John Conteh (WBC) v Victor Galindez (WBA)

[nobleart1978]

I f Harry Levene had managed to get Galindez to fight Conteh at the Empire Pool to unify the Light Heavyweight championship, who do you think would have come out the winner.

[Abradolf Lincler]

One of the great "What if" fights, in my opinion. 50/50. Conteh bested the second best Argentinian Lt. Heavy of the era in Ahumada (great fight). Could he beat the very best?

[SenorPipino]

Before his hands disintegrated, and his skills deteriorated as a result of a party lifestyle, Conteh was the best light heavyweight in the world, bar none.

He would have schooled Galindez.

[ron4972]

This is one hell of a match up. As a fan back in the 1970s, I always assumed that Conteh would have been too quick and too slick for Galindez. But since then, almost every single boxing insider I've met (who is involved career-wise in the sport) has told me that Galindez would have won. Those insiders don't believe that Conteh could have handled Galindez's strength.

I just don't know what to say. So far, to me, this fight is a toss up.

[ron4972]

One of the great "What if" fights, in my opinion. 50/50. Conteh bested the second best Argentinian Lt. Heavy of the era in Ahumada (great fight). Could he beat the very best?

Conteh really struggled with Ahumada though. A few months later, in June 1975, Galindez beat Ahumada more easily than Conteh did.

[Abradolf Lincler]

One of the great "What if" fights, in my opinion. 50/50. Conteh bested the second best Argentinian Lt. Heavy of the era in Ahumada (great fight). Could he beat the very best?

Conteh really struggled with Ahumada though. A few months later, in June 1975, Galindez beat Ahumada more easily than Conteh did.

Galindez just seemed to have Ahumada's number. Even early in his career, when he was losing more often than not to the other top guys in Argentina like Peralta and Aguilar (guys Ahumada was proving his superiority to at the time), he was pretty much owning Ahumada.

Apart from the aforementioned title fight in '75, I haven't seen any of them, though. I figure Galindez was just too fierce, too naturally strong at the things Ahumada normally used to his advantage, that he was basically always going to get the better of him.

Conteh presents all sorts of different challenges stylistically.

[Abradolf Lincler]

Before his hands disintegrated, and his skills deteriorated as a result of a party lifestyle, Conteh was the best light heavyweight in the world, bar none.

He would have schooled Galindez.

He couldn't school his countryman Ahumada, a somewhat similar but overall slightly lesser fighter. I think it's fair to say there would be no schooling in this one, either.

[ron4972]

Something to keep in mind is that Conteh could be hurt. Tom Bogs floored him. Yaqui Lopez staggered Conteh in the 7th or 8th round of their bout, very badly. Joe Cokes is alleged to have shaken Conteh up a couple of times. Jesse Burnett floored Conteh twice and rocked him several times more.

So, even though Conteh was clearly technically superior to Galindez, you've got to wonder how he would have reacted to being hit by powerful Argentine.

[Flump]

I edge towards the real, two handed Conteh in a gruelling, possibly foul filled fight. Especially at Wembley. I just think he can keep a step ahead of Galindez and win a clear margin.

[scorpio83]

Conteh would out-box Galindez through the first half by jabbing and landing good right hands. However, Galindez may pull a Saad Muhammad miracle comeback in the later rounds like he did against Richie Kates in their first match and swarming Conteh off the ropes with punches on the body and head to take a 15 round decision.

[BoxBuzz]

Back in the Day there were reports that Monzon would spar with Galindez and have the upper hand. I'm not as certain that the same would hold true for Conteh. So based on that, I'd tend to be in Conteh's corner as to which fighter to favor.........as much as I like Galindez I'd bet on Conteh.

But there is that "Saad Scenario".....and Galindez is more the loose cannon, and could surprise John.

[Ambling Alp II]

Yet oddly enough Monzon didn't have the guts to move up in weight.

[BoxBuzz]

Yet oddly enough Monzon didn't have the guts to move up in weight.

Guts? Maybe, it's an odd judgement to my way of thinking...but it's possible. My assessment on that is that the LHW division simply was not a crown jewel......certainly NOT a step up financially. And at the end of the day it's calle PRIZE fighting.....not Guts and Glory.

Had he fought Galindez he would have had that prize.....and I'd even slightly favor him over Conteh....(I may stand alone in my belief that Conteh would be the tougher fight) I just don't see Carlos as lacking guts.....and the only true "raise" to be found would have at HW......and that's surely a bridge to far.

I might even have to go back and think about just who else would have been true LHW peers. Foster? That would have been a great fight. I know most would favor Bob.....at least most north Americans.

[Ambling Alp II]

Financially fighting Galindez would have been the biggest payday of his career. Or Foster. Maybe the biggest.
You really think he would not have made as much $ fighting them as Bogs or Mundine?

I don't think Monzon wanted anything to do with Bob Foster.

[BoxBuzz]

Financially fighting Galindez would have been the biggest payday of his career. Or Foster. Maybe the biggest.
You really think he would not have made as much $ fighting them as Bogs or Mundine?

I don't think Monzon wanted anything to do with Bob Foster.

I would agree, and I'll also bet the feeling was mutual.

[Ambling Alp II]

I don't have that feeling.

[ron4972]

I remember vague talk about Monzon stepping up to challenge Conteh for the WBC light heavyweight title. Personally, I'm skeptical that Monzon could have succeeded against Conteh. We're talking about a full 15 pounds of additional weight for Carlos. He probably would have been sluggish had he moved up to 175 lbs. Conteh was one hell of a technical boxer too, very slick.

On a pound for pound basis, Monzon was certainly better than Conteh. Along with Duran, Monzon was the pound for pound best of the his era. But all pound for pound greats tended to lose something when it came time to put on weight and move up a class or two. Duran lost his edge when he moved up to 147 lbs and more. I just can't imagine Monzon retaining his greatness while carrying a full ten or 15 lbs of extra weight.

A more intriguing fight for me would have been Conteh vs. Galindez. At first glance -- and especially back in the 1970s -- I would have picked Conteh to outbox Galindez and win handily. But looking back on this hypothetical 40 years later, I now have doubts. Conteh had trouble with super-strong opponents, and Galindez could break a jaw or rib bone with any one shot, especially late in the fight. Would Conteh have been able to out finesse Victor after the tenth, with the Argentine coming on full strength?

[Nile4000]

Galindez would take Conteh in a close fight. 8-7, 9-6 in rounds. Just a bit tougher than John. And Carlos didn't want no piece of Victor in a real match. Victor and Bob would've given Monzon that work. And then some.