Classic fights I've watched recently

[Tony1244]

People act like Leonard chose to get smacked with a left hook in the center of the ring in round 2, and then just opted to fight with his back to the ropes. He went to the ropes because he was hurt. He got hurt again after a right hand in the 4th round again and driven back toward the ropes. Duran made it into that type of fight. Leonard didn't "choose" a damn thing.

He was a boxer-puncher who controlled the center of the ring up to (and after) that fight. He beat people up and knocked them out. He didn't dance around the ring and throw intermittent pot-shots. The way he fought in the rematch was uncharacteristic, not the way he fought in the first fight. He just got beaten by the better man that night, despite being younger, larger, quicker, and more powerful. Duran was just better.

Interesting. I think the truth is somewhere in the middle. In their first fight I don't remember a time where it looked like SRL even tried to dance or stay outside.

[Abradolf Lincler]

He didn't do that because that's not the way he fought. Watch any Ray Leonard fight up to that point. There were early rounds in some bouts where he might've done some moving/dancing while feeling his opponent out, but it wasn't his M.O. once he'd settled in to the fight. He just liked to feel his opponents out for a round or two before getting to business. He was very much a center ring boxer-puncher, which is exactly how he fought Duran. Ray was a killer, not a pot-shotting fencer.

The rematch, with the dancing, clowning, sporadic offense, etc. was far more uncharacteristic of Ray. This revisionist history that he fought his typical fight in the Duran rematch is nonsense. He had never fought that way before and didn't fight that way again. That is, until the Hagler fight, under different circumstances. People these days point to those two fights as examples of Leonard's normal style (especially when peddling the "Leonard only lost because he fought Duran's fight" agenda) when in reality they were the anomalies. They just happened to be the most high profile fights of his career.

[oogiebe]

People act like Leonard chose to get smacked with a left hook in the center of the ring in round 2, and then just opted to fight with his back to the ropes. He went to the ropes because he was hurt. He got hurt again after a right hand in the 4th round again and driven back toward the ropes. Duran made it into that type of fight. Leonard didn't "choose" a damn thing.

He was a boxer-puncher who controlled the center of the ring up to (and after) that fight. He beat people up and knocked them out. He didn't dance around the ring and throw intermittent pot-shots. The way he fought in the rematch was uncharacteristic, not the way he fought in the first fight. He just got beaten by the better man that night, despite being younger, larger, quicker, and more powerful. Duran was just better.

Interesting. I think the truth is somewhere in the middle. In their first fight I don't remember a time where it looked like SRL even tried to dance or stay outside.

I remember watching this fight and thinking, WTF is Leanard trying to prove.

[oogiebe]

Sandy Saddler v. Willie Pep III - Dirtiest fight I've ever watched including Golota.

[handsofstone]

Floyd Patterson vs Eddie Machen(highlights)


Patterson wins a 12 round UD over Machen, only managed to find 15 mins of the fight all in silence so I couldn't tell which round was which, pain in the arse to watch really, Patterson seemed to put Machen down twice legit with right hands but the ref never issued counts so I'm not sure if he ruled them slips or there was no mandatory 8 count?? they looked definite knockdowns to me, Machen hurt Patterson badly it looked at the end of one of the rounds as well but I'm not sure if Patterson stopped punching coz the bell went or he was defenceless??

All in all it looked a good fight though fought mostly on the inside which both men were happy to do, it looked a close fight but hard to tell WTF was actually going on

[elmersalsa]

He didn't do that because that's not the way he fought. Watch any Ray Leonard fight up to that point. There were early rounds in some bouts where he might've done some moving/dancing while feeling his opponent out, but it wasn't his M.O. once he'd settled in to the fight. He just liked to feel his opponents out for a round or two before getting to business. He was very much a center ring boxer-puncher, which is exactly how he fought Duran. Ray was a killer, not a pot-shotting fencer.

The rematch, with the dancing, clowning, sporadic offense, etc. was far more uncharacteristic of Ray. This revisionist history that he fought his typical fight in the Duran rematch is nonsense. He had never fought that way before and didn't fight that way again. That is, until the Hagler fight, under different circumstances. People these days point to those two fights as examples of Leonard's normal style (especially when peddling the "Leonard only lost because he fought Duran's fight" agenda) when in reality they were the anomalies. They just happened to be the most high profile fights of his career.

That is the real truth. Duran whupped him and there's nothing else to it.

[elmersalsa]

People act like Leonard chose to get smacked with a left hook in the center of the ring in round 2, and then just opted to fight with his back to the ropes. He went to the ropes because he was hurt. He got hurt again after a right hand in the 4th round again and driven back toward the ropes. Duran made it into that type of fight. Leonard didn't "choose" a damn thing.

