What was the hardest ask.

[stujones]

I was just looking at some old Hatton threads looking at how big a task he had vs Mayweather.

Just thinking back to how many all time greats, in their prime, a brit has fought on away soil - and which of these were the most daunting ask.

Note some of these are not all time greats but I have included them.

Andy Holigan vs Julio Cesar Chavez
Ricky Hatton vs Floyd Mayweather
Tommy Farr vs Joe Louis
Kevin Lueshing vs Felix Trinidad
Adrian Stone vs Shane Mosley
Wanye McCullough vs Yasuei Yakushiji
Wanye McCullough vs Eric Morales
Richie Wenton vs Marco Antonio Barrera
Damean Kelly vs Irene Pachecco
John H Stracey vs Jose Napoles
Lloyd Honeyghun vs Don Curry
Frank Bruno vs Mike Tyson
Tony Sibson vs Marvin Hagler
Steve Collins vs Mike McCallum
Robin Reid vs Sven Ottke
Crawford Ashley vs Virgil Hill
Clinton Woods vs Roy Jones.

Any others?

[rhino222]

williams v klitschko in vegas was a massive ask !!

[Poncey]

Francis v Tyson.

[stujones]

Francis v Tyson.

On home soil.

[lvlarc]

Pavlik vs Lockett

[stujones]

williams v klitschko in vegas was a massive ask !!

Good call - as Chagaev vs Skelton, Haye vs Mormeck and Calzaghe vs B hop.

[Poncey]

williams v klitschko in vegas was a massive ask !!

Good call - as Chagaev vs Skelton, Haye vs Mormeck and Calzaghe vs B hop.

I would say the latter two were big asks. They were at least 50/50 among people's opinions.

[Old bones Ian]

Holigan v Chavez was a massive ask, Chavez may not have been at his peak, but Holigan hadn't fought above British title level, and the fight was in Mexico. In front of something like 100,000 people. Not any of them cheering for Andy.

JUst looking at that bill, and not only was Chavez on it, but also Norris v Brown I, great upset by Simon Brown that night.
Plus there was Michael Nunn v Merqui Sosa, and other names appearing in quick fire wins Tony Tucker, Oliver McCall, Hector Camacho, Frank Tate,

[Poncey]

How was Benn v Barkley perceived, I can't remember?

[stujones]

How was Benn v Barkley perceived, I can't remember?

I didn't include cause Benn was the champion.

[stujones]

williams v klitschko in vegas was a massive ask !!

Good call - as Chagaev vs Skelton, Haye vs Mormeck and Calzaghe vs B hop.

I would say the latter two were big asks. They were at least 50/50 among people's opinions.

Chagaev vs Skelton was even harder though - that wasn't 50/50.

I don't know many people who picked Hopkins - other than a controvesial decision.

[Eraserhead]

Clinton Woods against Roy Jones in Portland for me. Woods, although a decent Euro-level operator, had never boxed anyone remotely world-class and was in against the most freakishly talented fighter of the modern era. Nobody in the world would've beaten Jones that night. Probably the most destructive he'd looked as a light-heavyweight.

[Poncey]

How was Benn v Barkley perceived, I can't remember?

I didn't include cause Benn was the champion.

Sorry Stu, I meant to say the latter two were 50/50. Apologies.

Laing v Duran?

[dr_devious]

Cockell v Marciano
Farr v Louis
Bugner v Ali
London v Ali
Finnegan v Foster (not sure if this was abroad)
Green v Leonard
Charles v Napoles (this was in the UK)
Sibson v Hagler
Roderick v Armstrong (this was in the UK)

[stujones]

Laing v Duran?

Didn't include cause it was a non title fight.

[stujones]

Cockell v Marciano
Farr v Louis
Bugner v Ali
London v Ali
Finnegan v Foster (not sure if this was abroad)
Green v Leonard
Charles v Napoles (this was in the UK)
Sibson v Hagler
Roderick v Armstrong (this was in the UK)

Some tremendous calls there - Green vs Leonard (ouch).

Vargas vs Howard Clarke (although Vargas was no great).

[Goz]

I was just looking at some old Hatton threads looking at how big a task he had vs Mayweather.

