Middleweight shake up 87-90

[Bricks]

Let me know who u see winning these fights during that fascinating era


Sugar ray leonard 1987- nigel benn late 1990

Sumbu kalambay 1988-frank tate 1988

Roberto duran 1989- juan roldan 1987

Michael olajide 1987-herol graham 1987

Iran barkley 1989 - mike mccallum 1989

[Noxy]

Leonard
Tate
Roldan
Graham
McCallum

[campfire]

Leonard
Kalambay
Duran
Graham
Mc Callum

[Syntax Error]

Let me know who u see winning these fights during that fascinating era


Sugar ray leonard 1987- nigel benn late 1990

Sumbu kalambay 1988-frank tate 1988

Roberto duran 1989- juan roldan 1987

Michael olajide 1987-herol graham 1987

Iran barkley 1989 - mike mccallum 1989

Leonard
Kalambay
Roldan
Graham
McCallum

[dr_devious]

Leonard
Kalambay
Duran
Graham
Mc Callum

This

[Bricks]

Benn -srl is a fascinating matchup.

Benn had added speed, stamina, a bob and weave defence and lateral movement to his arsenal during his 18 month Miami stay.Ive seldom seen a fighter improve so much .at 22-0 (22) he was a ferocious but limited powerpuncher.michael watson showed him up as much.

But i think the late 1990 version has a real chance to do a better job than terry norris.

Of course prior to the norris fight no one knew how much ray had apparently deteriorated,although i tend to buy the argument he was weight drained,had a dodgy ankle and was going through a divorce and took norris lightly.

I think at 160 he would b more comfortable and more wary of benns power.

Its very hard to pick a winner.i think benn may just overwhelm him early or conversely i could see ray doing a 4-5 round demolition finish ala lalonde

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Benn, kalambay, Duran, Graham, mccallum. Y'all picking roldan care to elaborate? That kind of style was a joy for Duran.

[Noxy]

Benn, kalambay, Duran, Graham, mccallum. Y'all picking roldan care to elaborate? That kind of style was a joy for Duran.

You're not wrong but Duran at middleweight is good stylewise for Roldan too, plus he's the naturally bigger man and younger than Duran. Roldan was a monster at middle, ok he didn't win a title but there are good reasons for that - Hagler, Hearns etc.

[Bricks]

1987 was the last peak year of roldan.as strong as he was ,his was the kind of strength duran would skillfully play matador to.also i dont think he had the power to trouble duran .barkley had more power and was faster and sharper.

The clubbing blows of roldan would play right into durans hands.this would be a sensational fight though and would make duran look young again

[Bricks]

Noxy ,how do you see tate beating kalambay unfolding?

Personally i felt frank looked very poor against a finished tony sibson.i think kalambay would easily outbox him

[TBEwasLangford]

Benn, kalambay, Duran, Graham, mccallum. Y'all picking roldan care to elaborate? That kind of style was a joy for Duran.

You're not wrong but Duran at middleweight is good stylewise for Roldan too, plus he's the naturally bigger man and younger than Duran. Roldan was a monster at middle, ok he didn't win a title but there are good reasons for that - Hagler, Hearns etc.

Roldan was very good fighter with huge power. That being said I think 89 Barkley who fought Duran/ Nunn was as better boxer and Duran found a way to beat him. It would be a close contest, I always saw Roldan as a swarmng type of fighter and he would give Duran a great contest but see the Panamanian's better boxing skills getting him a close decision in another potential fight of the year.

[TBEwasLangford]

Noxy ,how do you see tate beating kalambay unfolding?

Personally i felt frank looked very poor against a finished tony sibson.i think kalambay would easily outbox him

Agreed. The Kalambay who beat Graham/ Barkley/ McCallum in consecutive fights wins handily.

