Rocky “The Italian Stallion” Balboa
Born 1946, turns professional in 1961 at age of 15 years
-“Big” Baby Crenshaw (loses)
-“Spider” Rico (KO 2nd)
1976- Loses split decision to Apollo Creed, 30 years of age
[Inactive for roughly 2 years, trains for Apollo Creed]
1979- Wins by 15th round kayo over Apollo Creed, 33 years of age
1979-1982
Has 10 successful title defenses, albeit mediocre opposition*
-Exhibition bout with ‘Wrestling’ champion Thunderlips (draw)
1982- Loses by 2nd round kayo to Clubber Lang
1982- Wins by 3rd round kayo over Clubber Lang (34 years of age)
1982-1985 [no title defenses made in that time]
-Exhibition/Spars with Apollo Creed
-Sets up the Drago-Creed exhibition bout
-Petitions boxing commissions to sanction a fight between Balboa and Drago
-Petition denied, Balboa pursues Drago anyways, title is stripped of him
1985- Wins by 15th round kayo over Ivan Drago [non-title fight]
1985-1990
-Turns down a match with Union Kane
-Retires due to excessive brain damage
-Becomes trainer/manager of Tommy ‘The Machine’ Gunn
-Tommy Gunn breaks away from Balboa for promoter George Washington Duke
-Tommy Gunn wins the title from Union Kane, who earlier won Balboa’s vacant crown
-Engages in a ‘street fight’ with Tommy Gunn (44 years of age)
1990-2006
-Adrian dies in 1995
-Opens a restaurant called ‘Adrian’s’
-ESPN starts a ‘computer’ tournament to determine the greatest champion ever
-Computer predicts that Balboa would defeat the current champion Mason Dixon by kayo
-Rocky Balboa signs on to face Mason Dixon in a 10 round exhibition bout (60 years of age)
-Loses a split decision to Mason ‘The Line’ Dixon, who was 33-0 (30) prior to bout
*This leads to believe that Balboa made at least 5 defenses per year
Comparing Balboa’s opponents to real fighters-
-Apollo Creed is clearly comparable to Muhammad Ali
-Clubber Lang is comparable to Ernie Shavers (lack of stamina)
-Ivan Drago is comparable to the likes of George Foreman (amazing power)
-Tommy Gunn is comparable to, who else, but Tommy Morrison!
-Mason Dixon is comparable to James Toney**
His ten title defenses that were showcased in the 3rd installment of the series were fighters who were ‘hand picked’ but not ‘set ups’. One was a German champion, so he would be comparable to a Karl Mildenberger type of fighter. The others are ‘take your picks’ of whatever 2nd class or 3rd class type of fighter you can think of who fought for the title, probably on the level with guys such as Brian London, Roy Harris; primarily any second tier fighter who had good records but as Mickey put ‘wasn’t killers’. This could be comparable to Joe Louis’s ‘Bum of the Month’.
Overall had Rocky Balboa ever existed, based on his record of 57 wins, 23 losses, 1 draw with 45 knockouts with comparisons to real life fighters, he would undeniably be the greatest Heavyweight champion of all time, hands down.
**Toney has ‘won’ the WBA title only to have it stripped, has beaten such guys as Holyfield, Booker, Williamson, Ruiz and is generally considered a great Heavyweight but his attitude and lack of competitive fights (outside of Peter and Ruiz) makes him almost hard to like, much like Mason Dixon and he has mad skills and packs a good punch, also like Dixon, the only difference between the two fighters is that Toney isn’t undefeated nor is he the undisputed champion, but is arguably an ‘uncrowned’ champion and one of the best.
Rocky Balboa
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Diamond WEAPON
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 1729
- Joined: 19 Nov 2006, 01:32
While I agree with you comparing Creed to Ali and Gunn to Morrison (obviously) I have a few bones to pick with your other comparos.
