Meetings of all-time greats at their peak...

dondada · Post by **dondada** » 30 Apr 2004, 07:36

Doing a bit of writing and it got me thinking...when has this happened over the last 20 years or so...? At their peak might be a bit too much. I'll settle for close to their peak then. 8)

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 30 Apr 2004, 07:41

Chavez v Taylor 1 ( Taylor was a near all timer, until JC destroyed him )

Arguello v Pryor 1

Duran v Leonard 1

Hearns v Hagler

Hearns v Leonard 1

Benitez v Leonard

Morales v Barrera 1

ODH v Trinidad ( worst superfight of all time?? )

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 30 Apr 2004, 07:42

Riddick Bowe v Holyfield I

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 30 Apr 2004, 07:45

Arguello v Pintor
Leonard v Hearns
Trinidad v Hopkins (hopkins was near as to your peak as you can be at 38)
Naseem v Barrera (dubious on 2counts I suppose)
Duran v Benitez
Leonard v Benitez

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 30 Apr 2004, 07:47

The Daddy of them all: Sanchez v Gomez

dondada · Post by **dondada** » 30 Apr 2004, 07:51

Good suggestions. Yeah, doing a bit on Duran-Leonard I and it got me thinking.

As pointed out, not sure I would include Naz. Not even sure I would include Trinidad as an all-time great with the benefit of hindsight, though I could be being picky.

That's leaves Barrera-Morales I being the only one in the last decade. Sad, isn't it?

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 30 Apr 2004, 08:04

Good question. Wow. At their peak. Many of the classics have already been mentioned. Off the top of my head: I would say Ali-Foreman (people would argue Ali was at his peak in the 60's, but he still had it in 1974). Tyson-Spinks (boy, was Tyson at his peak!). Monzon-Valdes (both fights). Barrera-McKinney. Hasim Rahman-Corrie Sanders is one that often gets overlooked.
Probably my favourite is Duran-Dejesus. Duran was at his peak at lightweight. Unbeatable.

J · Post by J » 30 Apr 2004, 08:07

azumah nelson v pernell whitaker?

or salvador sanchez v Azumah though Nleson was a bit green at the time of the fight.

ok both fringe all timers but if you have look on pernells record its got some fantastic names, chavez, de la hoya etc etc.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 30 Apr 2004, 08:09

Hang on Bennie, didn't DeJesus beat Duran though?

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 30 Apr 2004, 08:11

Probably Duran v deJesus 3 he's refering to ( or two ) DeJesus won the first 10 rounder.

But in the last 20 years......Jones v Toney comes close. Not a great fight though.

dondada · Post by **dondada** » 30 Apr 2004, 08:12

bennie wrote:Good question. Wow. At their peak. Many of the classics have already been mentioned. Off the top of my head: I would say Ali-Foreman (people would argue Ali was at his peak in the 60's, but he still had it in 1974). Tyson-Spinks (boy, was Tyson at his peak!). Monzon-Valdes (both fights). Barrera-McKinney. Hasim Rahman-Corrie Sanders is one that often gets overlooked.
Probably my favourite is Duran-Dejesus. Duran was at his peak at lightweight. Unbeatable.

Should have been a bit more specific. If you limit it to the last 20 years you will have a struggle. Duran was a freak who had a long peak, 1972-1980!

For all-time great...would you put them in the top dozen in their weight division post-war perhaps?

From the list above, this leaves Tyson-Spinks...debate worthy but a good choice, despite Spinks getting blown away!

J · Post by J » 30 Apr 2004, 08:15

hmm not sure I would have spinks as a top 12 heavy post war.
close but dunno bout top 12.

REAL_DEAL · Post by **REAL_DEAL** » 30 Apr 2004, 08:16

Hamed was never at his fighting peak when he fought Barrera. When hamed left ingel he went down hill. Hamed would of KO'd Barrera if he was at his peak then

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 30 Apr 2004, 08:17

I feel Spinks actually improved when moving up in weight and was at his peak when he fought Tyson. Somebody's '0' had to go.

J · Post by J » 30 Apr 2004, 08:18

no mate dont think it would have happened. not in my book.
barrera could have dealt with Naz at anytime of his career.

no we really are talking a great and a fringe all timer
just my take

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 30 Apr 2004, 08:19

Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote:Good suggestions. Yeah, doing a bit on Duran-Leonard I and it got me thinking.

I was reading an old Rolling Stone mag my Dad has the other day - it had a big piece in it on the run up to Duran/Leonard 1 - lots of good quotes etc. I'll see if I can get hold of it if you like ( he was selling it at a book show, so I'm not sure he still has it )
Duran insulting Leonard's wife - the usual stuff!

