Ran into Rod Douglas at a white-collar boxing show where he was looking after some ringcard girls. I know he went to the Olympics in 1984. Did he beat Nigel Benn in the amateurs and get hurt in a title fight against Herol Graham?
Any info at all guys?
Rod Douglas
From what I remember without looking up the information in books etc Rod Douglas was an outstanding amateur I think he was something like 5 times ABA Middleweight Champion. Fought Nigel Benn twice, won the first and lost the rematch, both on points I believe, no shame there, Benn as we all know was a savage fighter in the ring.
Seem to remember that he was an agressive, intimidating fighter with good power and skills, think he had a Mr T type mohawk hair cut.
At the time I was shocked when the Douglas - Graham match was made as Douglas was still not much more than a novice proffesional fighter despite his outstanding amateur background. Graham was way too experienced for him and was 'on' that night. I think Douglas was being handled by Mickey Duff, if so this was a rare mistake by Duff. Graham was really on form that night and outboxed and fustrated Douglas who showed a lot of heart and determination. Douglas took a bit of a beating but at he time I didn't think it was that bad, obviously I was wrong.
I remember thinking prior to this match that I thought Graham would beat him, but on points, and didn't want the fight to take place as I wanted to see a Benn - Douglas fight at some point instead.
Like I said just going from memory here and all this happened a while ago, so please correct me if I am wrong anywhere.
Seem to remember that he was an agressive, intimidating fighter with good power and skills, think he had a Mr T type mohawk hair cut.
At the time I was shocked when the Douglas - Graham match was made as Douglas was still not much more than a novice proffesional fighter despite his outstanding amateur background. Graham was way too experienced for him and was 'on' that night. I think Douglas was being handled by Mickey Duff, if so this was a rare mistake by Duff. Graham was really on form that night and outboxed and fustrated Douglas who showed a lot of heart and determination. Douglas took a bit of a beating but at he time I didn't think it was that bad, obviously I was wrong.
I remember thinking prior to this match that I thought Graham would beat him, but on points, and didn't want the fight to take place as I wanted to see a Benn - Douglas fight at some point instead.
Like I said just going from memory here and all this happened a while ago, so please correct me if I am wrong anywhere.
Rod beat Benn in the 1985 ABA's, then lost to him in the ABA's a year later. Both fights were points sizzlers. Benn actually turned pro in disgust after Douglas was picked over him for the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.
Douglas won four ABA titles. He gave legendary Canadian amateur Shawn O'Sullivan a great fight in the 1984 Olympics, licked Aussie iron man Jeff Harding in the Commonwalth Games final and had the world at his feet before losing to Bomber - a man who Benn, Watson and Eubank steered well clear of.
Even then, he would have come back a much better fighter from the defeat but for the injury. He was desperately unlucky.
Douglas won four ABA titles. He gave legendary Canadian amateur Shawn O'Sullivan a great fight in the 1984 Olympics, licked Aussie iron man Jeff Harding in the Commonwalth Games final and had the world at his feet before losing to Bomber - a man who Benn, Watson and Eubank steered well clear of.
Even then, he would have come back a much better fighter from the defeat but for the injury. He was desperately unlucky.
i might be wrong. i definitely did read it somewhere but it could've been an unreliable source. was there some mention of him in either the watson or benn books?Boxingmad wrote:Well, if he had to learn to talk & walk again, he did a great job as he is now completely recovered. However, he mentioned that he's been doing some kickboxing, which concerns me, as he really shouldn't be participating in any combat sport where he might be punched to the head again.
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Twinkle Toes
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Rod Douglas, Nigel Benn and Tony Velinor were the golden trio of top class amatuer middleweights in the 1980's.bennie wrote:Rod beat Benn in the 1985 ABA's, then lost to him in the ABA's a year later. Both fights were points sizzlers. Benn actually turned pro in disgust after Douglas was picked over him for the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.
Douglas won four ABA titles. He gave legendary Canadian amateur Shawn O'Sullivan a great fight in the 1984 Olympics, licked Aussie iron man Jeff Harding in the Commonwalth Games final and had the world at his feet before losing to Bomber - a man who Benn, Watson and Eubank steered well clear of.
Even then, he would have come back a much better fighter from the defeat but for the injury. He was desperately unlucky.
Only Benn went on to acheive massive success in the pro's with Douglas being badly injured in his fight with Herol which ended his career prematurely.
Velinors promising career never flourished due to him suffering some very bad cuts.
Looking back, as amatuers, I would have said Velinor was the best of the three of them.