Joe Mesi: What's his story?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Anyone know anything about him?



36-0, 29 KOs

Fought on a few undercards. Never stepped up?

[armageto]

He had a brain injury in the Jirov fight which derailed his career.

[gilgamesh]

Yep. A cerebral hemorrhage (bleeding on the brain) derailed his career. He made a comeback at one point against some extremely soft, hand picked opposition, and didn't look especially great in that fight either.

Considering the trouble he had with Jirov I figure things were gonna get rough for him when he stepped up anyway because the guys at the top got a lot more dangerous than Jirov.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Ah thanks guys..

I was wondering, he never really fought any 'name' opponent. Apart from the NABF title, he didn't collect any other belts did he.

[gilgamesh]

Ah thanks guys..

I was wondering, he never really fought any 'name' opponent. Apart from the NABF title, he didn't collect any other belts did he.

Not that I recall. Plus his win over Monte Barrett was mildly controversial. Some argued that Barrett deserved the nod. I forget how I scored it honestly, but it was close.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Ah thanks guys..

I was wondering, he never really fought any 'name' opponent. Apart from the NABF title, he didn't collect any other belts did he.

Not that I recall. Plus his win over Monte Barrett was mildly controversial. Some argued that Barrett deserved the nod. I forget how I scored it honestly, but it was close.

There wasn't really big big hitters around 2004-09..

You reckon he wouldn't have been able to step up with the likes of Chagaev, Ibragomiv, Liakhavic etc.

[Boxing Writer]

Ah thanks guys..

I was wondering, he never really fought any 'name' opponent. Apart from the NABF title, he didn't collect any other belts did he.

Not that I recall. Plus his win over Monte Barrett was mildly controversial. Some argued that Barrett deserved the nod. I forget how I scored it honestly, but it was close.

There wasn't really big big hitters around 2004-09..

You reckon he wouldn't have been able to step up with the likes of Chagaev, Ibragomiv, Liakhavic etc.

His team was in deep talks with Hasim Rahman about their fight. Mesi beat Rahman in the amateurs, so this fight would have had some history behind it. I think that Joe would beat lethargic Rahman in the pros too. I also think he would beat Liakhovich and Valuev, but I'd definitely favour Ibragimov and Chagaev against Mesi.

[Boxing Writer]

Ah thanks guys..

I was wondering, he never really fought any 'name' opponent. Apart from the NABF title, he didn't collect any other belts did he.

Not that I recall. Plus his win over Monte Barrett was mildly controversial. Some argued that Barrett deserved the nod. I forget how I scored it honestly, but it was close.

I scored it 95-93 or 95-94 for Mesi. Joe wasn't anything special, but he always gave fans quality fights.

[Ambling Alp II]

He sucked liked the rest of the guys mentioned recently. Not much defense, not that good of a chin, wasn't particularly good at any on thing. However, at least he was kind of fun to watch.

[gilgamesh]

Ah thanks guys..

I was wondering, he never really fought any 'name' opponent. Apart from the NABF title, he didn't collect any other belts did he.

Not that I recall. Plus his win over Monte Barrett was mildly controversial. Some argued that Barrett deserved the nod. I forget how I scored it honestly, but it was close.

There wasn't really big big hitters around 2004-09..

You reckon he wouldn't have been able to step up with the likes of Chagaev, Ibragomiv, Liakhavic etc.

Sam Peter would've smashed him. James Toney would've slapped him around, and outboxed him easy. Lamon Brewster would've beaten him up.

Yeah, I think the fringe contender level was about his limit.

[Kalan]

Not that I recall. Plus his win over Monte Barrett was mildly controversial. Some argued that Barrett deserved the nod. I forget how I scored it honestly, but it was close.

There wasn't really big big hitters around 2004-09..

You reckon he wouldn't have been able to step up with the likes of Chagaev, Ibragomiv, Liakhavic etc.

Sam Peter would've smashed him. James Toney would've slapped him around, and outboxed him easy. Lamon Brewster would've beaten him up.

Yeah, I think the fringe contender level was about his limit.

That's very true.... Chagaev was the first guy to beat Valuev and did it convincingly.... Ibragimov shutout Shannon Briggs for his World Title.. He went the distance with Wladimir in a World Title Unification Fight.... Liakhovich won his World Title by out-slugging a prime Lamon Brewster.... There were 25 Heavyweights then who were more solid than Mesi.

His 2 step up fights were cherry-picked Monte Barrett and Vasily Jirov .... and they were 10-rounders

Against Barrett he ran out of ideas by the 6th round and got beaten up the rest of the way... He clearly wasn't ready for prime time... Versus Jirov he got trashed in the last 3 rounds with right hooks he couldn't handle.... That fight effectively ended his career if Mesi were an honest man about it.... I would have stopped it after the 9th. He was hurt..

Mesi had some talent, but the problems I saw were: His stance was really bad..... his knees bent a tad too much..... his shoulders were hunched a bit.... in fact his whole upper frame was hunched down an inch or 2....and this is why he was a sucker for Jirov's right hooks that effectively ended his career....

