A day like today July 13, 1980 in McAfee, NJ, marks the 25th year anniversary of this legendary fight between 2 of the greatest warriors the lightheavyweight division have ever seen: Matthew Saad Muhammad stops in his 4th title defense of the WBC Light-heavyweight crown against DANGEROUS CONTENDER Alvaro "Yaqui" Lopez in 14 rounds.
It was The Ring Magazine Fight of The Year for 1980. I know a lot of people in here remember this fight.
I got questions:
Do you think the great Roy Jones, Jr. would have dominate this weight class with the likes of Eddie Davis, Johnny Davis, John Conteh, Victor Galindez, Marvin Johnson, Dwight Braxton, Eddie Gregory, Murray Sutherland, Saad Muhmmad, Yaqui Lopez and of course the great Michael Spinks???
Or would he have the balls to move up in weight to fight them???
What are your opinions???
Saad Muhammad-Yaqui Lopez II: 25th Year Anniversary
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elmersalsa
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I think Spinks, Braxton, Saad Muhummad, and a motivated John Conteh could have beaten Jones. Roy is a great fighter, but not at light heavy. While he has the lightning hand speed, he would not have been able to knock down or sting these light heavys enough to get their respect, so he wouldn't be able to keep them off him. Roy, like Ali, has a lot of defensive flaws that he got away with but not agianst these fighters.
Spinks would easily jab and Jinx him in a decision win. Braxton would take Roy into deep waters, and who knows how Roy would react? He showed heart in the 1st Tarver fight, but Tarver is not nearly the aggressive fighter that Braxton was. Holyfield was admittedly close to quitting when he fought Braxton and the constant pressure Braxton applied. Saad Muhummad-Jones is a tossup because Saad Muhummad was a slow starter and Roy seemed to come out firing early and then coast to decision wins. He could have caught Saad early, but late I would lean to Saad Muhummad and his tremendous stamina.
A motivated John Conteh would beat Jones because he had all the tools, tall and well-schooled. But he frequently underperformed in big fights (Saad Muhummad-Conteh II comes to mind) and most likely Roy would outpoint him. Marvin Johnson relied too much on landing the big punch, and Roy would stay away and win the decision. I haven't seen Galindez fight but the others Roy beats.
When you consider all that talent, suddenly McCallum at 168, Little, Benn, and Eubank seem like a much safer way to go. Roy ducked them because he could, but with the late 70's era of light heavies as the other option, I don't think Roy moves up.
Spinks would easily jab and Jinx him in a decision win. Braxton would take Roy into deep waters, and who knows how Roy would react? He showed heart in the 1st Tarver fight, but Tarver is not nearly the aggressive fighter that Braxton was. Holyfield was admittedly close to quitting when he fought Braxton and the constant pressure Braxton applied. Saad Muhummad-Jones is a tossup because Saad Muhummad was a slow starter and Roy seemed to come out firing early and then coast to decision wins. He could have caught Saad early, but late I would lean to Saad Muhummad and his tremendous stamina.
A motivated John Conteh would beat Jones because he had all the tools, tall and well-schooled. But he frequently underperformed in big fights (Saad Muhummad-Conteh II comes to mind) and most likely Roy would outpoint him. Marvin Johnson relied too much on landing the big punch, and Roy would stay away and win the decision. I haven't seen Galindez fight but the others Roy beats.
When you consider all that talent, suddenly McCallum at 168, Little, Benn, and Eubank seem like a much safer way to go. Roy ducked them because he could, but with the late 70's era of light heavies as the other option, I don't think Roy moves up.
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Ambling Alp
- Heavyweight
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- Joined: 15 Jul 2005, 22:31
It's difficult to say how Jones would have done against these guys. The 1970's and early 1980's was the best era ever for light-heavyweights and the Jones era was the worst. However Jones was a phenomenal talent. My best guess is that he would have had some interesting fights with Qawi,Saad Muhammad,and Gregory.
Galindez and Johnson may have given him some trouble,but he probably would have beaten them.
I don't think he would have beaten Michael Spinks. He would have beaten guys like Lopez,Sutherland, Davis etc.
Would he have actually fought these guys? I'm not so sure since he wouldn't even fight Darius Michalwski.
Galindez and Johnson may have given him some trouble,but he probably would have beaten them.
