Alan Minter - How do you rate him?

[Controversial]

Minter beat some good guys, Finnegan (3 times), Antuofermo (twice) and stopped Sugar Ray Seales whose only two previous defeats were on points to Hagler, the big punching Eugene Hart and a draw with Hagler in their rematch.

Minter was unlucky to be around when Hagler was a challenger, a cut eye stoppage but he was getting beat up. How do you rate Minter? Interestedly he lost 6 of his 9 fights to cuts, I knew he cut up bad but wasn't aware so many defeats were due to them.

[Broomhall]

Minter beat some good guys, Finnegan (3 times), Antuofermo (twice) and stopped Sugar Ray Seales whose only two previous defeats were on points to Hagler, the big punching Eugene Hart and a draw with Hagler in their rematch.

Minter was unlucky to be around when Hagler was a challenger, a cut eye stoppage but he was getting beat up. How do you rate Minter? Interestedly he lost 6 of his 9 fights to cuts, I knew he cut up bad but wasn't aware so many defeats were due to them.

Minter had great tools and good power. Cutting so easily does affect the way you fight and also affects you psychologically. Had he not been robbed in the Olympics I think he would have won gold-so the technical skills were there.

Hagler was ripping Minter up, and whilst I dont think Minter would have beat Hagler I think if the fight went on, without the cuts it would have been a more difficult fight for Hagler. Minter won his title in the US which also deserves credit.

Overall I would say that Minter had the skills to be a contender in any era, but probably not a world champion in every era.

[Ambling Alp II]

In a way he was both lucky and unlucky. He was unlucky that Hagler was around at the time. He was badly outclassed by Hagler. However, he was lucky that he only had to beat Vito Antuofermo for the title. He would have lost to almost every other middleweight champion up until that time.

[Controversial]

Nice to see him looking so well.

Blimey wouldn't have recognised him, looks like he likes a drink or three

[misterpunch]

he changed his style from an aggressive, head strong, bomb thrower with not much finesse and a liability to get cut to a cool, classy back foot operator with the aggression still there when needed and less chance of getting his face ripped up. this alteration eventually brought him the world title. any fighter who can do this deserves massive credit. but it has to be said will eventually be found out at the very pinnacle of his trading area. minter at his best was really good and very dangerous and a text book boxer/puncher whose style - when refined - can teach young fighters how its done. I think he would have made a strong mark in any middleweight era.

[HomicideHenry]

Minter made things worse for himself than he had to when he fought Hagler. If memory serves me right, before he fought him, at the press conference he referred to Hagler as being the 'N-Word' or something along those lines. Marvin, was relentless in that fight with Minter and brutalized him. I think had Minter not stoked the fire, so to speak, he wouldn't of been butchered like he was.

[witherspoon]

Minter made things worse for himself than he had to when he fought Hagler. If memory serves me right, before he fought him, at the press conference he referred to Hagler as being the 'N-Word' or something along those lines. Marvin, was relentless in that fight with Minter and brutalized him. I think had Minter not stoked the fire, so to speak, he wouldn't of been butchered like he was.

http://www.thesweetscience.com/news/art ... pt-27-1980

Here's a brilliant article by the late George Kimball.
If Hagler was stoked by Minter's comments, so too was the crowd that night.
It's a long article, but the story of Vito Antuofermo's performance in London that night makes it well worth reading

[misterpunch]

not so sure that its such a great article - it reads like a first draft. way too long with far too much irrelevant info that a pair of scissors would have taken care of.

plus it didn't tell me anything about the fight that I didnt already know.
I did find out about hagler putting a police hat on his head. so there's that.
nevertheless thanks for putting the link up.

[Ambling Alp II]

Minter is around #40 for all time middleweights.

[dempseyfire]

Minter made things worse for himself than he had to when he fought Hagler. If memory serves me right, before he fought him, at the press conference he referred to Hagler as being the 'N-Word' or something along those lines. Marvin, was relentless in that fight with Minter and brutalized him. I think had Minter not stoked the fire, so to speak, he wouldn't of been butchered like he was.

That was a great scrap for as long as it lasted. Hagler probably never looked better offensively.

[stevedoc]

Minter made things worse for himself than he had to when he fought Hagler. If memory serves me right, before he fought him, at the press conference he referred to Hagler as being the 'N-Word' or something along those lines. Marvin, was relentless in that fight with Minter and brutalized him. I think had Minter not stoked the fire, so to speak, he wouldn't of been butchered like he was.

i think he said something like no black cumt is goona beat me which looking back must be one of the most stupid thing things to say other than being really offensive why would you want to wind hagler up ..

[Counter-puncher]

plus he let himself get used as a shill for the NF, not his finest moment at all really was it

[dr_devious]

Minter is around #40 for all time middleweights.

Not that high Alp, probably lower end of top 100

[misterpunch]

I reckon alp has it about right

[giacomino]

Great skill but Hagler massacres him cut or no cut the day they fought. Thought Antuofermo deserved a close decision in their first fight (Roland Dakin's scorecard was among the worst in boxing history) although Minter certainly dominated the rematch. Always enjoyed watching him and he would definitely have been a belt-holder today

[witherspoon]

not so sure that its such a great article - it reads like a first draft. way too long with far too much irrelevant info that a pair of scissors would have taken care of.

plus it didn't tell me anything about the fight that I didnt already know.
I did find out about hagler putting a police hat on his head. so there's that.
nevertheless thanks for putting the link up.

I bow to your all-knowing wisdom. I will strive to attain the impeccable standards of message board etiquette of which you are a shining example and I promise to never again clutter the board with such trivial nonsense.