His jab was half-assed.... He didn't have the strong stance, sharp precision footwork, timing, accuracy, or variety on his jab necessary to get it on a top Heavy for 5 rounds, much less 12 rounds... If you don't have good timing, smooth delivery, or accuracy on your jab your right leads and counters will suffer also... He had a nice left hook... He could get it off quickly and get power on it... Not that it was consistent, deceptive, or varied - such as Joe Frazier's left hook for instance.

But you need more than one weapon. You need a game. You need a defense. He hadn't learned much when he got hurt... He was matched real well... Clever matchmaking and being white won't make up for Duane Bobick skills.

[Ruthless-RKO]

There wasn't really big big hitters around 2004-09..

You reckon he wouldn't have been able to step up with the likes of Chagaev, Ibragomiv, Liakhavic etc.

Sam Peter would've smashed him. James Toney would've slapped him around, and outboxed him easy. Lamon Brewster would've beaten him up.

Yeah, I think the fringe contender level was about his limit.

That's very true.... Chagaev was the first guy to beat Valuev and did it convincingly.... Ibragimov shutout Shannon Briggs for his World Title.. He went the distance with Wladimir in a World Title Unification Fight.... Liakhovich won his World Title by out-slugging a prime Lamon Brewster.... There were 25 Heavyweights then who were more solid than Mesi.

His 2 step up fights were cherry-picked Monte Barrett and Vasily Jirov .... and they were 10-rounders

Against Barrett he ran out of ideas by the 6th round and got beaten up the rest of the way... He clearly wasn't ready for prime time... Versus Jirov he got trashed in the last 3 rounds with right hooks he couldn't handle.... That fight effectively ended his career if Mesi were an honest man about it.... I would have stopped it after the 9th. He was hurt..

Mesi had some talent, but the problems I saw were: His stance was really bad..... his knees bent a tad too much..... his shoulders were hunched a bit.... in fact his whole upper frame was hunched down an inch or 2....and this is why he was a sucker for Jirov's right hooks that effectively ended his career....

His jab was half-assed.... He didn't have the strong stance, sharp precision footwork, timing, accuracy, or variety on his jab necessary to get it on a top Heavy for 5 rounds, much less 12 rounds... If you don't have good timing, smooth delivery, or accuracy on your jab your right leads and counters will suffer also... He had a nice left hook... He could get it off quickly and get power on it... Not that it was consistent, deceptive, or varied - such as Joe Frazier's left hook for instance.

But you need more than one weapon. You need a game. You need a defense. He hadn't learned much when he got hurt... He was matched real well... Clever matchmaking and being white won't make up for Duane Bobick skills.

He got knocked down with a punch to the back of the head against Jirov no?

Is that not what would have caused his head injuries?

[Kalan]

If a guy throws snappy right hooks and you can't duck punches very well -- You tend to get caught behind the ear.

That's your fault... Same thing if you're pulling somebody's head down and he nails you low... Or you're pulling straight back from a looping shot and it catches you full on... If you have masterful skills these things don't happen.

[Ruthless-RKO]

If a guy throws snappy right hooks and you can't duck punches very well -- You tend to get caught behind the ear.

That's your fault... Same thing if you're pulling somebody's head down and he nails you low... Or you're pulling straight back from a looping shot and it catches you full on... If you have masterful skills these things don't happen.

[BitPlayer]

I hate to say it, because it's a real shame for Mesi, but he practically had his back turned there.

It's dangerous but loads of guys get hit with stuff like that and are ok, he was really unlucky.

[Ruthless-RKO]

After round 7, HBO had it 69-64.. All three judges after 10 rounds scored it 94-93 as did Lederman. 10-8 and 10-7 in the last 2 rounds.

Jirov was a very scrappy fighter. The KD in round 9 was clear back of the head.

[BoxBuzz]

If a guy throws snappy right hooks and you can't duck punches very well -- You tend to get caught behind the ear.

That's your fault... Same thing if you're pulling somebody's head down and he nails you low... Or you're pulling straight back from a looping shot and it catches you full on... If you have masterful skills these things don't happen.

Hey wait a minute.....Mesi is a guy who never lost a fight.......every time he stepped into the ring he managed to win. Just like a baseball player batting a thousand. According to some of you contributions this would make for a cataclysmic encounter with Joshua or Wilder.........right? Or am I missing something here.

[Bard of Boxrec]

i remember him poleaxing Davarryl Williamson in one round. Didn't expect that at all.

Like others said. Fun, but limited and would have got whacked had he stepped up.

[SenorPipino]

I was kind of surprised to realize that Mesi ended his career undefeated.


Probably because I recall the thrashing he took from Jirov over the last 2 rounds, when he was knocked down 3 times.

But Mesi did thoroughly outbox Jirov over the first 8 rounds and deserved that razor close decision.

When he returned from suspension a few years later, Mesi only fought a string of clubfighters.

