Underrated Fights

[Goodnight, Irene]

Bold from which angle? Rose, or Olivares?

[Goodnight, Irene]

Ain't a thing about calling Olivares the best Mexican God ever gave breath to, that much is for sure.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Off the top of my head I would rate Fenech comfortably over Rose. Peter Jackson & Young Griffo as well.

[dberry]

What about Jeff Harding? does anyone here even know who Jeff 'Hitman' harding is? How can he never rate a fornicating mention when people talk about the best Aussie boxers?

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Calling him the HitMan is a good way for me to ignore him. He was a solid Light Heravy, but miles away from the guys I listed, at least imo.


Mancini/Kim is an underrated fight due to the tragic conclusion. I remember watching it with my Dad and it was some kind of back and forth war. I tend not to rewatch fights that ended in fatality. On the other hand, the fallen wars deserve their last moments to be preserved. I might hunt down a copy of this, I remember it being epic.

[dberry]

Calling him the HitMan is a good way for me to ignore him. He was a solid Light Heravy, but miles away from the guys I listed, at least imo.


Mancini/Kim is an underrated fight due to the tragic conclusion. I remember watching it with my Dad and it was some kind of back and forth war. I tend not to rewatch fights that ended in fatality. On the other hand, the fallen wars deserve their last moments to be preserved. I might hunt down a copy of this, I remember it being epic.

Well surprise, surprise, Sad of the deck, I should have known you'd chime in to shoot me down. You ignore Harding because you don't like his fight name? Don't think he's in the same league as some of the guys you've mentioned? Harding was a top light heavy, held the world title a couple of times, was the world light heavy champ in a very competitive era, in a tough weight devision, defended it successfully a total of four times, lost it twice out of eight world title fights, knocked out Denis Andries and beat him once on points in a legendary trilogy, stopped Tiozzo and in his final fight lost a very close descision against absolute legend, Mike McCallum.

I love Lionel, know him personally and am a friend of his son, Mick so am not about to compare the both. And Jeff Fenech's achievements speak for themselves..........at bee's dick weight.

Jeff's first world title was for the newly established, lightly rated at the time, IBF. He fought a 8-1-1 Japanese fellow in Jeff's home town, any one, at least who I've come across, who knows boxing agrees that Fenech and Ellis where both lucky for timing for their first world titles.

In fact, IMO, the first big name that he fought was Azuma Nelson, who drew with him the first fight, and the literally nearly killed our so called greatest in their next match up, oh and lightly rated contender, Calvin Grove, did the exact same thing in Jeff's very next fight, both on Jeff's home turf.

Harding miles away from those that you listed? Pfffft, if you say so know it all.

[bollox]

Dan...during Harding's career did you ever think to yourself..."Jeff's in a bit of trouble if he comes across a slick boxer". I did. Tough bastard though

[dberry]

It's Dale, Bollox , I agree Harding was a walk forward, tough brawling style fighter, as too was Fenech. I'm just saying that he was a champion in a tough division, during a competitive era and, IMO, deserves a lot more recognition and to at least be compared to and included as one of Australia's greats.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Calling him the HitMan is a good way for me to ignore him. He was a solid Light Heravy, but miles away from the guys I listed, at least imo.


Mancini/Kim is an underrated fight due to the tragic conclusion. I remember watching it with my Dad and it was some kind of back and forth war. I tend not to rewatch fights that ended in fatality. On the other hand, the fallen wars deserve their last moments to be preserved. I might hunt down a copy of this, I remember it being epic.

Well surprise, surprise, Sad of the deck, I should have known you'd chime in to shoot me down. You ignore Harding because you don't like his fight name? Don't think he's in the same league as some of the guys you've mentioned? Harding was a top light heavy, held the world title a couple of times, was the world light heavy champ in a very competitive era, in a tough weight devision, defended it successfully a total of four times, lost it twice out of eight world title fights, knocked out Denis Andries and beat him once on points in a legendary trilogy, stopped Tiozzo and in his final fight lost a very close descision against absolute legend, Mike McCallum.

I love Lionel, know him personally and am a friend of his son, Mick so am not about to compare the both. And Jeff Fenech's achievements speak for themselves..........at bee's dick weight.

Jeff's first world title was for the newly established, lightly rated at the time, IBF. He fought a 8-1-1 Japanese fellow in Jeff's home town, any one, at least who I've come across, who knows boxing agrees that Fenech and Ellis where both lucky for timing for their first world titles.

In fact, IMO, the first big name that he fought was Azuma Nelson, who drew with him the first fight, and the literally nearly killed our so called greatest in their next match up, oh and lightly rated contender, Calvin Grove, did the exact same thing in Jeff's very next fight, both on Jeff's home turf.

Harding miles away from those that you listed? Pfffft, if you say so know it all.

That was merely a joke big guy, Hearns is my favorite fighter.

As for Harding compared to Fenech, Griffo & Jackson. I stated it was my opinion. Your statement sure came off like you wanted a response, so I gave you one. You're trying far too hard to combat the Big Bad Wolf. The only posts confrontational and know it all came from you.

Zaragoza, Payakaroon, Callejas, Villasana & Richardson aren't comparable to Andries & Tiozzo?
Even an old and comebacking Zarate is in that league for sure. Just because you're a Harding fan is no reason to tear down a resume like Fenech's.