REAL_DEAL · Post by **REAL_DEAL** » 30 Apr 2004, 08:22

Hey J

No one beats a 100% beats a fit and focused Hamed

J · Post by J » 30 Apr 2004, 08:24

haha dont you start as well

dondada · Post by **dondada** » 30 Apr 2004, 08:37

MightyWarrior wrote:
Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote:Good suggestions. Yeah, doing a bit on Duran-Leonard I and it got me thinking.
I was reading an old Rolling Stone mag my Dad has the other day - it had a big piece in it on the run up to Duran/Leonard 1 - lots of good quotes etc. I'll see if I can get hold of it if you like ( he was selling it at a book show, so I'm not sure he still has it )
Duran insulting Leonard's wife - the usual stuff!

Cheers MW. Am doing the piece right now. I've done loads of research and am going to overshoot the word count by miles. The mag you mention would be a good read, especially if written by a non-fight specialist as they have perspectives on things that we never would.
You are right re the insulting...Duran called Leonard's wife Juanita a whore and grabbed his nuts in front of her. Even Duran's wife called her a whore!

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 30 Apr 2004, 08:47

Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote:
MightyWarrior wrote:
Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote:Good suggestions. Yeah, doing a bit on Duran-Leonard I and it got me thinking.
I was reading an old Rolling Stone mag my Dad has the other day - it had a big piece in it on the run up to Duran/Leonard 1 - lots of good quotes etc. I'll see if I can get hold of it if you like ( he was selling it at a book show, so I'm not sure he still has it )
Duran insulting Leonard's wife - the usual stuff!
Cheers MW. Am doing the piece right now. I've done loads of research and am going to overshoot the word count by miles. The mag you mention would be a good read, especially if written by a non-fight specialist as they have perspectives on things that we never would.
You are right re the insulting...Duran called Leonard's wife Juanita a whore and grabbed his nuts in front of her. Even Duran's wife called her a whore!

When Duran walked to the ropes and grabbed his nuts in a "wanker" gesture to someone at ringside immediately after the Leonard fight, he was gesturing to Wilfred Benitez. Indeed, a point worth mentioning are the "faces" at ringside that legendary night in Montreal. Gomez, Arguello, Greg Page, Holmes and Saoul Mamby (who fought Duran) are all visible. Arguello was even waving a Panamanian flag in support of Duran.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 30 Apr 2004, 08:54

Jones vs Toney.

Lopez vs Alvarez

Moseley vs DLH

Chavez vs Whittikar??

Patterson vs Liston.

There is a few that just missed out on IMO.

Jones vs Hopkins

DLH vs Whittikar

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 30 Apr 2004, 09:01

I'll see if I can get hold of the mag next time I see my Dad.

It's amazing no-one has ever written a book on Duran ( as far as I know )
I mean, what a life the guy's had.
Street urchin, possible Mexican Dad, big breakthrough at the Garden NY, knocking out a horse, pet lion he used to.....errr "play with", more super fights than you could count, incredible highs, lows, disgrace, comebacks,great quotes, you name it.
A true legend.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 30 Apr 2004, 09:03

Boxng Monthly did a similar write up a few years ago. Compared recent bouts labelled "Superfights" and wrote whether they were worthy of such acclaim. Most were not.

dondada · Post by **dondada** » 30 Apr 2004, 09:04

bennie wrote:
Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote:
MightyWarrior wrote: I was reading an old Rolling Stone mag my Dad has the other day - it had a big piece in it on the run up to Duran/Leonard 1 - lots of good quotes etc. I'll see if I can get hold of it if you like ( he was selling it at a book show, so I'm not sure he still has it )
Duran insulting Leonard's wife - the usual stuff!
Cheers MW. Am doing the piece right now. I've done loads of research and am going to overshoot the word count by miles. The mag you mention would be a good read, especially if written by a non-fight specialist as they have perspectives on things that we never would.
You are right re the insulting...Duran called Leonard's wife Juanita a whore and grabbed his nuts in front of her. Even Duran's wife called her a whore!
When Duran walked to the ropes and grabbed his nuts in a "wanker" gesture to someone at ringside immediately after the Leonard fight, he was gesturing to Wilfred Benitez. Indeed, a point worth mentioning are the "faces" at ringside that legendary night in Montreal. Gomez, Arguello, Greg Page, Holmes and Saoul Mamby (who fought Duran) are all visible. Arguello was even waving a Panamanian flag in support of Duran.

Did the nuts thing to SRL's missus in a meeting before the fight night. Good call on the ringside faces.

dondada · Post by **dondada** » 30 Apr 2004, 09:05

MightyWarrior wrote:I'll see if I can get hold of the mag next time I see my Dad.

It's amazing no-one has ever written a book on Duran ( as far as I know )
I mean, what a life the guy's had.
Street urchin, possible Mexican Dad, big breakthrough at the Garden NY, knocking out a horse, pet lion he used to.....errr "play with", more super fights than you could count, incredible highs, lows, disgrace, comebacks,great quotes, you name it.
A true legend.

You are right. Don't think there is a biography of note on Duran, certainly not in English. I would honestly give it a go but I think it would take a Spanish speaker to do it justice...and I'm not one.