First off Dixon and Toney are way too different, Toney is a legit middleweight champ who people only question at heavyweight, however his wins at Middle-Cruiserweight hold up his legacy well. Mason Dixon is really comparable to an amalgam of every modern heavyweight since they all technically have promise but most of them wind up being very shallow in their victories from fighting nobodies and avoid truly tough competition. Interestingly enough though I think Dixon is comparable to Roy Jones Jr. since Jones was never truly tested in his career til he got to Tarver. Dixon could also be compared to Larry Holmes in that Holmes is somewhat of a forgotten champ in between Ali and Tyson because he largely lacked a career defining fight since he so clearly outmatched all of his competition.
Secondly Clubber Lang seemed clearly based on George Foreman for his devestating power-punching at the cost of skill as well as his high-KO record. The thing that puts the comparo over the top is finally Lang's personality which is very aggressive, anti-social, mean, and angry, just like Foreman back in the day.
Ivan Drago was more of a symbol of the Soviet-built athlete in the vein of the Soviet Olympic basketball and hockey teams, with high-tech equipment, steroids, a quiet obeying personality, and total coldness, and his deadly power was likely inspired by the likes of Max Baer among other fighters who killed their opponents in the ring.
And although I agreed with the whole Morrison/Gunn thing Gunn also symbolized the archetype of a young man with all the potential in the world who then squanders his own success, similar actually to Mike Tyson. Gunn also symbolized the usurping of older fighters with younger ones, and his eventual street fight with Rocky was symbolic of the older, wiser fighter taking advantage of his younger opponents lack of experience and intelligence.
First off Dixon and Toney are way too different, Toney is a legit middleweight champ who people only question at heavyweight, however his wins at Middle-Cruiserweight hold up his legacy well. Mason Dixon is really comparable to an amalgam of every modern heavyweight since they all technically have promise but most of them wind up being very shallow in their victories from fighting nobodies and avoid truly tough competition. Interestingly enough though I think Dixon is comparable to Roy Jones Jr. since Jones was never truly tested in his career til he got to Tarver. Dixon could also be compared to Larry Holmes in that Holmes is somewhat of a forgotten champ in between Ali and Tyson because he largely lacked a career defining fight since he so clearly outmatched all of his competition.
Secondly Clubber Lang seemed clearly based on George Foreman for his devestating power-punching at the cost of skill as well as his high-KO record. The thing that puts the comparo over the top is finally Lang's personality which is very aggressive, anti-social, mean, and angry, just like Foreman back in the day.
Ivan Drago was more of a symbol of the Soviet-built athlete in the vein of the Soviet Olympic basketball and hockey teams, with high-tech equipment, steroids, a quiet obeying personality, and total coldness, and his deadly power was likely inspired by the likes of Max Baer among other fighters who killed their opponents in the ring.
And although I agreed with the whole Morrison/Gunn thing Gunn also symbolized the archetype of a young man with all the potential in the world who then squanders his own success, similar actually to Mike Tyson. Gunn also symbolized the usurping of older fighters with younger ones, and his eventual street fight with Rocky was symbolic of the older, wiser fighter taking advantage of his younger opponents lack of experience and intelligence.
I'm sorry but I cant see how anyone can take this film seriously... the idea that a fighter can come back at 60 to beat the current world champion is just too far fetched and even more so when you know Rockys back story, this is a guy who was half blind at the time of the Appollo Creed fights and brain damaged after the Drago fight yet here he is coming back at 60??!... can you imagine Joe Frazier coming back now and beating Klitchenko or Toney??.... or even Holifield??.... its just ludicrous and makes the films as a whole devalued... sly should have quit after Rocky 3... the films since then have just got worse and worse and now we've entered the realm of the surreal...
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HomicideHenry
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 18722
- Joined: 08 Sep 2005, 00:43
Btw...Rock didn't beat Mason Dixon in the new film, just went the distance.
I think really, out of all the Rocky films, this one over all was based far more realistic than any of the other films. The film was not just about Balboa coming back into the boxing ring, but was a story of perserverance and over coming his own personal demons.
