Trevor Berbick vs Mike Weaver

[DrDuke]

Prime vs prime. 15 rounds.

Who would you pick, how and why?

[scorpio83]

Either Berbick or Weaver would outmuscle and outpunch one another to take a decision.

[Woldemar]

Berbick by decision.

[DrDuke]

If we're talking about the 1979-1980 version of Weaver, then he wins this fight. Most likely Weaver takes it by comfortable decision.

I think a prime Weaver was a better all-around fighter than Trevor Berbick. Mike's only real problem is that it took him a little while to warm up (three or four rounds). But after that, Weaver was a well-oiled fighting machine, so to speak. Weaver had a great left-jab, and he could demolish a brick house with his powerful right hand and left cross. He also had pretty good hand speed, and smooth combination punching ability. Let's not overlook that Weaver was a great body puncher too, and his upper-body strength was rivalled by very few heavyweights. Finally, Weaver was much more fluid and agile than most people give him credit for.

Berbick was a good fighter, but IMO, he was too awkward and muscle bound to beat Weaver over the long haul. Berbick wasn't a great puncher, and for that reason I can't see him catching Mike cold and winning by early round stoppage. My guess is that Berbick would have no answer for Weaver's excellent left-jab. As long as they fight at long-range in center ring, Weaver's jab sets the pace.

I can envision Berbick using his rough house tactics to make the action close and competitive during the middle and late rounds. Berbick was strong, awkward, and tenacious when he wanted to be. But Mike was probably stronger, and would likely bull Berbick around inside. Most important, Weaver was a sharper, more sophisticated combination puncher than Berbick. So, if Berbick pulls his rough stuff inside, he'd probably get banged around by Weaver's uppercuts and rapid-fire, heavy duty body shots.

Final score, something like 8-4 in favor of the "Black Hercules," Mike Weaver.

A good evaluation, possibly it's easier to count more good performances from Weaver, but overall, counting wins of both, I'd call a performance of Berbick against Pinklon Thomas the best. Berbick boxed tricky and managed to deal with Thomas, who had seemed more sound technically.

Both Weaver and Berbick were inconsistent. It's wasy to pick an outcome for both sides. If there were several fights, it would split very likely. In any case, the very best version of Berbick seems better for me.

Berbick by dec, 9-6-ish in a 15-rounder, 8-4-ish in a 12-rounder.