the bell ended for the 1st round. I think he knew already he was in with the better man.

I know Lloyd Honeyghan wasn't at his peak and had some hand problems, but its not like he was way past his peak either. I mean he had good performances against Maurice Blocker, Johnny Bumphus, Gene Hatcher, Jorge Vaca 2.

What was wrong with any of these performances ? that would of led us to have believed he would of been dominated by Marlon Starling ? i just think Marlon Starling was a bad match up for him and would have always of beaten him.

As for Mark Breland except for his amateur backgroud, i was never that impressed with him in the pro ranks. I mean he had a good jab and a good long right hand, but he was quite fragile.

And it was quite sad to see Lloyd Honeyghan vs Mark Breland, and i agree he was totally gone in that fight, the Marlon Starling fight ruined Lloyd Honeyghan.

I don't think that Lloyd Honeyghan would of ever have beaten, Mark Breland easy though. Because despite what i said, Mark Breland was tall and had a good jab. And it's always hard to deal with those attributes. But i do think he would of caught up to Mark Breland and stopped him.

[BIG H]

It's interesting what you say about Honeyghan, because part of the reasojn for the thread was to see if I saw things differently back then because these were the guys that were on TV and in the papers etc and you build them up. I have always thought Honeyghan was great, but maybe if I go back and wtach him knowing what I know now I won't feel the same

[Master]

Dave 'Boy' McAuley - Agreed loved his fights with Fidel Bassa and beating Duke McKenzie.

Paul 'Hoko' Hodkinson - Agreed very under rated fighter, unlucky to lose to Marcus Villisana the first time, was a good European champion and lost to a brilliant Goyo Vargas, when everyone was telling him not to fight him.

Duke McKenzie - did not rate him but boxed brilliantly against Canizales.

Tony 'Sibbo' Sibson - wanted Herol Graham to kick his ass.

Lloyd Honeyghan - great nights when he re-captured the title.

[johnmaff36]

Dave McAuley, although limited, had balls to burn and was as brave a man as anyone who stepped into the ring. Funnily enough he was robbed in spain when his title was stolen on him. I was at the 2nd Bassa fight and was standing in his corner when he was interviewed after it, just to try and get on tv ha ha! I was only turned 17 and you can see barney eastwood turning to look at me as if to say f**k off.
Tony sibson was a tough enough customer at european level. Think he won the british title after just a couple of fights.
Hoko was good but prone to cuts.
i remember going into Eastwoods gym one time and it was amazing the stable that was there. Crisanto Espana was world welterweight champ at the time, Victor Cordoba was super-middleweight champ also. Hodkinson was being took on the pads and a relatively unknown steve collins was on the heavybag. All world champs

[Master]

Dave McAuley, although limited, had balls to burn and was as brave a man as anyone who stepped into the ring. Funnily enough he was robbed in spain when his title was stolen on him. I was at the 2nd Bassa fight and was standing in his corner when he was interviewed after it, just to try and get on tv ha ha! I was only turned 17 and you can see barney eastwood turning to look at me as if to say f**k off.
Tony sibson was a tough enough customer at european level. Think he won the british title after just a couple of fights.
Hoko was good but prone to cuts.
i remember going into Eastwoods gym one time and it was amazing the stable that was there. Crisanto Espana was world welterweight champ at the time, Victor Cordoba was super-middleweight champ also. Hodkinson was being took on the pads and a relatively unknown steve collins was on the heavybag. All world champs

Good camp, Espana beat Meldrick Taylor and lost to Quartey
Cordoba (lost to Nunn?)

[Dean Duke]

Dave 'Boy' McAuley - Agreed loved his fights with Fidel Bassa and beating Duke McKenzie.

Paul 'Hoko' Hodkinson - Agreed very under rated fighter, unlucky to lose to Marcus Villisana the first time, was a good European champion and lost to a brilliant Goyo Vargas, when everyone was telling him not to fight him.

Duke McKenzie - did not rate him but boxed brilliantly against Canizales.

Tony 'Sibbo' Sibson - wanted Herol Graham to kick his ass.

Lloyd Honeyghan - great nights when he re-captured the title.

I loved to watch those fighters when I was a youngster, I really thought Charlie Magri would of done a lot more than he did but when he got his chance at world honours unfortunatly his punch resistance had gone, tbh I thought he was ready for a shot 5 or 6 fights earlier than he did, shame really as entertainment wise he was as good or better than the fighters above.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbZf_pxQYWM

[Master]

Agreed Dean Duke, Charlie was good but he lost to the great Sot Chitlada.

These were primarily BBC fights and really we have missed 2 generations worth of boxing. This forum would be a lot bigger.

[El Kabong]

How about Frank Bruno? How would he do in today's division?

[ryanman]

How about Frank Bruno? How would he do in today's division?

Undisputed champ of course!!
Seriously though, i think he could be 'best of the rest' after the Klitschos.
Actually, scrap that, i think Chagaev gives him nightmares too.

[Master]

How about Frank Bruno? How would he do in today's division?

Bruno was another who was on the BBC and got a big fan base. Wish the BBC would start showing some boxing, any boxing. Bruno was not world class, the Klit brothers would eat him. Bruno v Haye would be interesting.

[johnmaff36]

How about Frank Bruno? How would he do in today's division?

Bruno was another who was on the BBC and got a big fan base. Wish the BBC would start showing some boxing, any boxing. Bruno was not world class, the Klit brothers would eat him. Bruno v Haye would be interesting.

Ive argued this point for ages. The BBC has a huge liberary of boxing from the 60s up to the 90s which they own, so im assuming they dont have to pay anyone any rights. So instead of showing us how to cook pretentious food 5 times a day, or how a strategically placed curtain can add £5,000,000,000 to the value of your house, how about showing some great fights. I would be confident that the viewing figures would be no worse than half those shitty shows