Hence, he ended his career unbeaten.

[Ambling Alp II]

A perfect example of why win/loss records and Ko%s should be taken with a grain of salt. Numbers are often very misleading in boxing.

[Ruthless-RKO]

A perfect example of why win/loss records and Ko%s should be taken with a grain of salt. Numbers are often very misleading in boxing.

Agree. When I saw the record. I immediately checked his resume. Saw only 2-3 names I recognised. No title fights etc.

Someone might look at Loma's record of 10-1 and think, wtf. but you look at the names and then think, okay, he's fought some good names .

[Kalan]

If a guy throws snappy right hooks and you can't duck punches very well -- You tend to get caught behind the ear.

That's your fault... Same thing if you're pulling somebody's head down and he nails you low... Or you're pulling straight back from a looping shot and it catches you full on... If you have masterful skills these things don't happen.

Hey wait a minute.....Mesi is a guy who never lost a fight.......every time he stepped into the ring he managed to win. Just like a baseball player batting a thousand. According to some of you contributions this would make for a cataclysmic encounter with Joshua or Wilder.........right? Or am I missing something here

I. According to your contributions you have to be one of the least aware and astute people on the planet

2. Was Joe Mesi a World Heavyweight Champion with a 100% KO ratio? Since that's difficult for you -- NO and NO

3. Joe Mess never fought anybody

4. If Joe Mess fought the Ike Ibeabuchi of the Byrd fight he'd be chicken feed in a round

5. Ibeabuchi could box and punch. That tends to help. Ike also fought 2 capable, matured, world ranked opponents when he had only 16 and 19 fights. He was more than ready for that next step... Mesi was more than ready for a visit to your clinic. So was Ali. Things of that nature escape your constricted scope of notice

6. You need to evaluate a fighter's defensive capability before you start matching him with athletic punchers... One of the ways you evaluate athleticism is unconnected sports https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPk2zl5s6xM

7. Joe Mess was as wide open as Joe Frazier -- and didn't take punches as well

8. Duane Bobick was 38-0... Does that mean you match him with Ken Norton next??

9. You don't match Ken Norton with Ike Ibeabuchi... Just as you don't enter Joe Frazier in a swimming meet... Savvy?

10. A better opponent for Joe Mesi would Michael Moorer -- but only after he picked up his boxing skills 250%

11. For that last item to be successful -- he'd actually need to have a capable boxing coach.

[Kalan]

If a guy throws snappy right hooks and you can't duck punches very well -- You tend to get caught behind the ear.

That's your fault... Same thing if you're pulling somebody's head down and he nails you low... Or you're pulling straight back from a looping shot and it catches you full on... If you have masterful skills these things don't happen.

Hey wait a minute.....Mesi is a guy who never lost a fight.......every time he stepped into the ring he managed to win. Just like a baseball player batting a thousand. According to some of you contributions this would make for a cataclysmic encounter with Joshua or Wilder.........right? Or am I missing something here

I. According to your contributions you have to be one of the least aware and astute people on the planet

2. Was Joe Mesi a World Heavyweight Champion with a 100% KO ratio? Since that's difficult for you -- NO and NO

3. Joe Mess never fought anybody

4. If Joe Mess fought the Ike Ibeabuchi of the Byrd fight he'd be chicken feed in a round

5. Ibeabuchi could box and punch. That tends to help. Ike also fought 2 capable, matured, world ranked opponents when he had only 16 and 19 fights. He was more than ready for that next step... Mesi was more than ready for a visit to your clinic. So was Ali. Things of that nature escape your constricted scope of notice

6. You need to evaluate a fighter's defensive capability before you start matching him with athletic punchers... One of the ways you evaluate athleticism is unconnected sports https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPk2zl5s6xM .... Hmmm... Joe? Let's not go with the George Foreman fight for the immediate future.

7. Joe Mess was as wide open as Joe Frazier -- and didn't take punches as well

8. Duane Bobick was 38-0... Does that mean you match him with Ken Norton next??

9. You don't match Ken Norton with Ike Ibeabuchi... Just as you don't enter Joe Frazier in a swimming meet... Savvy?

10. A better opponent for Joe Mesi would Michael Moorer -- but only after he picked up his boxing skills 250%

11. For that last item to be successful -- he'd actually need to have a capable boxing coach.

[JMac]

Ah thanks guys..

I was wondering, he never really fought any 'name' opponent. Apart from the NABF title, he didn't collect any other belts did he.

They said Joe was the 3rd biggest sports franchise in Buffalo when he fought. He could pack an arena. I heard after he stopped boxing, he was planning on going into politics. He was an articulate guy. I don't know if he ever did go into politics.

[Contendeh]

If anyone thinks Mesi wasn’t able to pick up a belt in 2005 if he hadn’t of gotten hurt.

At this time there is no Lennox. No Vitali.

You got a 35 year old Byrd.
John Ruiz
Hasim Rahman who won a vacant belt by beating Monte Barrett, a guy Mesi edged by a a round.