Please forgive my foolishness, I'm truly sorry, but I'm sure that the certain knowledge of your vast superiority over mortals like myself makes up for having to endure my drivel.

[Bodyshot3]

Alan is one of the few boxers I have met and he's a straightforward guy and generous with his time.....it was a charity event in Sussex and he spoke about his career and was upfront about what went well and what went pear-shaped.

He's a real Crawley lad to his boots and although that's in Sussex (so hardly Hackney or Toxteth) more people grow up the tough way there than you might think and Alan was one of them.

He'd mellowed about Hagler in my opinion but still thought beating Vito got a bit overlooked and also was pointed about winning the championship before belt inflation was an important fact that got forgotten as well.

I was sad to see that picture because he was in good nick and very smartly turned-out when he did that event back in 2002.

[scartissue]

I liked Alan Minter. I believe his nickname of 'Boom-Boom' was a bit misleading. I felt he was a fast boxer with a sharp rather than heavy punch. If one wishes to see a thing of beauty, get your hands on his bout with Ronnie Harris. These two put on a speed clinic. Both fighter's hands were like blurs. I saw it at the time it happened, but don't know if its on youtube or anything. I must've seen it as an undercard package. Anyways, aside from the aforementioned wins over Seales and Finnegan, his wins over Tony Licata and Gratien Tonna in the rematch were outstanding. I saw his bout with Hamsho and was astounded when - I think at the end of the 2nd round - he caught Hamsho with a shot almost at the bell and Hamsho's legs were suddenly giving way. Hamsho's main attribute was an incredible jaw and here he was ready to fold up on Minter. Amazing. More time in the round and who knows what Alan could have done. I once saw an interview with Minter and he was forthcoming when he said that maybe Kevin Finnegan may have deserved their second fight. Not too many would say that. I must say in closing however, that I felt Vito deserved the verdict in their first fight. Just sayin'!

[misterpunch]

alan minter gets too much bad stick for the hagler comment - very ill judged. but he is a good fella from all accounts.

I think the BOOM BOOM nickname came from his amateur days when he would launch an attack with a vocal "boom boom" as the punches landed.

and he always credited kevin with beating him in that fight.

[misterpunch]

not so sure that its such a great article - it reads like a first draft. way too long with far too much irrelevant info that a pair of scissors would have taken care of.

plus it didn't tell me anything about the fight that I didnt already know.
I did find out about hagler putting a police hat on his head. so there's that.
nevertheless thanks for putting the link up.

I bow to your all-knowing wisdom. I will strive to attain the impeccable standards of message board etiquette of which you are a shining example and I promise to never again clutter the board with such trivial nonsense.

Please forgive my foolishness, I'm truly sorry, but I'm sure that the certain knowledge of your vast superiority over mortals like myself makes up for having to endure my drivel.

don't be like that! I thank you for putting up the post, but I had to wade through it. not kimballs finest, as I said, but anything like that is worth reading. and I NEVER questioned your boxing knowledge - ive read and enjoyed your posts for a long time, agreeing with most of 'em. but you must agree that the article is a bit short on really relevant info.

[witherspoon]

not so sure that its such a great article - it reads like a first draft. way too long with far too much irrelevant info that a pair of scissors would have taken care of.

plus it didn't tell me anything about the fight that I didnt already know.
I did find out about hagler putting a police hat on his head. so there's that.
nevertheless thanks for putting the link up.

I bow to your all-knowing wisdom. I will strive to attain the impeccable standards of message board etiquette of which you are a shining example and I promise to never again clutter the board with such trivial nonsense.

Please forgive my foolishness, I'm truly sorry, but I'm sure that the certain knowledge of your vast superiority over mortals like myself makes up for having to endure my drivel.

don't be like that! I thank you for putting up the post, but I had to wade through it. not kimballs finest, as I said, but anything like that is worth reading. and I NEVER questioned your boxing knowledge - ive read and enjoyed your posts for a long time, agreeing with most of 'em. but you must agree that the article is a bit short on really relevant info.

It was all relevant to me, but to be honest I probably harbour a little too much affection for anything that panders to my excessive indulgence in pure nostalgia.

Marvin and his merry band drinking ale in a small town English pub after winning the title and being chased out of the arena. I just eat up that kind sentimental crap.

As for the article being too long, I can't really argue. I read it work and I was late back from my break.

[Ambling Alp II]

Here is should be rated above him;
Monzon, Hagler, Greb, Robinson, Walker,Fullmer,Griifith,Tiger, Benvenuti,Ketchel,Flowers, Hopkins,Zale,Burley, Fitzsimmons, LaMotta, Cerdan,Giardello,Basilio, McCoy,Papke,Booker, Valdez, Gibbons,Dempsey, Ryan,Darcy,Steele, Apostoli,Hostak,Nunn, Toney,McCallum,Olson, Turpin, Kalambay,Williams,O'Dowd, and Pender.

That would put him at #40 if I'm not missing anyone obvious. A few of these guys you could argue that Minter was better than. However, there are others that aren't listed that you could argue for as well. There are champs like Graziano, Antuofermo, Corro, and Downes. There are also guys who never got a title shot or were in really good eras who were never champs that you could make a decent case for. Bert Lytell, George Benton, Joey Archer, Holly Mims, Florentino Fernandez, Bennie Briscoe etc.

There are many guys who are really close.

[misterpunch]

I said you were spot on a week ago and I reiterate that now

[Ambling Alp II]

Thank you sir.
I just thought I should list guys so that people don't think I am picking #40 out of thin air. I think you could put Minter a little higher or lower; but #40 is ballpark.

[misterpunch]

perfect