He was a boxer-puncher who controlled the center of the ring up to (and after) that fight. He beat people up and knocked them out. He didn't dance around the ring and throw intermittent pot-shots. The way he fought in the rematch was uncharacteristic, not the way he fought in the first fight. He just got beaten by the better man that night, despite being younger, larger, quicker, and more powerful. Duran was just better.

I agree.

I agree x2.... Duran just simply whupped him. At his very best, no one could beat the great Hands of Stone.... Nobody!

[handsofstone]

Floyd Patterson vs Henry Cooper(highlights)


Patterson KOs Cooper in the 4th, only rounds 3 and 4 are available even though YouTube claims its the full fight, Patterson looked small even compared to Cooper who was never a big Heavyweight, Patterson looked rapid though, far too quick for Cooper, he put Cooper down right at the end of the 3rd, doubling up the left hook then a right hand, Cooper was down again in the 4th from a lunging left hand, he looked ok but Paterson then knocked him out cold with a massive right hand, camera missed it though, you can just about see the right hand land as the camera changes shot and there's no replays

[lazboy]

Hagler obelmejias 1

After round 2 Haglers switch had been flipped. I’ve rarely seen such relentless, hatefully aggression. A relentless barrage of savage punches. This remained constant for 3 or 4 rounds! A pit bull punishing and chasing the game ‘enough’ Obel. Hagler - steaming with aggression looked inhuman!

Also credit to Hagler boxing, head movement in the early goings, having to break the distance on the much longer and taller Obel. The story of the night though is Haglers ferocity.

[DrDuke]

Michael Spinks vs Mustapha Wasajja

Spinks at his best, defending the WBA belt for the second time. Michael was dominating from the very beginning, he was blocking and dodging almost everything Wasajja was able to offer, he was jabbing to frustrate his opponent and to set up combinations. At the end of the 4th and 5th rounds Wasajja was visibly hurt, but he was taking all the shots well. In the middle of the 6th Spinks landed some especially hard stuff sending Wasajja on the ropes and trapping him there. Mustapha was finally seriously hurt, his head was being bounced back by Spinks' punches, the ref fairly stopped the fight after that.

[hhaehre]

Hagler obelmejias 1

After round 2 Haglers switch had been flipped. I’ve rarely seen such relentless, hatefully aggression. A relentless barrage of savage punches. This remained constant for 3 or 4 rounds! A pit bull punishing and chasing the game ‘enough’ Obel. Hagler - steaming with aggression looked inhuman!

Also credit to Hagler boxing, head movement in the early goings, having to break the distance on the much longer and taller Obel. The story of the night though is Haglers ferocity.

When beatdowns are discussed this fight is seldom mentioned, but it should. Obel took a prolonged brutal beating in this one. It should probably have been stopped earlier, but Obel was so game and kept trying to fight back.

[lazboy]

Hagler obelmejias 1

After round 2 Haglers switch had been flipped. I’ve rarely seen such relentless, hatefully aggression. A relentless barrage of savage punches. This remained constant for 3 or 4 rounds! A pit bull punishing and chasing the game ‘enough’ Obel. Hagler - steaming with aggression looked inhuman!

Also credit to Hagler boxing, head movement in the early goings, having to break the distance on the much longer and taller Obel. The story of the night though is Haglers ferocity.

When beatdowns are discussed this fight is seldom mentioned, but it should. Obel took a prolonged brutal beating in this one. It should probably have been stopped earlier, but Obel was so game and kept trying to fight back.

he was game and courages, just outmatched...significantly. I cannot get over Haglers aggression. I swear he was on a prolonged fit of coke rage. Scary.

[lazboy]

Hagler obelmejias 2

More of the same...Hagler a bit more measured. Obel looking even bigger than in the previous fight. An impressive Ko ratio and one recorded loss (to Hagler), obels punches looked like they were glancing off a solid bouldery mass. He was kept off balance and was beaten in every aspect save for his heart...which he once again showed. This time the ending came clean - obel was down for the count in the 5th.

Hagler - has to be one of if not THE most complete fighters you’ll ever see. Distance, ring cutting, pressure, outside inside repitoire, dirty boxing, speed, physical strength, power, headmovement, chin, mentality and punch volume. A legend. He would be more than competitive in today’s division(s). If people argue about the weight cutting I’d be confident he would decimate from welterweight to super middle - if he could make welterweight which is arguable.

Have to stir the pot here. Hagler is too good. Was he on something? If he was, safe to say everybody else at that level was so a fair playing field and I would still be confident he destroys today’s boxers but he would look a little more human doing so, if that was the case. Or if he wasn’t, which of course he may well not have been - they did it right training wise in the 80s. The fights are not the same today. Fighters lack the volume and volume of power shots they throw. Just my thoughts.