I don't think he would have beaten Michael Spinks. He would have beaten guys like Lopez,Sutherland, Davis etc.
Would he have actually fought these guys? I'm not so sure since he wouldn't even fight Darius Michalwski.
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Richie Aprille rules
- Heavyweight
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I have the impression that, because of his two last defeats, most people now underestimates RJJ. Saad is one of my preferred boxers, but RJJ would have killed him, Saad is taylor-made for RJJ. I also think that, in an overcautious fight, RJJ outpoints Spinks. I gave Braxton a very good choice against Jones, because of his relentless style.
About the title of the thread... yes, what a fight! And what an incredible 8th round!
About the title of the thread... yes, what a fight! And what an incredible 8th round!
I think his opposition at light heavy does beg the question of whether he was overrated at light heavy. At super middle and middle, Jones was great. But at LH, he struggled against Harding, struggled aginst Griffin before he DQ'd himself. Del Valle nailed him and he hasn't done anything else since that fight. Defenses included Otis Grant? the cop Frazier? Glen Kelly?
Spinks blew out Braxton and moved up to beat Larry Holmes. He beats Jones if they fight. His reign at light heavy included solid contenders like Marvin Johnson, Qawi, and Mustapha Muhummad that Jones didn't have to face.
If Jones doesn't catch Saad early, there is no way he could cruise to a decision like he did against Gonzalez or Reggie Johnson. Saad's strength was stamina and taking punishment and he would push Roy as the fight progressed. Roy couldn't fight half a round and take half a round off likes he's accustomed to do.
Spinks blew out Braxton and moved up to beat Larry Holmes. He beats Jones if they fight. His reign at light heavy included solid contenders like Marvin Johnson, Qawi, and Mustapha Muhummad that Jones didn't have to face.
If Jones doesn't catch Saad early, there is no way he could cruise to a decision like he did against Gonzalez or Reggie Johnson. Saad's strength was stamina and taking punishment and he would push Roy as the fight progressed. Roy couldn't fight half a round and take half a round off likes he's accustomed to do.
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BrocktonBlockbuster49
- Heavyweight
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- Joined: 29 May 2005, 00:32
montell griffin was pretty good and roy underestimated him. montell griffin beat a prime james toney TWICE before fighting jones. also, jones had him beaten knocking him down in the 9th, but he lost the fight cause he couldnt control his temper. he would have won maybe knocked out griffin. in the rematch, he proved his closest fight in his career up to that point was just a bad preformance by roy, when he went out their and flattened griffin in 1 round.
he knocked out virgil hill with a body shot. outpointed aging but still champion mike mccalum. he easily beat loude valle besides getting knocked down. he then shut out ibf champ reggie johnson. jones then shutout telesco and hall worthy challengers.
o yeah are u talking about the same harding that easily beat antonio tarver. and are u talking about the same roy jones that PLAYED BASKETBALL on the same day as his defense against harding??? and still dominated him.
roy jones then beat undfeated julio gonzalez and glen kelley. wasnt that the same gonzalez who handed darius mcwhatever his first loss??
he then beat current champ clinton woods easily and when he came back down from ehavyweight, drained and aging he still beat tarver the first time.
he basically shut out every challenger he faced besides tarver and griffin first fight.
he knocked out virgil hill with a body shot. outpointed aging but still champion mike mccalum. he easily beat loude valle besides getting knocked down. he then shut out ibf champ reggie johnson. jones then shutout telesco and hall worthy challengers.
o yeah are u talking about the same harding that easily beat antonio tarver. and are u talking about the same roy jones that PLAYED BASKETBALL on the same day as his defense against harding??? and still dominated him.
roy jones then beat undfeated julio gonzalez and glen kelley. wasnt that the same gonzalez who handed darius mcwhatever his first loss??
he then beat current champ clinton woods easily and when he came back down from ehavyweight, drained and aging he still beat tarver the first time.
he basically shut out every challenger he faced besides tarver and griffin first fight.
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BrocktonBlockbuster49
- Heavyweight
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Roy played basketball before the Eric Lucas fight, not Harding. Roy's not stupid enough to fight a tough Philly fighter after b-ball. And he struggled against Harding who was fighting with a bum shoulder.
Harding did not dominate Tarver. It was an even fight until Harding caught Tarver late.
