Mike Rossman vs Mustafa Hamsho (1981)

[Joson]

Hamsho's manager, Paddy Flood, was calling out Rossman in 1981, saying Mustafa was much too strong to lose. Flood believed this even though Mike was 175 lbs and Mustafa just a middleweight. He said Mustafa would win by KO.

What do you think? This one's a great bout between despite Rossman being in a higher weight class.

One factor is Hamsho's southpaw style. Rossman never fought a southpaw. I'm not sure how he'd deal with a lefty.

I agree that Hamsho's physical strength might have been too much for Rossman. Superior brute strength was one reason Rossman was KO'd by Galindez, Ramon Ranquello, Yaqui Lopez, and Dwight Qawi. Mike was strong, but not that strong. But was Hamsho really that much stronger? Keep in mind that he'd be moving up 15 lbs to fight a bigger guy.

Without doubt, the Rossman who beat Galindez in 1978 was good enough to handle Hamsho. But Rossman was notoriously inconsistent from one bout to the next. He put on some sloppy performances even during his peak years. That Rossman - on nights he fought poorly - might lose to Hamsho.

This is a pick 'em fight IMO. Interesting match either way.

[AngryGoon38]

I'd pick Hamsho to win a fairly decisive decision. He had the right style to offset Rossman.

[goose 5]

I think Hamsho is just too small to win this match. Rossman stops him.

[oogiebe]

I think Hamsho is just too small to win this match. Rossman stops him.

Yeah, Agreed.

[scorpio83]

I think Hamsho is just too small to win this match. Rossman stops him.

Yeah, Agreed.

Me three. If Rossman fought Hamsho as a middleweight, then Hamsho would outpunch him for a decision win, but Hamsho fighting Rossman at light heavyweight would be a suicide as Rossman would batter him for a TKO win.

[Nile4000]

Rossman 9th round TKO.

[Joson]

It's interesting that many here pick Rossman, given that he was on the downside in 1981. Mike was only 24 y.o., but fighting much less efficiently than in his heyday a few years earlier.

Then again, for Hamsho, moving up to light-heavyweight in 1981 might have been pushing the envelope a little too far. In 1987 Hamsho did exactly that, and was KO'd in one round by Graciano Rocchigiani.

Either way, had this bout been made in 1981, it would have been a spectacular marketing success for the TV network which broadcast the action. Rossman and Hamsho were two of boxing's most popular fighters at the time.