Hagler-Hearns-Leonard-Duran (Benitez)
We couldn't get enough of them. They fought each other and we'd have loved more...
Toney-Jones-Hopkins-Nunn
These guys had the ability and were all around at the same time. Jones fought Toney. Toney fought Nunn (though Toney was not a boxing supertar at that point) and Jones-Hopkins was really a match-making accident.
These guys could have made it a golden era especially with the likes of Eubank, Benn and DM around.
Is the drab 4's failure to capture our imagination indicative of boxing's decline. Are the TV networks and fans too damning of a fighter who loses? Are fighters so protected now that an era like the 80s can never be replicated (and even the 80s has a slew of rematches that we never got).
Fab 4 and the Drab 4
its just a stylistic issue; the fab four were 3 fearsome guys and a pretty boy who had amazing ability.
the drab 4 were a decent enough powerhouse - toney, a super talent who bored everyone sick, thats jones, a lesser though still undoubted talent who wasnt at all exciting, hopkins and another fleet footed jabber who like 3 of the others did not possess much power. now, if the general public is mostly made up of boxing purists my argument immediately falls to pieces...but it aint.
the drab 4 were a decent enough powerhouse - toney, a super talent who bored everyone sick, thats jones, a lesser though still undoubted talent who wasnt at all exciting, hopkins and another fleet footed jabber who like 3 of the others did not possess much power. now, if the general public is mostly made up of boxing purists my argument immediately falls to pieces...but it aint.
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Arbachakov
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 380
- Joined: 15 Apr 2006, 12:35
Not to forget Nunn was a cocaine addled fraud of a fighter for most of his career.
So many disgraceful lethargic performances.
Toney was the same despite enjoying an undeserved late resurgence in popularity.An out of shape has-been for years after a brief run at middle-supermiddle.
so, lack of dedication was also a factor in why those two didn't make too many important fights.
So many disgraceful lethargic performances.
Toney was the same despite enjoying an undeserved late resurgence in popularity.An out of shape has-been for years after a brief run at middle-supermiddle.
so, lack of dedication was also a factor in why those two didn't make too many important fights.
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Ambling Alp
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 3627
- Joined: 15 Jul 2005, 22:31
I would say there are several reasons why they never grabbed our attention the way the "Fab Four" did.
1. They simply weren't as good.
2. They weren't as exciting.
3. They didn't fight each other enough. The Fab Four had 9 fights between them. The Drab Four had only 3.
Nunn never fought Jones or Hopkins. Hopkins never fought Toney.
Too much attention in the last 20 years or so has been paid to paper titles instead of real showdowns.
4. Timing. All 9 of the "Fab Four" Fights took place when both fighters were already well known.
Jones-Hopkins wasn't a big fight at all. Hopkins hadn't beaten anyone at that stage in his career and Jones was a clear favorite going in. There was no pre-fight build up that excited the fans.
Likewise Toney and Nunn weren't big stars.
The only fight that had anything close to having two star fighters was Toney-Jones.
The "Drab Four" wasn't really much of a rivalry. There have even better ones since then. I don't think too many people even think of these four guys together like they do with Hagler-Leonard-Hearns-Duran. How many people think of Michael Nunn when they think of Roy Jones?
1. They simply weren't as good.
2. They weren't as exciting.
3. They didn't fight each other enough. The Fab Four had 9 fights between them. The Drab Four had only 3.
Nunn never fought Jones or Hopkins. Hopkins never fought Toney.
Too much attention in the last 20 years or so has been paid to paper titles instead of real showdowns.
4. Timing. All 9 of the "Fab Four" Fights took place when both fighters were already well known.
Jones-Hopkins wasn't a big fight at all. Hopkins hadn't beaten anyone at that stage in his career and Jones was a clear favorite going in. There was no pre-fight build up that excited the fans.
Likewise Toney and Nunn weren't big stars.
The only fight that had anything close to having two star fighters was Toney-Jones.
The "Drab Four" wasn't really much of a rivalry. There have even better ones since then. I don't think too many people even think of these four guys together like they do with Hagler-Leonard-Hearns-Duran. How many people think of Michael Nunn when they think of Roy Jones?
Too much attention in the last 20 years or so has been paid to paper titles instead of real showdowns.
Ambling and others... if we KNOW that and indeed real fans & historians do!
How & Why do we let media & reporters and 'un-informed' fans continue to tell us; "oh he's the best or their the greatest and he would have beat this one or that one or any before him..." and so on, and so on and on & on!
even on this board there are 'plenty' in the know & yet it seems they become voiceless when this kind of rubbish comes from some of the afore mentioned reporters & fans.
and before anyone starts, of course fighters get credit for achievements (ligit or otherwise), but we're not talking about that, it's like Hopkins is a great & he'd beat so many of the great middles (my arse) and now even worse the same for JC, and many others that just don't equate.
WHY?
Ambling and others... if we KNOW that and indeed real fans & historians do!
How & Why do we let media & reporters and 'un-informed' fans continue to tell us; "oh he's the best or their the greatest and he would have beat this one or that one or any before him..." and so on, and so on and on & on!
even on this board there are 'plenty' in the know & yet it seems they become voiceless when this kind of rubbish comes from some of the afore mentioned reporters & fans.
and before anyone starts, of course fighters get credit for achievements (ligit or otherwise), but we're not talking about that, it's like Hopkins is a great & he'd beat so many of the great middles (my arse) and now even worse the same for JC, and many others that just don't equate.
WHY?
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elmersalsa
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 15683
- Joined: 02 Feb 2003, 03:50