Roy did redeem his DQ loss in the Griffin fight, but let's put it this way. How many of Spinks's challengers were better than Griffin? Mustapha Muhummad, Marvin Johnson, and Qawi were all better. Considering that Tarver-Jones I could have gone either way, Roy's best LH win was worse than 3 of Spinks's opponents. Saad Muhummad beat Conteh and Marvin Johnson twice. Braxton gave Saad Muhummad hell.
I agree Gonzalez, Harding, and Hall were worthy challengers, but the Virgil Hill win came after Dariusz Michalczewski clearly outpointed Hill. DelValle was Roy's sparring partner and legitimately dropped Jones. McCallum was ancient, pushing 39 or 40. Name me an impressive win for Reggie Johnson at LH? He was a blown up middle. Who did Glen Kelly ever beat? And don't even mention Telesco. One of my friends lived in Telesco's neighborhood and even fought a streetfight against him. You don't want to know what he thinks of Telesco. Current champ Clinton Woods? The same Woods who lost twice to Glen Johnson (the draw was bogus, not even a Woods fan would agree) and won his vacant belt by beating Rico Hoye? Does this make him a worthy fighter because he has a belt?
Roy should have beat these fighters. The convincing wins make him a good light heavy. But the lack of big wins prevents him from being a great light heavy and he got KTFO'd by 2 fighters.
Good debate, though.
Harding did not dominate Tarver. It was an even fight until Harding caught Tarver late.
Roy did redeem his DQ loss in the Griffin fight, but let's put it this way. How many of Spinks's challengers were better than Griffin? Mustapha Muhummad, Marvin Johnson, and Qawi were all better. Considering that Tarver-Jones I could have gone either way, Roy's best LH win was worse than 3 of Spinks's opponents. Saad Muhummad beat Conteh and Marvin Johnson twice. Braxton gave Saad Muhummad hell.
I agree Gonzalez, Harding, and Hall were worthy challengers, but the Virgil Hill win came after Dariusz Michalczewski clearly outpointed Hill. DelValle was Roy's sparring partner and legitimately dropped Jones. McCallum was ancient, pushing 39 or 40. Name me an impressive win for Reggie Johnson at LH? He was a blown up middle. Who did Glen Kelly ever beat? And don't even mention Telesco. One of my friends lived in Telesco's neighborhood and even fought a streetfight against him. You don't want to know what he thinks of Telesco. Current champ Clinton Woods? The same Woods who lost twice to Glen Johnson (the draw was bogus, not even a Woods fan would agree) and won his vacant belt by beating Rico Hoye? Does this make him a worthy fighter because he has a belt?
Roy should have beat these fighters. The convincing wins make him a good light heavy. But the lack of big wins prevents him from being a great light heavy and he got KTFO'd by 2 fighters.
Good debate, though.
Spinks KO's Roy no doubt. Braxton outmuscles him either with a KO or UD. Saad would be a great fight. RJJ racks up the points and does a lot of damage early on but I see Saad coming back into it and then it's touch and go whether Roy makes the end of the 15 and takes the decision or whetehr Saad catches up with him. I'd back Roy tro win more than he loses against the others.
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Syntax Error
- Heavyweight
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Re: Saad Muhammad-Yaqui Lopez II: 25th Year Anniversary
One of my favourite fights ever, from my first boxing idol.elmersalsa wrote:A day like today July 13, 1980 in McAfee, NJ, marks the 25th year anniversary of this legendary fight between 2 of the greatest warriors the lightheavyweight division have ever seen: Matthew Saad Muhammad stops in his 4th title defense of the WBC Light-heavyweight crown against DANGEROUS CONTENDER Alvaro "Yaqui" Lopez in 14 rounds.
It was The Ring Magazine Fight of The Year for 1980. I know a lot of people in here remember this fight.
I got questions:
Do you think the great Roy Jones, Jr. would have dominate this weight class with the likes of Eddie Davis, Johnny Davis, John Conteh, Victor Galindez, Marvin Johnson, Dwight Braxton, Eddie Gregory, Murray Sutherland, Saad Muhmmad, Yaqui Lopez and of course the great Michael Spinks???
Or would he have the balls to move up in weight to fight them???
What are your opinions???
Saad had the heart of 2 lions!!!
A lot of fighters could learn a thing or 2 about him from Saad Muhammad.