If this film could be compared to a real life scenario I'd say that the Dixon-Balboa fight was similar to Jerry Evans coming back at 50 after being in jail for almost four years and having a draw against a guy who was a former kickboxing champion and was having a good boxing cross over.
I think it is possible that a man in his late 40's mid 50's to make a genuine mark on the present day Heavyweight division, George Foreman and Larry Holmes and Evander Holyfield being the three most obvious.
If you notice through out the years there has been alot of changing in boxing in terms of age. In the 50's and 60's a boxer in his mid to late 30's was considered washed up, now guys today are competively fighting passed the age of 40 and everyone says that they are still good fighters.
Take Oleg Maskaev for example, he won the WBC title at 37 years of age. That was the same age that Jersey Joe Walcott won the title from Ezzard Charles.
I think if anyone currently fighting today could break the age gap, it would be Holyfield. Though he has had alot of losses in recent years he has made a vast improvement, his decision win over Oquendo was impressive to say the least and Holyfield is 44.
**********************************************************
Note- The training sequences of Rocky Balboa in the new movie reminds me greatly of George Foreman when he came back in the 1980's and 90's. Building up 'blunt force trauma' by great weight lifting and other strength related activities.
I think really, out of all the Rocky films, this one over all was based far more realistic than any of the other films. The film was not just about Balboa coming back into the boxing ring, but was a story of perserverance and over coming his own personal demons.
If this film could be compared to a real life scenario I'd say that the Dixon-Balboa fight was similar to Jerry Evans coming back at 50 after being in jail for almost four years and having a draw against a guy who was a former kickboxing champion and was having a good boxing cross over.
I think it is possible that a man in his late 40's mid 50's to make a genuine mark on the present day Heavyweight division, George Foreman and Larry Holmes and Evander Holyfield being the three most obvious.
If you notice through out the years there has been alot of changing in boxing in terms of age. In the 50's and 60's a boxer in his mid to late 30's was considered washed up, now guys today are competively fighting passed the age of 40 and everyone says that they are still good fighters.
Take Oleg Maskaev for example, he won the WBC title at 37 years of age. That was the same age that Jersey Joe Walcott won the title from Ezzard Charles.
I think if anyone currently fighting today could break the age gap, it would be Holyfield. Though he has had alot of losses in recent years he has made a vast improvement, his decision win over Oquendo was impressive to say the least and Holyfield is 44.
**********************************************************
Note- The training sequences of Rocky Balboa in the new movie reminds me greatly of George Foreman when he came back in the 1980's and 90's. Building up 'blunt force trauma' by great weight lifting and other strength related activities.
Oh come on, theres a hell of a lot of difference coming back at 43 to 60.... and Foreman and Holmes are completely different types of fighters to that portrayed by Rocky. This maybe an accepatable film regarding watching an entertaining peice of fiction but it really has no bearing in reality and does not fit in with the first 3 Rockys... Rocky was far too battle worn at 32 to ever realistically be able to fight ok at 60.IrishRufusMurphy wrote:Btw...Rock didn't beat Mason Dixon in the new film, just went the distance.
I think really, out of all the Rocky films, this one over all was based far more realistic than any of the other films. The film was not just about Balboa coming back into the boxing ring, but was a story of perserverance and over coming his own personal demons.
If this film could be compared to a real life scenario I'd say that the Dixon-Balboa fight was similar to Jerry Evans coming back at 50 after being in jail for almost four years and having a draw against a guy who was a former kickboxing champion and was having a good boxing cross over.
I think it is possible that a man in his late 40's mid 50's to make a genuine mark on the present day Heavyweight division, George Foreman and Larry Holmes and Evander Holyfield being the three most obvious.
If you notice through out the years there has been alot of changing in boxing in terms of age. In the 50's and 60's a boxer in his mid to late 30's was considered washed up, now guys today are competively fighting passed the age of 40 and everyone says that they are still good fighters.
Take Oleg Maskaev for example, he won the WBC title at 37 years of age. That was the same age that Jersey Joe Walcott won the title from Ezzard Charles.
