Rating The European Heavyweights of the 70's and 80's.

[KOJOE90]

During the late 70's and early 80's there was a batch of top European Heavyweights on the scene from countries not usually known for there Heavyweights. There was...

Lucien Rodriguez of France.
http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=002187

Steffen Tangstad of Norway.
http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=002514

Alfredo Evangelista of Spain.
http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=000367

Anders Eklund of Sweden.
http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=000639

Lorenzo Zanon of Italy.
http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=002183

Most of these guys fought each other, sometimes more than once passing around the European Title in a simular way to how the WBA & WBC Titles were being passed around.

Also in the mix were

Jean-Pierre Coopman of Belgium
http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=016595

Rudi Lubbers of Holland
http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=009390

Alfio Righetti of Italy.
http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=000302

So how would you rate this eight Heavyweights? Also any memories of their fights, information or opinions etc.

I look forward to your views fight fans.

[Ambling Alp]

What, no mention of the legendary Richard Dunn?
This sounds like a category on Jeopardy. "I'll take bad 1970's European Heavyweights for $500, Alex".

These guys were horrible. Evangelista was probably the best of this sorry bunch.

[KOJOE90]

What, no mention of the legendary Richard Dunn?

I left Richard Dunn out because I think the UK Heavyweights have been rated and talked about countless times and wanted to concentrate on non-UK European Heavyweights.

[The Great John L]

Unfortunately I can't get too excited about this lot. I find the British boxers of the same era more interesting and in, the main, better. My main memories are of Frank Bruno stopping Both Eklund and Rodriguez in pretty spectacular style and of John L Gardner KOing Zanon for the European Title for one of his best wins. I also remember Joe Bugner stopping Rudi Lubbers in a European Title fight in the mid Seventies.

Purusing their records Tangstad's looks the best but the most remarkable thing I noticed was when I looked at that of Coopman. He had a one fight comeback in 1999 when he was pushing 53!

I think the only European HWs of this era that rank as world class would be Bugner and Bruno. As you noted, this is a pretty sad lot and discussing who is better seems a bit futile.

As far as John L Gardner is concerned, I just can't forget him getting KO'd by Ibar Arrington in one round. Not exactly the type of thing one would expect of a world class HW.

Interesting note about Coopman. I guess he came back at 53 to fight for the European seniors title since his opponent was 51!