[Bricks]

The New york press sure went crazy over the flashy good looking michael olajide.I think they really wanted a michael jackson lookalike to be the new sugar ray.Olajide had potential but KO magazine in 1986 were going crazy talking along the lines of he may end up dethroning hagler!! I think he was a very interesting fighter but was poorly developed. Initially 15 fights in 4 years against nobodies.on the basis of a good 86 and wins over hard rock green and curtis parker he was hyped to the sky .than badly exposed against tate,barkley and an ageing hearns before he had a proper chance to fully develop he was pretty much shot at 23-24.

Herol graham at this,time would outpoint him.

[Counter-puncher]

Durans tight compact hooks would slaughter Roldan

[Noxy]

Noxy ,how do you see tate beating kalambay unfolding?

Personally i felt frank looked very poor against a finished tony sibson.i think kalambay would easily outbox him

My thinking was that Tate beats him on the outside as the taller fighter. They were both great technicians and I think they are evenly matched in most departments but, as I say, I go with Frank's longer reach. Having said that, I think Kalambay has a good chance in this match, but as I have to call it one way or the other it's Tate for me.

[Bricks]

Thats a fair analysis noxy.
I see a similar fight picture.....only in mine i see kalambay mobile and his speed neutralising the reach as it did with barkley and mccallum.both those guys ended up following kalambay around the ring ,and thats the way i see this unfolding too

[Counter-puncher]

Noxy ,how do you see tate beating kalambay unfolding?

Personally i felt frank looked very poor against a finished tony sibson.i think kalambay would easily outbox him

My thinking was that Tate beats him on the outside as the taller fighter. They were both great technicians and I think they are evenly matched in most departments but, as I say, I go with Frank's longer reach. Having said that, I think Kalambay has a good chance in this match, but as I have to call it one way or the other it's Tate for me.

Kalumbays speed > Tates reach.

[TBEwasLangford]

Kalambay was very underrated boxer IMO. First man to beat Graham who was in his prime and undefeated (although he was helped by the Bomber getting his tactics all wrong), he then beat him again for good measure a few years later. Gave a great like McCallum hell for two fights taking his unbeaten record as well. Easily outpointed Sims, outclassed at tough opponent in Barkley, stopped DeWitt then good late career wins over Seillier and Collins culminating in unluckily losing home town decision to Pyatt for WBO strap when well passed his best... great career. Remembered by some unfairly for the knockout loss against Nunn, it was his only stoppage loss and and had decent chin in general, shame he never got a rematch. I think he would have given any of the early 90's stars such as Toney, Benn, Eubank a real run for their money in his prime.

[Syntax Error]

Benn -srl is a fascinating matchup.

Benn had added speed, stamina, a bob and weave defence and lateral movement to his arsenal during his 18 month Miami stay.Ive seldom seen a fighter improve so much .at 22-0 (22) he was a ferocious but limited powerpuncher.michael watson showed him up as much.

But i think the late 1990 version has a real chance to do a better job than terry norris.

Of course prior to the norris fight no one knew how much ray had apparently deteriorated,although i tend to buy the argument he was weight drained,had a dodgy ankle and was going through a divorce and took norris lightly.

I think at 160 he would b more comfortable and more wary of benns power.

Its very hard to pick a winner.i think benn may just overwhelm him early or conversely i could see ray doing a 4-5 round demolition finish ala lalonde

Good points.

I agree that SRL '87 v Benn '90 is the most fascinating.

Benn never beat anyone as good as Leonard & whilst Leonard was past his best in '87, he was still pretty formidable.

Leonard could be inclined to take a gamble if necessary, but I don't think he'd need to against Benn.

Benn; even though he improved massively after Watson whupped him, he was still easy to outbox if the opponent had the class to do it.

Sugar Boy Malinga beat Benn twice, but he was robbed the first time around & I think Leonard would have boxed smart against Benn, knowing how powerful & aggressive Nigel could be.

Leonard on points, although I could envisage Benn stiffening his legs a couple of times along the way.

[Bricks]

Whoops i matched 87 ray v late 90 benn but than unadvertantly analysed early 91 srl v benn

Oh i agree syntax,no question 87 srl aho beat hagler would have shutout benn or more limely stopped him without any trouble. Ray was still a hell of a fighter....