Mike Nixon was as deceptive as his in laws (Jerry, Mike Quarry) when you wrote him off or disrespected his talents, IT WAS KAYO TIME. -Gert Steyn, HE GAVE a frightful whipping, Upset Rossman, beat Willie Warren, should have been credited with a ten count ninth round KO. FROM A BODY SHOT over Dave "Sugar" Love . (Love said he was hit low and unable to continue)-No Decision (Angelo Dundee in Love's corner) he beat a series of California, Mexico Hispanic Fighter's , who were tough as nails, if their record was 1-1 (the 1 was for 100 bouts) . they did not calculate fight records , very well In those days, Nixon's record himself was a very deceptive 27-8-1, for he could take your head off, with a Right or a Left hook, as well as a very astute boxer, gave "Sugar Ray" Seales a spirited bout in Seattle!
AND THE BIGGEST DECEPTIVE thing about Nixon was his 10 Ko's in 37 bouts, 2 0f his last three knockouts were one punch! and they other WBA #3 Steyn who took 5 counts himself, one 17 seconds as Nixon took his time to a neutral corner. Mike also rocked Antuofermo with a first round right hand, that never happened much!
No my $ would be on Nixon if he fought any of those Light Middleweight champions in 1977, Gazo, Dagge etc.
Nixon himself told me he was ranked by both WBA, WBC-and I did not believe him - but in those days you seldom saw their ratings in any publication, since his brother in law the late great Jerry Quarry retired in 1975.
DD