Prime Gene Fullmer vs Prime Nino Benvenuti

[scorpio83]

We know that Nino Benvenuti fought Don Fullmer, but what if Benvenuti fought his legendary brother Gene Fullmer in their prime? In my opinion, Gene would pressure Benvenuti by cutting off the ring and outworking him through 15 rounds to get a decision. What is your opinion?

[Kalan]

They both lost to Dick Tiger...

So a faded Nino yes...A prime Benvenuti would beat the shiit out of Fullmer like he did Sandro Mazzinghi -- who was amuch better fighter than Fullmer

[elmersalsa]

I don't think that Nino Benvenutti had the strength and speed to keep the great Gene Fullmer off him. Fullmer would've put some TREMENDOUS PRESSURE that I don't think he would have been able to handle that. Fullmer by UD or late stoppage.

[Kalan]

Fullmer didn't have a great deal of strength. He was a small Middleweight. He was very tough, but stopped by Tiger and Robinson. He had an anemic KO ratio and was a mauler. They both had anemic KO ratios, but Benvenuti recorded some stunning 1-punch KO's over guys who hadn't been knocked out before.

Benvenuti had a much better amateur pedigreed and a much better winning ratio.. He beat better prime fighters. Benvenuti worn down by the end of his career but was better prime for prime. This is a fight that would probably go the distance. I don't see Fullmer taking it.

[scorpio83]

That's a good argument if Benvenuti keep fighting on the outside boxing Fullmer with his jabs then he decision him in 15 rounds. However, in my opinion Gene Fullmer would pressure Benvenuti if he cut him off the ring to take the decision.

[Kalan]

Fullmer had the good luck to catch Robinson when he was toward the end of his effectiveness. He got a lot of questionable decisions up around the Utah area. He wasn't a real effective attacker because of his lack of power and leaky defense.. Calling him "great" is a stretch. When he brawled with a tough guy like Tiger his got beaten up. He was pretty wide open for about every punch.

Basilio was cooked when he fought Fullmer and fought in a similar style, but he was a natural Welterweight, lighter, smaller, and shorter. Gene didn't have many stoppages over top name, natural Middleweights. For me, Castellani and Giardello beat him. Fullmer got away with a zillion egregious fouls vs Giardello in their "draw." He's the type of fighter like Mazzinghi who Benvenuti could set up for big shots, and catch coming in -- or outbox from the outside.

[Sidney Carton]

Fullmer didn't have a great deal of strength. He was a small Middleweight.

That's a winner.

[Kalan]

So was Tiger...who beat the crap out of Fullmer and ended his career.

[Sidney Carton]

Fullmer didn't have a great deal of strength. He was a small Middleweight.

Now tell us how Henry Armstrong, Bat Nelson, Harry Greb and Rocky Marciano didn't have good stamina.

Or Panama Al Brown didn't have enough height.

Or Tommy Loughran didn't know how to box.

[gilgamesh]

I think Nino would've been able to outbox Fullmer in a closely contested bout. I figure Nino would have the clear advantage early where his superior boxing skills would allow him to pile up the rounds, but I figure Fullmer's relentless pressure would start to weak him out down the stretch of the fight. Nino was a finely conditioned athlete so he'd get some second winds here and there over the course of the final rounds, and do enough to win a decision by margins of 8 rounds to 7 or 9 rounds to 6, but Fullmer would be giving him hell from Round 9 or 10 onward to the end.

[Kalan]

If Benvenuti didn't put him out with a shot... Fullmer was wide open and Nino was capable of doing that on occasion.