What fighters do you feel "froze" in big fights ?

[big lennox]

Naz just got beaten, freezing had nought to do with it.

He was having a major confidence of crisis in the dressing room before the fight stalling with his gloves, etc

Buit once he got in the ring - he got on with it

You cant say he froze - he fought competively for 12 rounds

I feel that Naz looked uncomfortable in the changing room, the walk to the ring and in the ring before the fight and during the fight. He had a lot of heart though and stood up to a beating. A real shame, as I do think the naz of 5 years previously would have got top side of barrera.

[My Name Is Earl]

Not sure 'froze' is the right word, but Pat Barret never performed for whatever reason, when his big shot came along.

Berbicks legs were doing an Elvis impression even before the first bell with Tyson.

[HughJohnson]

Jeff Lacy v JC...he froze in the first round and is still thawing out at the moment.

[Deserter]

Not sure 'froze' is the right word, but Pat Barret never performed for whatever reason, when his big shot came along.

Galloway was a really tricky fighter, but I know what you're getting at. Barret was one of those fighters who on occasion looked like he would bang anyone out, but just couldn't produce that form at the highest level. Not so much freezing as just lacking that extra something when it really mattered.

[My Name Is Earl]

Not sure 'froze' is the right word, but Pat Barret never performed for whatever reason, when his big shot came along.

Galloway was a really tricky fighter, but I know what you're getting at. Barret was one of those fighters who on occasion looked like he would bang anyone out, but just couldn't produce that form at the highest level. Not so much freezing as just lacking that extra something when it really mattered.

I agree. I think, even Barret alluded to this when assessing his career.

[hitman_hatton1]

Naz just got beaten, freezing had nought to do with it.

He was having a major confidence of crisis in the dressing room before the fight stalling with his gloves, etc

Buit once he got in the ring - he got on with it

You cant say he froze - he fought competively for 12 rounds

I feel that Naz looked uncomfortable in the changing room, the walk to the ring and in the ring before the fight and during the fight. He had a lot of heart though and stood up to a beating. A real shame, as I do think the naz of 5 years previously would have got top side of barrera.

yeah naz shat himself.

took him about half a dozen rds to get going a little.

real horror show from naz.

[Mick the Mechanic]

Talkin about Naz,i thought Billy Hardy froze against him,
So did Pat Cowdell that night against Azumah Nelson,back end of the 80's i think.

[alexpaterson]

I think Appelby was effected by the atmosphere against Lindsay im not saying he froze but he was definely effected by the noise

[Mensa07]

Kessler against Joe, shoud have beat him and Eastman against Bhop, on at least 2 ocassions Eastman hurt Bhop and never followed up, once fairly early if I remember. Both these guys I think were overawed by the magnitude of the fight and froze!

dont see how Kessler froze, it was a v.close fight only a round or two in it. He wouldn't have been so competitive if he'd froze.

I think people are just naming losses now.

I imagine Sonny Liston had a similar pre-fight effect to Tyson on his opponents back in the day.

[Counter-puncher]

I think Appelby was effected by the atmosphere against Lindsay im not saying he froze but he was definely effected by the noise

agreed

[FLINT ISLAND]

yeah naz shat himself.

took him about half a dozen rds to get going a little.

real horror show from naz. [/quote]


I dont think he froze

But he had a big reality check before the fight that he was probaly going to lose

He go caught good in the 1st round - but I think that was good for him - too wake him up a bit and to just get him into a real scrap

Naz went for it in the 2nd round - launching a huge rocket launcher - trying to take Barrera out quickly - Barrera avoided it and then wrestled Naz to the floor and punched Naz when he was on the floor

After Naz failed to get Barrera out qucikly - the fight settle down - and Naz just got into it

He lost because he was facing a more seasoned and much more dicspilined professional fighter

He only shit it - before the fight

Once he was in there - he got stuck in.

[FLINT ISLAND]

Talkin about Naz,i thought Billy Hardy froze against him,
So did Pat Cowdell that night against Azumah Nelson,back end of the 80's i think.

Billy Hardy didnt freeze - he just tried to get on his bike in fear - because he knew he was woefully out of his depth.

[FLINT ISLAND]

Jeff Lacy v JC...he froze in the first round and is still thawing out at the moment.

I think he froze big time

Intresting to see how he would have fared against Calzaghe if he fought with the same confidence he showed against Robin Reid and the rest.................

[FLINT ISLAND]

One obvious one that immediately comes to my mind is

Frank Bruno V Mike Tyson in the 2nd fight

Bruno talked a good game - really talked bold about what he was going to do in that fight

Come fight night that big talk turned to dust

He sh#t himself during the ring walk

And then just tried to hold on for dear life - until Tyson put him out of his misery

Bruno froze

Bruno v Lewis - he had the chance to get lewis out of there from what i remember then just froze and threw the fight away.

Bruno was a major banger - and could have knocked out Lewis -

But I dont think he ever really had the belief to beat a Lewis or a Tyson

And while I didnt really notice him freezing - I can totally believe he would throw away a fight he was winning against Lewis just because he felt deep down he wasnt supposed to win against Lewis

Bruno got pulversied in the end - Lewis had the Champion inside him Bruno has always lacked that belief.

[black panther]

Danny Williams vs Sinan Samil Sam

[MightyWarrior]

Talkin about Naz,i thought Billy Hardy froze against him,
So did Pat Cowdell that night against Azumah Nelson,back end of the 80's i think.

Pat didn't freeze, he'd already done 15 with the great Salvador Sanchez, and was just doing his usual thing until The Mighty Warrior landed the best punch he ever threw.

And Hardy was just hit by a hellacious punch from Naz - the look on his face was pure shock. I remember Sporting Life predicted a first round KO for Naz in that one.

That guy Naz knocked out in 12 seconds, Lawal? He defintely froze - first punch on the fight and goodnight sweet prince.