I think if anyone currently fighting today could break the age gap, it would be Holyfield. Though he has had alot of losses in recent years he has made a vast improvement, his decision win over Oquendo was impressive to say the least and Holyfield is 44.
**********************************************************
Note- The training sequences of Rocky Balboa in the new movie reminds me greatly of George Foreman when he came back in the 1980's and 90's. Building up 'blunt force trauma' by great weight lifting and other strength related activities.
A far better plot would have been for Rocky to train his son to the title I think... son wins heavyweight title that father had held... now thats a good story and far more belivable imo...
My underlying dissapointment with this film is that the first 2 Rockys were belivable and very well written, the 3rd stretched things a bit and used the same plotline as Rocky 2... but was still a decent film, ....but since then its been all down hill I'm afraid...
As for Evander winning any titles today dont believe it... Fres was worse than Evander was good... if Evander gets in with Klitchenko he's going to take the same sort of beating that Ali took from Holmes...
No, he is 60 in the film I believe... Rocky was either 31 or 32 in Rocky 1 in 1976 so really if we are in real time the character should be 62 now....BoxBuzz wrote:I thought the premise was is that he is 50 ish not 60 ish.....Stallone is 60 but Rocky the Character is meant to be 10 years younger.
but either way 50 or 60 you still have to have a reality loss to believe the films plot imo, which is a shame as the first 2 films were quite believeable and well written.Best boxing film of all time though is FAT CITY!.... pure class!... imagine watching Fatcity 5 or 6!!!....
sometimes less is far more!... 8)
re
>>>I think really, out of all the Rocky films, this one over all was based far more realistic than any of the other films.<<<
Yeah right...a 60 year old, brain-damaged journeyman heavyweight champion is not only allowed to fight a ten round exhibition, but he almost wins against the 33-0-0 (30 KO) heavyweight champion...the Rocky series has gotten more and more unrealistic since the third...the third was the last that could be looked at as being a little realistic, of course except for the fight scenes...nothing at all realistic about that and this new one sounds like the biggest crock yet. Does he die at the end...now that would be realistic...a 60 year old former journeyman champion who was in life and death fights in every single bout in his career is led to the ring, nad then proceeds to get his brains beat in, or beat the rest of the way in as he was already brain-damaged, for a couple of rounds and get knocked out cold in which he then falls into a coma and nevers wakes up...now that would be more realistic than a 60 year brain-damaged, face first fighter nearly beating the current, young heavyweight champion.
Yeah right...a 60 year old, brain-damaged journeyman heavyweight champion is not only allowed to fight a ten round exhibition, but he almost wins against the 33-0-0 (30 KO) heavyweight champion...the Rocky series has gotten more and more unrealistic since the third...the third was the last that could be looked at as being a little realistic, of course except for the fight scenes...nothing at all realistic about that and this new one sounds like the biggest crock yet. Does he die at the end...now that would be realistic...a 60 year old former journeyman champion who was in life and death fights in every single bout in his career is led to the ring, nad then proceeds to get his brains beat in, or beat the rest of the way in as he was already brain-damaged, for a couple of rounds and get knocked out cold in which he then falls into a coma and nevers wakes up...now that would be more realistic than a 60 year brain-damaged, face first fighter nearly beating the current, young heavyweight champion.
Re: re
I've a horribel feeling that he'll probably get a rematch in Rocky 7 :xbarry wrote:>>>I think really, out of all the Rocky films, this one over all was based far more realistic than any of the other films.<<<
Yeah right...a 60 year old, brain-damaged journeyman heavyweight champion is not only allowed to fight a ten round exhibition, but he almost wins against the 33-0-0 (30 KO) heavyweight champion...the Rocky series has gotten more and more unrealistic since the third...the third was the last that could be looked at as being a little realistic, of course except for the fight scenes...nothing at all realistic about that and this new one sounds like the biggest crock yet. Does he die at the end...now that would be realistic...a 60 year old former journeyman champion who was in life and death fights in every single bout in his career is led to the ring, nad then proceeds to get his brains beat in, or beat the rest of the way in as he was already brain-damaged, for a couple of rounds and get knocked out cold in which he then falls into a coma and nevers wakes up...now that would be more realistic than a 60 year brain-damaged, face first fighter nearly beating the current, young heavyweight champion.
