School Me on Ossie Ocasio

[scorpio83]

Please tell me what do you know about former WBA Cruiserweight Champion Ossie Ocasio and his skills?

[Ambling Alp II]

He had some good boxing skills, but not much of a punch. I think one thing that hurt him is that it is hard to outbox another good boxer who is a lot taller than you. He was short for a heavyweight/cruiserweight. He was smart and had decent speed.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I'll tell you one thing, he got absolutely robbed at home against Dokes before getting blown out in the rematch. very solid, if unspectacular, fighter. To expound on Alp's point, he also was an aggressive sort of boxer. Came forward most of the time and set up counter opportunities without the big punch. That's a tough road for any fighter, even moreso an undersized Heavyweight. He was probably already a bit past it when he started facing guys his own size, still some solid results at Cruiser.

[Kalan]

He out boxed Jimmy Young twice after Young out-boxed George Foreman and decked the much bigger man... Ocasio was very clever but not dedicated

The Young wins earned Ocasio a Heavyweight Title Fight with Larry Holmes -- who easily out-boxed OO and disposed of him like he was a 2nd rater.

Ocasio then went along winning and losing a few fights and decided to try the new Cruiserweight Division.. He won a few and lost a few but beat Muhammad Qawi to get a shot at Evander Holyfield. That fight did not go well for Ocasio getting stopped late.. His career took a steep dive after that as he put on 30 to 40 pounds. He went back to Heavyweight where he got wiped out in most all of his remaining fights.

[Tuan_Jim]

Cunning operator. Had a relatively easy run late in his career, making heavyweights look silly without trying much and losing on points. He was nearly 40 when Alex Garcia was able to catch him with some big punches and retire him.

Strangest night was probably vs John L Gardner. Looked like he took a dive. Years later in the same ring he's laughing off the best shots of Lennox Lewis!

[RazorKO]

Ocasio was a good fighter, his first fight against Dokes was an entertaining fight to watch and he scored some good wins over some good opponents.

Larry Holmes however didn't seem to have much respect for him though, in his book he mentions that opponents at world level 'shouldn't be knocked down by a jab'. Referring to how he disposed of Ocasio during their title fight.

[Ambling Alp II]

One thing that cracked me up about the Holmes fight was the last round. Holmes knocked Ocasio down three times. The referee should have stopped the fight since the three-knockdown rule was in effect. However, Holmes waived him off and the fight continued! He knocked Ocasio down again and it was finally stopped.

He was on network TV quite a bit. Both the Young fights, both the Dokes fights and the Holmes fight, as well as some as a cruiserweight.

[scorpio83]

Thanks for your opinion and another question was Ossie Ocasio a big man version of his fellow countryman Wilfred Benitez?

[Tuan_Jim]

Thanks for your opinion and another question was Ossie Ocasio a big man version of his fellow countryman Wilfred Benitez?

No comparison between the two. Totally different styles. And Benevitez a genius, Ocasio just a canny operator.

[Caractacus]

His nickname was "Jaws"
( no doubt to the movie that was released in 1975).

[Kalan]

Thanks for your opinion and another question was Ossie Ocasio a big man version of his fellow countryman Wilfred Benitez?

Both ended their careers with quite a few losses.. Benitez just did it a lot younger. He should have quit after the Matt Hilton fight.. He wasn't doing well and had tell tale problems.. Many boxers delude themselves when there are obvious signs of deterioration -- so it shouldn't be up to them.. When you're cut from a couple teams and can't catch on with another team, you know you've had it in team sports.. In Boxing you don't have that reference.

Somebody has to tell you, "From the results of your latest neurological tests we can't license you. The world is a bigger place than a boxing ring. We wish you all the luck in the world with your future endeavors, but you'll no longer be faced with the hazard of taking head blows because it's not a safe environment for your physical or mental health. We'll help you transition to a new profession in any way we can. Let us know what you need."