Massive step up in class

[MightyWarrior]

Gerry Cooney Larry Holmes

[littlepug]

Ricky Burns v Graham Earl

[Webbo911]

Ricky Burns v Graham Earl

I know Burns was unknown at the time but it seems a bit odd to take on a a kid who is 9-0 in an 8 rounder when you're undefeated British champion.

When undefeated fighters take on unbeaten guys now, you can usually scroll their record and see they've had an MD to a journeyman or a close fight they were lucky in.

[rubberneck]

Howard Clarke v Fernando Vargas

Not sure how Clarke managed to get a shot at Vargas (well it was on the undercard of Lewis v Holyfield I, so I do in a way). Glad that someone who'd been such a longterm journeyman got his moment of glory, although it went as expected.

I think Clarke got the shot because he had beaten IBF ranked Jason Papillon In his previous fight. In fact Tony Booth beat the touted and unbeaten Omar Sheika on the same show.

[The Gratest]

Howard Clarke v Fernando Vargas

Not sure how Clarke managed to get a shot at Vargas (well it was on the undercard of Lewis v Holyfield I, so I do in a way). Glad that someone who'd been such a longterm journeyman got his moment of glory, although it went as expected.

I think Clarke got the shot because he had beaten IBF ranked Jason Papillon In his previous fight. In fact Tony Booth beat the touted and unbeaten Omar Sheika on the same show.

[littlepug]

Ricky Burns v Graham Earl

I know Burns was unknown at the time but it seems a bit odd to take on a a kid who is 9-0 in an 8 rounder when you're undefeated British champion.

When undefeated fighters take on unbeaten guys now, you can usually scroll their record and see they've had an MD to a journeyman or a close fight they were lucky in.

Yeah bit of a miscalculation by Earls team there

[gb]

Would Rees Vs Mbaye count as one that paid off?

[gb]

Would Rees Vs Mbaye count as one that paid off?

[margaret thatcher]

Burns v Martinez

I know Ricky was no 1 contender, but that had seem to come out of nowhere. In the end he fully deserved the win and showed what he was capable of.

Thought of this too, Rickster had fought Arthur but defo a huge step up in terms of where he'd actually won a fight. Originally I think it was planned for Puerto Rico and I remember the fight getting hardly a word, was just assumed he was a gimme defense for Martinez . Was a cracking fight as well, Rick got put on his ass but then fed off the crowd and fought excellent for the remainder

[margaret thatcher]

Cleverly v Kovalev.

For who?

Evidently Clev, though Kov had some unknown to him back then

[THEBUTCH]

Agree with the Tyson Fury call....I thought Fury could pull it off, but had the nagging doubts about the quantum leap up in class he was taking. One of THE great wins.

[Boxing Prospect]

Paul Lloyd Vs Marco Antonio Barrera
Amir Khan Vs (a faded) Marco Antonio Barrera
Willie Limond Vs Erik Morales
Rendall Munroe Vs Kiko Martinez (paid off!)

[bennie]

Three Brit heavyweights who it didn't work out for:

John L Gardner v Jimmy Young
Herbie Hide v Riddick Bowe
Pele Reid v Orlin Norris

The Jimmy Young who came over, a broken man after his loss to Ken Norton on a disputed 15-round decision, looked fleshy and disinterested but Gardner picked up a nick over the eye in sparring and the Wembley show was delayed for a week, in which time Young actually managed to whip himself into decent shape and he outlasted the superfit Gardner, dropping him in the 10th and final round to seal a points win.

[Flump]

Three Brit heavyweights who it didn't work out for:

John L Gardner v Jimmy Young
Herbie Hide v Riddick Bowe
Pele Reid v Orlin Norris

The Jimmy Young who came over, a broken man after his loss to Ken Norton on a disputed 15-round decision, looked fleshy and disinterested but Gardner picked up a nick over the eye in sparring and the Wembley show was delayed for a week, in which time Young actually managed to whip himself into decent shape and he outlasted the superfit Gardner, dropping him in the 10th and final round to seal a points win.

Young's career could be called the epitome of uneven.

[jameswilson]

John Fury vs Henry Akinwande?

[Kit]

Conor McGregor - Floyd Mayweather

[My Name Is Earl]

Steve 'The Viking' Foster v Winky Wright...... Winky had displayed his class in an earlier clinic a few months earlier
over a fancied Ensley Bingham. The big hitting Manc had plenty of backers due to the new champ's relative
anonymity and lack of hype (The big guns, King, Arum etc were'nt interested in him so he plied his trade all over the shop for ), along with an average ko record. Bingo was touted to relieve the 'average' visitor
of the title. What followed was probably the first British sighting of a special talent at work, as Wright put on a masterclass.

So when Foster stepped up, we all knew the challenge he faced. At least with Bingo he had that punchers chance but Steve didn't even have that in his armoury. The viking army were out in force for the usual shindig, but the mismatch soon materialised. To be fair, Winky was treated to appreciative applause at the mc's announcement, as his class was rightfully
recognised. Of course shortly after, Dodson suffered the same dismantling to give Winky his treble of vanquished Brits all within 12 month period.

Dennis Andries v Tommy Hearns has to be up there. Not hindsight, but all the Andries camp could hope for was the 2 weight
divisions Hearns jumped up from to make his LH debut was too much. Didn't pan out like that. Hearns hand picked Dennis for a reason, and moved back down to 160 for his next title challenge.

[Counter-puncher]

Great post. I half-remember Wright really breaking one of those three down to the body but can’t remember which one. Dodson didn’t like it to the body IIRC?

[tony1234]

Dave Green v Ray Leonard ?

[Counter-puncher]

Dave Green v Ray Leonard ?

He’d challenged for the world title before against Palomino so not his first step up in class

[Loftgroov]

Liam Walsh v Gervonta Davis

[Ruthless-RKO]

Liam Walsh v Gervonta Davis

Who was stepping up there?? It’s always the English isn’t it? They beat nobodies most the time to win vacant belts too (not in this case)..

[Cyclops]

When you think about it, Eubank Jnr against BJS was a massive jump in class, although a lot of us backed him. Definitely wasn't ready.

[margaret thatcher]

work rate

[bennie]

Dave Green v Ray Leonard ?

Dave stepped up against Andy "The Hawk" Price, a man who had beaten both reigning world champions in Pipino Cuevas and Carlos Palomino earlier in their careers. Green scraped home on a 10-round decision.