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HomicideHenry
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 18722
- Joined: 08 Sep 2005, 00:43
I'm quite sure that this will be the last of the Balboa movies.
As far as the movie is concerned:
-He passes the Pennsylvania Athletic Commission tests
-He's training more on power due to being older and slower and the last thing that ever leaves a fighter is his power; case in point a 46 year old Marciano 'sparring/acting' with a 29 year old Ali in 1969, Ali says that Marciano was so strong he couldn't imagine what a prime Rocky would have been. So in essence you have a slower version of a prime fighter, but who hits harder.
-Despite being retired some 10 years he has greater experience fighting better opposition than Mason Dixon who fought virtually 'creme puffs' as the movie pointed out
-It's 10 rounds, not 12, not 15 and its an exhibition bout. Dixon before the fight tells Rocky he'll 'carry him' totally not taking Balboa serious
-Dixon hardly prepares for this 'fight'
-Dixon hits Balboa low (hip) and breaks his hand during the fight, leaving Rocky to be able to hurt Dixon for a few rounds (broke ribs i think)
-Dixon still wins, though exhibitions really don't mean nothing.
I think the best few examples I have ever seen of fighters coming back after several years and either going the distance or winning a fight were:
-Larry Holmes; came back after nearly 10 years and had very few tune ups before beating Ray Mercer (former WBO champion) and then went the distance with Evander Holyfield.
-Sugar Ray Leonard; came back after five years to beat Kevin Howard, retired and came back another five years later to beat champion Marvin Hagler. Came back years later to fight Terry Norris, lost a terrible decision, but still was on his feet against the champion.
-George Foreman; though he had many tune up bouts, he was virtually 20 years older than Holyfield and 50 pounds heavier than he was in his prime and went the distance. Had three matches (?) and then fought Michael Moorer to knock him out---fought on until 1997.
Though many on this thread said you can't compare Balboa to the likes of Holmes and Foreman and that 40'ish is different from being 50-60 years, while this may be true I don't believe that it is impossible. My favorite reference to the defying the ages was Jem Mace, who had the longest career of any fighter in history---fighting virtually 40 years and fought in title matches up until he was 57 years old, and still had minor bouts and exhibitions into his 60's.
I think age is but a number. I think if someone has enough determination, grit and belief in themselves and really take the time to get into great shape that they could pull upsets over much younger guys.
As far as Holyfield is concerned...he's been doubted so many times in his career, virtually from the start, that I don't think the negative feedback he gets bothers him a bit. He's trying to live out a dream and I think when a man truly feels like he has something to prove that's when he's the most dangerous.
As far as the movie is concerned:
-He passes the Pennsylvania Athletic Commission tests
-He's training more on power due to being older and slower and the last thing that ever leaves a fighter is his power; case in point a 46 year old Marciano 'sparring/acting' with a 29 year old Ali in 1969, Ali says that Marciano was so strong he couldn't imagine what a prime Rocky would have been. So in essence you have a slower version of a prime fighter, but who hits harder.
-Despite being retired some 10 years he has greater experience fighting better opposition than Mason Dixon who fought virtually 'creme puffs' as the movie pointed out
-It's 10 rounds, not 12, not 15 and its an exhibition bout. Dixon before the fight tells Rocky he'll 'carry him' totally not taking Balboa serious
-Dixon hardly prepares for this 'fight'
-Dixon hits Balboa low (hip) and breaks his hand during the fight, leaving Rocky to be able to hurt Dixon for a few rounds (broke ribs i think)
-Dixon still wins, though exhibitions really don't mean nothing.
