John Mugabi versus Nigel Benn

[goose 5]

Who wins this fight?

[oogiebe]

Benn

[Bodyshot3]

Benn

[Bodyshot3]

Benn.....but a big wobble or trip to the deck should not be entirely ruled-out either.

[dr_devious]

The pre-Hagler version of Mugabi would be a live contender in a bout with a middleweight Benn

[Ambling Alp II]

The Mugabi who fought Hagler would have definitely beaten Benn.

[oogiebe]

The Mugabi who fought Hagler would have definitely beaten Benn.

100%. But "The Beast" subsequent to this fight not so much.

[cfang]

The Mugabi who fought Hagler would have definitely beaten Benn.

[Syntax Error]

You know what, I'm retreating to my fence for this one, because I genuinely don't know.

I can see a way how both men can win with certainty and that's what's throwing me.

Would love to have seen it though.

[littlepug]

Winner gets Julian Jackson

[Seamus]

When Benn suffered his first loss, I started calling him a poor man's Mugabi. Mugabi by stoppage before Hagler, Benn by stoppage afterwards.

[Cojimar 1946]

Why would the Mugabi fought Hagler have any shot whatsoever at beating Benn? There is nothing on Mugabi's resume to suggest he is at Benn's level. Hagler not performing well against him hardly makes him some sort of H2H threat.

[Cojimar 1946]

There's a pretty big gap in accomplishments here, and were talking about guys who were near-contemporaries so the eras argument holds little water.

[banjo]

Benn, The Beast wasn't really a middleweight.

[Tuan_Jim]

The Mugabi who gave Hagler such a battle would overwhelm any version of Benn. Hagler is so much more than Eubank or McClellan, as everyone well knows.

[Ambling Alp II]

Why would the Mugabi fought Hagler have any shot whatsoever at beating Benn? There is nothing on Mugabi's resume to suggest he is at Benn's level. Hagler not performing well against him hardly makes him some sort of H2H threat.

Some of us have seen the Mugabi-Hagler fight, which we we are saying that. His performance in that fight would have been enough to beat the legendary Nigel Benn.

Agree totally with Tuan_jim as well.

[Syntax Error]

I partially agree about the Hagler/Mugabi fight, but bear in mind that Hagler was badly faded, hence why Mugabi did so well.

It was Hagler's performance in this fight that convinced Leonard to return and challenge Marvin.

A peak Hagler would have smashed up Mugabi comprehensively.

Nigel Benn was much faster and harder hitting than '86 Hagler, so Mugabi might not have been able to go toe to toe so readily.

[Cojimar 1946]

I think its silly to say a good loss let alone a stoppage loss is reason to pick someone over a far more accomplished fighter.

Jesse Ferguson handled Ray Mercer much more easily than Lennox Lewis did. Obviously this doesn't mean Ferguson is on the same level as Lewis let alone his superior. Rubin Carter had a far easier time with Emile Griffith than Carlos Monzon, this doesn't mean Carter is better than Monzon. Kevin Howard dropped Leonard. This doesn't make Kevin Howard a H2H beast on par with Thomas Hearns.

[oogiebe]

I think its silly to say a good loss let alone a stoppage loss is reason to pick someone over a far more accomplished fighter.

Jesse Ferguson handled Ray Mercer much more easily than Lennox Lewis did. Obviously this doesn't mean Ferguson is on the same level as Lewis let alone his superior. Rubin Carter had a far easier time with Emile Griffith than Carlos Monzon, this doesn't mean Carter is better than Monzon. Kevin Howard dropped Leonard. This doesn't make Kevin Howard a H2H beast on par with Thomas Hearns.

Regarding Ferguson, I remember Mercer had back issues.

[bigjack]

The Mugabi who fought Hagler would have definitely beaten Benn.

definitely

[Seamus]

Mugabi was in serious trouble against Hard Rock Green, but Benn was hurt twice by unheralded Anthony Logan and was easily KO'd by Michael Watson. Before the Hagler fight I think it would be war, but one that the Beast would win, probably in 4 or 5 rds. Years later a more resilient experienced Benn stops a fading Mugabi late.

[Cojimar 1946]

I don't think Benn had reached his prime when he faced Watson. If were talking prime vs prime we would be using the Benn of 1990-1995.

[Ambling Alp II]

I think its silly to say a good loss let alone a stoppage loss is reason to pick someone over a far more accomplished fighter.

Jesse Ferguson handled Ray Mercer much more easily than Lennox Lewis did. Obviously this doesn't mean Ferguson is on the same level as Lewis let alone his superior. Rubin Carter had a far easier time with Emile Griffith than Carlos Monzon, this doesn't mean Carter is better than Monzon. Kevin Howard dropped Leonard. This doesn't make Kevin Howard a H2H beast on par with Thomas Hearns.

You are missing the point. Ferguson really didn't fight at that high of a level against Mercer. Mercer fought much better against Lewis.
Kevin Howard didn't fight a great against Leonard. Leonard was rusty and he still lost convincingly except for a knockdown.

Mugabi fought a great fight against Hagler. He just came up short against a great fighter. Nigel Benn was not a great fighter. That performance would have been more than enough to beat Benn.

And no, Nigel Benn was not a far more accomplished fighter than Mugabi.

[Tuan_Jim]

Cojimar evidently thinks Benn is more accomplished because he is a 'two-weight world champion'.

Useful reminder:

To win the WBO belt (which was not a real world title at the time) Benn beat the journeyman Doug DeWitt. Anyone think the Mugabi who fought Hagler doesn't crush DeWitt?

To win the WBC belt Benn beat the journeyman Mauro Galvano. Anyone think the Mugabi who fought Hagler doesn't crush Galvano?

[Cojimar 1946]

Benn's win over McClellan is far above anything Mugabi accomplished. McClellan also incidently beat Mugabi easily