Im talking bout the more less-talented fighters that lacked in areas or overall but still were good or great. Im sure im gonna hear a lot bout Marciano but my picks are:
Evander Holyfield, (small size, heart problems, emotional trauma, lack of one-punch KO power) Floyd Patterson (sense of shame, fear, bad chin, small siz, lack of power, lack of aggression) and Manuel Medina (wear-and-tear, suspect chin, minimal marketability, lack of power, inconsistency).
Best worse fighter
Gene Fullmer. couldn't box in the conventional sense, didn't punch that hard, had a good chin and was strong, but that's true of a lot of guys who didn't go as far as he did. Fighting him must have been like playing poker with someone who does everything so "wrong" you can't figure what the hell he's going to do. I never liked watching Fullmer much, but have to admit he was a tough guy to beat, and he beat a lot of tough guys.
As for Ralph "Tiger" Jones...ahh, there's a great memory from the past. Everything Richbart says is true. Agressive and all heart. Let's not forget that he beat Sugar Ray in Ray's second "comeback" fight. Granted Robinson was off and rusty and later kept winning the title back, but it's an excellent example of the folly of going in against Jones without being in top condition. He was the perfect TV fighter...not a puncher, impossible to hurt, ten rounds of action so all the commercials got in. and never in a dull fight. And..could surprise..came from way behind to kayo Bobby Dykes with one punch.
As for Ralph "Tiger" Jones...ahh, there's a great memory from the past. Everything Richbart says is true. Agressive and all heart. Let's not forget that he beat Sugar Ray in Ray's second "comeback" fight. Granted Robinson was off and rusty and later kept winning the title back, but it's an excellent example of the folly of going in against Jones without being in top condition. He was the perfect TV fighter...not a puncher, impossible to hurt, ten rounds of action so all the commercials got in. and never in a dull fight. And..could surprise..came from way behind to kayo Bobby Dykes with one punch.
although like just about everybody I thought Hagler won instead of getting a draw, but was that fight that makes me think that of all of Hagler's superior gifts, he was not quite as physically strong as a few other middles. I don't mean he was weak; he just didn't have that power to bully you around the way, to give the most obvious example, LaMotta could.
I think Hagler was a better fighter than Tony Zale, and he'd beat him, but he'd have to call on his boxing skills more than his toe to toe slugging to do it, because Zale would out muscle him inside. Antofuermo was strong and that was his only real virtue, but as Zurdo says he made the most of it.
I think Hagler was a better fighter than Tony Zale, and he'd beat him, but he'd have to call on his boxing skills more than his toe to toe slugging to do it, because Zale would out muscle him inside. Antofuermo was strong and that was his only real virtue, but as Zurdo says he made the most of it.
Another guy who was like that was Gianfranco Rosi He couldn't box or punch or take a very good punch and sometime seemed almost devoid of coordination whatsoever....
But he had several runs as WBA . jr middle champ.and was a craftfy spoiler type who hung around for a number of years..in the late 80s early 90s
But he had several runs as WBA . jr middle champ.and was a craftfy spoiler type who hung around for a number of years..in the late 80s early 90s