I think the best few examples I have ever seen of fighters coming back after several years and either going the distance or winning a fight were:
-Larry Holmes; came back after nearly 10 years and had very few tune ups before beating Ray Mercer (former WBO champion) and then went the distance with Evander Holyfield.
-Sugar Ray Leonard; came back after five years to beat Kevin Howard, retired and came back another five years later to beat champion Marvin Hagler. Came back years later to fight Terry Norris, lost a terrible decision, but still was on his feet against the champion.
-George Foreman; though he had many tune up bouts, he was virtually 20 years older than Holyfield and 50 pounds heavier than he was in his prime and went the distance. Had three matches (?) and then fought Michael Moorer to knock him out---fought on until 1997.
Though many on this thread said you can't compare Balboa to the likes of Holmes and Foreman and that 40'ish is different from being 50-60 years, while this may be true I don't believe that it is impossible. My favorite reference to the defying the ages was Jem Mace, who had the longest career of any fighter in history---fighting virtually 40 years and fought in title matches up until he was 57 years old, and still had minor bouts and exhibitions into his 60's.
I think age is but a number. I think if someone has enough determination, grit and belief in themselves and really take the time to get into great shape that they could pull upsets over much younger guys.
As far as Holyfield is concerned...he's been doubted so many times in his career, virtually from the start, that I don't think the negative feedback he gets bothers him a bit. He's trying to live out a dream and I think when a man truly feels like he has something to prove that's when he's the most dangerous.
Whatever the legitimacy of Rocky's return I'm looking forward to seeing it. When it was announced I thought 'oh Christ, Stallone needs a hit then' but then I saw the trailer and heard the music and I can't wait for Jan 19 (UK release date).
Rocky got a hell of a lot of people interested in boxing and Stallone could end up in the IBHOF.
Rocky got a hell of a lot of people interested in boxing and Stallone could end up in the IBHOF.
This is bullshit.IrishRufusMurphy wrote:-He's training more on power due to being older and slower and the last thing that ever leaves a fighter is his power; case in point a 46 year old Marciano 'sparring/acting' with a 29 year old Ali in 1969, Ali says that Marciano was so strong he couldn't imagine what a prime Rocky would have been. So in essence you have a slower version of a prime fighter, but who hits harder.
You fail to understand physics.
Case closed.
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HomicideHenry
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 18722
- Joined: 08 Sep 2005, 00:43
-Joe Louis never lost his power in his comeback, just his speed
-Foreman probably hit just as hard if not harder when he came back but was just too slow to throw the punches affectively (pulled cars up hill, chopped wood for hours etc)
-Tyson never lost his power either, just his speed and quickness which made him inaffective after the first few rounds
-Earnie Shavers the most powerful man in boxing would have been a better fighter if he was either faster or had better conditioning, mind you he was still pretty high up in the 1980's and was supposed to fight Gerry Cooney
Power is the last thing that leaves a fighter. So in all actuality if a fighter whose a puncher trains to build up his power so that he can stand a chance, he will still have that KO power---case in point of George Foreman, he was too slow when facing Moorer and was lost the first 9 rounds until he landed those two punches in the 10th.
-Foreman probably hit just as hard if not harder when he came back but was just too slow to throw the punches affectively (pulled cars up hill, chopped wood for hours etc)
-Tyson never lost his power either, just his speed and quickness which made him inaffective after the first few rounds
-Earnie Shavers the most powerful man in boxing would have been a better fighter if he was either faster or had better conditioning, mind you he was still pretty high up in the 1980's and was supposed to fight Gerry Cooney
Power is the last thing that leaves a fighter. So in all actuality if a fighter whose a puncher trains to build up his power so that he can stand a chance, he will still have that KO power---case in point of George Foreman, he was too slow when facing Moorer and was lost the first 9 rounds until he landed those two punches in the 10th.
re
Tantum...you summed it up as well as anyone could!!!