[handsofstone]

Jerry Quarry vs Floyd Patterson 1+2


First fight finished a draw after 10 rounds, good fight, plenty action but I thought Patterson deserved it, Quarry did have him down twice in the 2nd, first he caught him first in an exchange of left hooks then had Patterson down again this time with a right hand which badly hurt Patterson and had him teetering for the last 30 seconds of the round, the bell couldn't come quick enough for Patterson, after that Patterson took over getting his shots off first and piling up the points, Patterson had Quarry down in the 7th with a left hook and seemed to do enough after to get the win but the judges scored it a draw


Quarry wins the rematch via close MD over 12, he had Patterson down twice again, it was a similar pattern to the first fight, Quarry starting off fast and Patterson needing to haul himself off the canvas twice to try claw things back, Quarry had Patterson down in the 2nd with a right hand then again in the 4th when he nailed Patterson with a left/right as both men were slugging away as Quarry was backed up on the ropes, as in the first fight Patterson improved as the fight wore on but Quarry showed some nice bodywork to just edge Patterson on the cards

[Abradolf Lincler]

Hagler obelmejias 2

More of the same...Hagler a bit more measured. Obel looking even bigger than in the previous fight. An impressive Ko ratio and one recorded loss (to Hagler), obels punches looked like they were glancing off a solid bouldery mass. He was kept off balance and was beaten in every aspect save for his heart...which he once again showed. This time the ending came clean - obel was down for the count in the 5th.

Hagler - has to be one of if not THE most complete fighters you’ll ever see. Distance, ring cutting, pressure, outside inside repitoire, dirty boxing, speed, physical strength, power, headmovement, chin, mentality and punch volume. A legend. He would be more than competitive in today’s division(s). If people argue about the weight cutting I’d be confident he would decimate from welterweight to super middle - if he could make welterweight which is arguable.

Have to stir the pot here. Hagler is too good. Was he on something? If he was, safe to say everybody else at that level was so a fair playing field and I would still be confident he destroys today’s boxers but he would look a little more human doing so, if that was the case. Or if he wasn’t, which of course he may well not have been - they did it right training wise in the 80s. The fights are not the same today. Fighters lack the volume and volume of power shots they throw. Just my thoughts.

Hagler was never on any P.E.D. He was addicted to boxing. He didn't have the psychology for cross-addiction.

[PredatorHayds]

Patterson-Ellis

Got a feeling me and HOS been on a Floyd binge the last month

The last Hurrah from Floyd. Puts Ellis down, breaks his nose. It’s a really good competetive fight. The commentary team (Cosell) have it way to wide for Floyd.

The satellite goes down during the last round but still scoring the partial round I gave it Ellis by one.
Could of easily gone Floyds way.

No judges, just a scoring ref and he had it to wide for Ellis.

[handsofstone]

Patterson-Ellis

Got a feeling me and HOS been on a Floyd binge the last month

The last Hurrah from Floyd. Puts Ellis down, breaks his nose. It’s a really good competetive fight. The commentary team (Cosell) have it way to wide for Floyd.

The satellite goes down during the last round but still scoring the partial round I gave it Ellis by one.
Could of easily gone Floyds way.

No judges, just a scoring ref and he had it to wide for Ellis.

Funnily enough the Ellis fight is next up for me, i'll watch it either tonight or tomorrow

[lazboy]

Hagler obelmejias 2

More of the same...Hagler a bit more measured. Obel looking even bigger than in the previous fight. An impressive Ko ratio and one recorded loss (to Hagler), obels punches looked like they were glancing off a solid bouldery mass. He was kept off balance and was beaten in every aspect save for his heart...which he once again showed. This time the ending came clean - obel was down for the count in the 5th.

Hagler - has to be one of if not THE most complete fighters you’ll ever see. Distance, ring cutting, pressure, outside inside repitoire, dirty boxing, speed, physical strength, power, headmovement, chin, mentality and punch volume. A legend. He would be more than competitive in today’s division(s). If people argue about the weight cutting I’d be confident he would decimate from welterweight to super middle - if he could make welterweight which is arguable.

Have to stir the pot here. Hagler is too good. Was he on something? If he was, safe to say everybody else at that level was so a fair playing field and I would still be confident he destroys today’s boxers but he would look a little more human doing so, if that was the case. Or if he wasn’t, which of course he may well not have been - they did it right training wise in the 80s. The fights are not the same today. Fighters lack the volume and volume of power shots they throw. Just my thoughts.

Hagler was never on any P.E.D. He was addicted to boxing. He didn't have the psychology for cross-addiction.