Edit: And actually Fenech over Harding is more than my opinion. It's a fact.

[bollox]

It's Dale, Bollox , I agree Harding was a walk forward, tough brawling style fighter, as too was Fenech. I'm just saying that he was a champion in a tough division, during a competitive era and, IMO, deserves a lot more recognition and to at least be compared to and included as one of Australia's greats.

Ahhhh sheet, I was so concerned about not calling you Darren again that I got it wrong. Again

Agreed, Harding's almost forgotten these days. And wrongly so. I do remember that Ray Connolly used to come out with some seriously big words (and some others that he made up himself) when introducing Jeff's fights. Jeff once said about Ray's intros..."I have no idea what half them words mean"

p.s. it's a real pity to read that Harding's life has run parallel with old adversary Dennis Andries since retiring. Last I heard neither was travelling too well

[Counter-puncher]

Dan...during Harding's career did you ever think to yourself..."Jeff's in a bit of trouble if he comes across a slick boxer". I did. Tough bastard though

i thought, 'Jeff's in a bit of trouble if he ever fights someone who can box a lick', yes

[orbtastic]

He was tremendously limited, but what he did do, he did it very well. The worst sort of fighter you want to see in the corner opposite you.

[palooka]

Jeff Harding had a great jab; it was as hard as a right hander. He had much more than just toughness and what an engine! A great bout that is rarely mentioned is Gilberto Roman v Sugar Baby Rojas on the Ray Leonard v Donny Lalonde card. That's the only time I ever saw Roman but what a boxer, so skilled.

[orbtastic]

I remember him being injured for the best part of a year and that's when the WBC started with all this interim rubbish. What was he out with, shoulder? He was a self confessed beach bum, never happier than when in his flip-flops.

I wonder now if the injury was basically a smoke screen for his alcohol problems, which he's had for years. This article paints a pretty grim picture:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/others ... dream.html

The 3 Andries fights were just a continuation of the last, it was two guys knocking lumps off each other, brutal stuff. The only 175lb fights I've seen that were more hardcore were the two Chaz Williams/Merqui Sosa fights where they literally punched each other into stretchers.

Hill & PCW would have had their hands full but had enough speed and skill to beat him.

[Counter-puncher]

Jeff Harding had a great jab; it was as hard as a right hander.

you think? i recall the ones he was pushing out at McCallum as being pretty limp.

[palooka]

Counter-puncher - He was done and dusted by then I think. In the 1st and 3rd Andries fights and against Tiozzo his jab was very firm and he really stepped into it.

[elmersalsa]

One of the most underrated fights that I love is Ken Buchanan vs Ismael Laguna II. Is a fight that many fight fans do not talk about.

[Counter-puncher]

I remember him being injured for the best part of a year and that's when the WBC started with all this interim rubbish. What was he out with, shoulder? He was a self confessed beach bum, never happier than when in his flip-flops.

I wonder now if the injury was basically a smoke screen for his alcohol problems, which he's had for years. This article paints a pretty grim picture:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/others ... dream.html

The 3 Andries fights were just a continuation of the last, it was two guys knocking lumps off each other, brutal stuff. The only 175lb fights I've seen that were more hardcore were the two Chaz Williams/Merqui Sosa fights where they literally punched each other into stretchers.

Hill & PCW would have had their hands full but had enough speed and skill to beat him.

aye, i think Hill would box Harding's ears off and PCW would em-brutalise him.

under-rated fight i saw last night (again): Tony Lopez - John John Molina (3). cracker.

[Counter-puncher]

One of the most underrated fights that I love is Ken Buchanan vs Ismael Laguna II. Is a fight that many fight fans do not talk about.

good shout. very physical, brutally tough fight, especially considering the basic boxer's skillset both men brought to the ring.

[Brutu]

Fondea Cox who was Sonny Liston's long time sparring partner once said that Liston thought his toughest fight up until
the Cleveland Williams fight was Liston's first fight with John Summerlin in Detroit.

[elmersalsa]

How about Ken Buchanan vs Ismael Laguna I and II?

[depera33]

If you like two evenly matched guys going to to toe, there were a few entertaining fights between journeyman/fringe contenders that were fun to watch:

Freddie Roach and Tommy Cordova
Mike "The Bounty" Hunter-Alexander Zolkin. The 2nd fight fight was a wild fight. I did not see their first fight but heard it was the same way.

I know Kenny Keane had a great cruiserweight fight in I believe 1994, but I don't recall who it was against.

The Keene fight was against Terry Ray, and you are right it was a good one. They had a rematch which was not as good with Keene winning

[keithmoonhangover]

Simon Brown vs Maurice Blocker is my choice. They were best man at each others wdding, but nearly killed each other in the ring.

[orbtastic]

The Trice Brown fights were good too.

[gilgamesh]

Leonard Dorin vs Raul Balbi was the first really exciting fight I saw as a boxing fan, so I always remember it.

Courtney Burton vs Ebo Elder, damn exciting fight if you've never seen it.

Brian Minto vs Vinny Maddalone 1, one the most fun Heavyweight fights between 2 forgettable HW's.

lots more I'm sure, these are the first few I can think of.