I can't fuking believe that someone is actually trying to compare Rocky Balboa to Joe Louis, or even Tyson and Foreman!!! And I thought the ABC leeches were bad! It's pretty laughable trying to make legit a fictional 60 years old brain-damaged fighter. I guess you have been sampling a little more than just booze today.
I can't fuking believe that someone is actually trying to compare Rocky Balboa to Joe Louis, or even Tyson and Foreman!!! And I thought the ABC leeches were bad! It's pretty laughable trying to make legit a fictional 60 years old brain-damaged fighter. I guess you have been sampling a little more than just booze today.
. . . . . . . .ER! . . . .IT,S A BIT OF FUN OK! . . . . . PLEASE! TELL ME YOUR NOT SERIOUSLY DISCUSSING THIS! Re: re
barry wrote:I'm not...I think it is as silly as you do...putting serious time into evaluating a fictional character compared to real life champions.
Yeah,I know your not Barry but some of the other posts! HMMMMMM! . . . . . . . . . . THINKING ABOUT IT,ROCKY HAD A HELL OF A CHIN AND REALLY COULD PUNCH . .. ..IF HE PACES HIMSELF AND KEEPS HIS DEFENCE TIGHT HE HAS A HELL OF A CHANCE! 
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HomicideHenry
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 18722
- Joined: 08 Sep 2005, 00:43
To make one thing clear, I am not stating that Balboa is better than any real fighter. He is a work of fiction and a symbol of the American Dream.
I just thought it would be interesting to compare the fictional fighters to real life ones. As far as the comparisons goes---the only thing I ever seriously debated was that power is the last thing that ever leaves a fighter and that if a fighter (puncher) trained for a comeback solely on power he wouldn't have lost enough of his power to get it back.
Take Foreman for example. In his prime he had roughly a 98% kayo percentage, when he came back it dropped down to 87%. Now, was it so much that he lost his power? Or was it that he lost too much speed to make his power more affective?
Holyfield said Foreman, even in his 40's, was the hardest punching man he ever faced. He knocked out Moorer, he knocked out alot of good guys and alot of bad ones as well. But the fighst he lost were to guys who were much younger and faster than he was---Holyfield was in his prime, he lost a controversial decision to Shannon Briggs, and (in my opinion) he threw the Morrison fight (watch the tape when he knocks Morrison loopy and George grabs him before he falls and from then on George takes it easy on him).
I may not know physics, but I do know that power is the last thing to leave a man, especially a puncher. It's just everything else that fades.
I just thought it would be interesting to compare the fictional fighters to real life ones. As far as the comparisons goes---the only thing I ever seriously debated was that power is the last thing that ever leaves a fighter and that if a fighter (puncher) trained for a comeback solely on power he wouldn't have lost enough of his power to get it back.
Take Foreman for example. In his prime he had roughly a 98% kayo percentage, when he came back it dropped down to 87%. Now, was it so much that he lost his power? Or was it that he lost too much speed to make his power more affective?
Holyfield said Foreman, even in his 40's, was the hardest punching man he ever faced. He knocked out Moorer, he knocked out alot of good guys and alot of bad ones as well. But the fighst he lost were to guys who were much younger and faster than he was---Holyfield was in his prime, he lost a controversial decision to Shannon Briggs, and (in my opinion) he threw the Morrison fight (watch the tape when he knocks Morrison loopy and George grabs him before he falls and from then on George takes it easy on him).
I may not know physics, but I do know that power is the last thing to leave a man, especially a puncher. It's just everything else that fades.
i reckon all you guys that bag the movie will watch it once it comes out in your country, just like I will. Re: Rocky Balboa
I think Mildenberger was more a high european-standard fighter than an "ordinary German Champ". He hold the European Title for 4 years with 6 successful defences and made a good fight against Muhammad Ali.IrishRufusMurphy wrote: Rocky's ten title defenses that were showcased in the 3rd installment of the series were fighters who were ‘hand picked’ but not ‘set ups’. One was a German champion, so he would be comparable to a Karl Mildenberger type of fighter.