Dear sir stop. Why must Hagler be addicted to a ped to use one stop. He was not so addicted to boxing as he was to his silk sheets stop Having said that I don’t want to venture too much into this territory stop Although I was interested to see if people saw his physical performing being equal if not surpassing today athletes stop

Yours sincery stop

[handsofstone]

Jimmy Ellis vs Floyd Patterson


Ellis beats Patterson via 15 round decision to retain his Heavyweight title, close fight could've easily gone to Patterson, he landed all the eye catching punches, broke Ellis's nose and should've been credited with a knockdown in the 14tth when he put Ellis down with a right hand

Ellis started off well, landing some nice right hands over the top, he probably had his best spell in those first 3 rounds but after that Patterson came into it, fast flurries and either lead left hooks or lead right hands, Ellis is quick but Patterson was quicker, there wasn't a lot of action and it wasn't a classic but it was competitive, Patterson again on the wrong side of a close decision and Ellis eeks through on points

[PredatorHayds]

Jimmy Ellis vs Floyd Patterson


Ellis beats Patterson via 15 round decision to retain his Heavyweight title, close fight could've easily gone to Patterson, he landed all the eye catching punches, broke Ellis's nose and should've been credited with a knockdown in the 14tth when he put Ellis down with a right hand

Ellis started off well, landing some nice right hands over the top, he probably had his best spell in those first 3 rounds but after that Patterson came into it, fast flurries and either lead left hooks or lead right hands, Ellis is quick but Patterson was quicker, there wasn't a lot of action and it wasn't a classic but it was competitive, Patterson again on the wrong side of a close decision and Ellis eeks through on points

How you score it?
I had Ellis by 1.

[handsofstone]

Jimmy Ellis vs Floyd Patterson


Ellis beats Patterson via 15 round decision to retain his Heavyweight title, close fight could've easily gone to Patterson, he landed all the eye catching punches, broke Ellis's nose and should've been credited with a knockdown in the 14tth when he put Ellis down with a right hand

Ellis started off well, landing some nice right hands over the top, he probably had his best spell in those first 3 rounds but after that Patterson came into it, fast flurries and either lead left hooks or lead right hands, Ellis is quick but Patterson was quicker, there wasn't a lot of action and it wasn't a classic but it was competitive, Patterson again on the wrong side of a close decision and Ellis eeks through on points

How you score it?
I had Ellis by 1.

I never scored it mate, there was a lot of rounds where nothing much happened, I thought all the big shots came from Patterson but Ellis could've shaded a few of the closer rounds, maybe edge towards Patterson but who knows??

[DrDuke]

I scored it for Ellis, not remember how exactly, but it wasn't wide for sure. The fight was close indeed.

[handsofstone]

I scored it for Ellis, not remember how exactly, but it wasn't wide for sure. The fight was close indeed.

Yeah I wouldn't argue with that, as I said I never scored it but it seemed one of those fights where your score might surprise you when you tally up at the end

Ive been watching a lot of Patterson lately, I'd already seen both Ali fights, both Liston fight, the 3 Johansson fights and the win over Chuvalo but ive been watching a lot of other fights of his and he's been on the wrong end of a few close decisions where a lot of people thought he should've won

I thought he beat Maxim and won the 1st Quarry fight which finished a draw, he lost the rematch but that could've easily gone to him and I think most thought at the time he should've beat Ellis

[handsofstone]

Floyd Patterson vs Oscar Bonavena


Patterson beats Bonavena by UD over 10 rounds, I thought it was a close fight, Patterson boxed well for a 37 year old, he fought the whole fight up on his toes and controlling the ring, Bonavena is crude and slow footed but his handspeed matched Patterson's, Bonavena has the wild swings and Patterson with the fast flurries, as far as punches landed there wasn't much in it, unsurprisingly Patterson had to haul himself off the deck after getting put down in the 4th from a Bonavena left hook, great win at that stage for Patterson but it was a close one

[DrDuke]

Matthew Saad Muhammad vs Marvin Johnson 2

Their first fight was a pure slugfest, the second was about the same. Johnson started as an aggressor, he landed some hard shots, but in the 2nd round Saad had him badly hurt. However, in the 3rd it was Saad, who was rocked by Johnson. After that Matthew became more cautious, he activated himself in the 6th troubling Johnson seriously. At the end of the 7th Marvin was very badly hurt, almost KOed on his feet. He probably was saved by the bell. In the 8th Johnson showed some guts with trying to continue being an aggressor, but then Saad just began swinging with both hands alternately. It was an insane barrage, some punches were clean, some not, but they were coming one after another, Johnson collapsed on the canvas eventually without any will and/or ability to stand up shortly.