Just thinking back to how many all time greats, in their prime, a brit has fought on away soil - and which of these were the most daunting ask.

Note some of these are not all time greats but I have included them.

Andy Holigan vs Julio Cesar Chavez
Ricky Hatton vs Floyd Mayweather
Tommy Farr vs Joe Louis
Kevin Lueshing vs Felix Trinidad
Adrian Stone vs Shane Mosley
Wanye McCullough vs Yasuei Yakushiji
Wanye McCullough vs Eric Morales
Richie Wenton vs Marco Antonio Barrera
Damean Kelly vs Irene Pachecco
John H Stracey vs Jose Napoles
Lloyd Honeyghun vs Don Curry
Frank Bruno vs Mike Tyson
Tony Sibson vs Marvin Hagler
Steve Collins vs Mike McCallum
Robin Reid vs Sven Ottke
Crawford Ashley vs Virgil Hill
Clinton Woods vs Roy Jones.

Any others?

Yes there are a few on that list that never had a chance. Stone, Lueshing & Holligan leap out as they were never really world class, Sibson and Woods had it tough because they were up against legends at their peak.

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

Johnny Caldwell fought Eder Jofre in Sao Paolo in front of a 100,000 Brazilians before being retired on
his stool in the 10th round.

Johnny Owen and Alan Rudkin both fought at the Ingleweood forum against Mexican all time greats, this is a place where the fans would smash up the place if their favourite was losing. I think the Inglewood forum was smashed up 3 or 4 times in the late 1960s - 1970s so Owen and Rudkin showed balls going out there and fighting Mexcian favourites.

Damean Kelly fighting in Colombia which is still in a civil war.

Walter McGowan fighting Chartai Chinoni in Bangkok Thailand.

Finnegan vs Foster was in London - Sky showed the whole 14 rounds and it was a cracking scrap if you ever get to see it!

[stujones]

Johnny Caldwell fought Eder Jofre in Sao Paolo in front of a 100,000 Brazilians before being retired on
his stool in the 10th round.

Johnny Owen and Alan Rudkin both fought at the Ingleweood forum against Mexican all time greats, this is a place where the fans would smash up the place if their favourite was losing. I think the Inglewood forum was smashed up 3 or 4 times in the late 1960s - 1970s so Owen and Rudkin showed balls going out there and fighting Mexcian favourites.

I feel bad for not mentioning these... Jofre is criminally underated.

and Johnny Bach will never be forgotton.... what a gutsy effort.

[Goz]

Pat Cowdell against Salvador Sanchez was also an awesome ask for the Brummie fighter. That Cowdell took him to a split decision - over there - was an amazing effort.

[Gray-Fox]

Woods v Jones.

Cakewalk for Jones, with someone so easy to hit as Woods.

[Scrap]

Jack Berg v Kid Chocolate 90 and 0 Polo Grounds New York

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

Johnny Caldwell fought Eder Jofre in Sao Paolo in front of a 100,000 Brazilians before being retired on
his stool in the 10th round.

Johnny Owen and Alan Rudkin both fought at the Ingleweood forum against Mexican all time greats, this is a place where the fans would smash up the place if their favourite was losing. I think the Inglewood forum was smashed up 3 or 4 times in the late 1960s - 1970s so Owen and Rudkin showed balls going out there and fighting Mexcian favourites.

I feel bad for not mentioning these... Jofre is criminally underated.

and Johnny Bach will never be forgotton.... what a gutsy effort.

Certainly was - it was an intimidating place - where visiting fighters got drenched with beer, spit and urine - For Johnny Owen to go there and fight a man like Lupe Pintor was pure courage.


Here is a wiki piece about one of the Inglewood forums big riots in a fight between Carlos Zarate and Alfonso Zamora
watch for the Mexican fan jumping into the ring in his undies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Battle_of_the_Z_Boys


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHMxwu1MeZw

[chesh]

Having already lost to him in England and Wales, Howard Winstone travelled to Mexico City to take on the great Vicente Saldivar for a third time. That's what you call balls. Compare that to Hamed who wouldn't get back in the ring with another great Mexican after just one loss.

[J]

turpin robinson both times!