1970s v 1980s

[Ezzard]

A lot of things started to change in the sport over these years... The proliferation of belts, divisions, etc... By the ned of the 1980s the sport was very different to the way it was in 1970.

Here I'm trying to pitch the best of each decade against one another to see which one comes out on top. Let me know your thoughts.

HW

Ali v Holmes

LHW

Foster v Spinks

MW

Monzon v Hagler

JrMW

Wajima v McCallum

WW

Napoles v Leonard

JrWW

Benitez v Pryor

LW

Duran v Whittaker

JrLW

Arguello v Chavez

FW

Marcel v Sanchez

JrFW

Gomez v Fenech

BW

Zarate v Chandler

Fly

Canto v Laciar

[Tantum]

Wouldn't 80's 154 be Hearns? Just a thought.

[Ezzard]

Wouldn't 80's 154 be Hearns? Just a thought.

That's one of the biggest debating points of the 1980s. I just give McCallum the edge but understand why many go with Hearns.

[Tantum]

I pick 80's on this list... Not by a huge amrgin, but by enough.

There are great match-ups, though. Most of them are pretty hard to pick.

Though, one stands out in my mind that will be poorly picked, will be Ali - Holmes. I see this as a clear victory for Holmes, I honestly can't even fathom Ali winning bar a highly controversial decision.

[BoxBuzz]

Here are the answers to the test....One is too close to call, I'm assuming we can count Ali in his overall prime which bordered into the 60's as well.

HW

Ali v Holmes

LHW

Foster v Spinks

MW

Monzon v Hagler

JrMW

Wajima v McCallum

WW

Napoles v Leonard

JrWW

Benitez v Pryor

LW

Duran v Whittaker

JrLW

Arguello v Chavez

FW

Marcel v Sanchez

JrFW

Gomez v Fenech

[The Great John L]

HW
Ali

LHW
Foster

MW
Monzon

JrMW
McCallum

WW
Leonard

JrWW
Pryor

LW
Duran - Whittaker (I’d go with Sweet Pea over 12, Duran if it’s 15)

JrLW
Arguello

FW
Sanchez

JrFW
Gomez

BW
Zarate

Fly
Canto

[Ezzard]

HW

LW
Duran - Whittaker (I’d go with Sweet Pea over 12, Duran if it’s 15)

Fair assessment, but my fantasy match ups are always 15.

[Ambling Alp]

This is an interesting thread.
I had the 1970's winning 7-5.

Ali over Holmes
Monzon over Hagler (Tough call)
Duran over Whitaker (Tough call)
Arguello over Chavez (Tough call)
Gomez over Fenech
Zarate over Chandler
Canto over Laciar

I do pick the 1980's in these fights:
Spinks over Foster (Tough call)
McCallum over Wajima
Leonard over Napoles
Pryor over Benitez (Tough call)
Sanchez over Marcel

It certainly wouldn't be impossible for the 1980's to win; They would have to win 4 of the 5 "Tough calls".

[Ezzard]

My card reads

Ali v Holmes

Foster v Spinks

Monzon v Hagler

Wajima v McCallum

Napoles v Leonard

Benitez v Pryor

Duran v Whittaker

Arguello v Chavez

Marcel v Sanchez

Gomez v Fenech

Zarate v Chandler

Canto v Laciar

That's 8-4 to the 70s

BUT there are so many tough calls

The fight which intrigues me the most is Foster-Spinks

[Arbachakov]

Ali v Holmes...Ali

Foster v Spinks....Foster

Monzon v Hagler....Monzon

Wajima v McCallum...McCallum

Napoles v Leonard.....Leonard

Benitez v Pryor....Pryor

Duran v Whittaker.....Duran

Arguello v Chavez.....Chavez

Marcel v Sanchez....Marcel

Gomez v Fenech....Gomez

Zarate v Chandler...Zarate, though i'd have put Chandler as the worst of the eighties Bantams.

Canto v Laciar...Canto.

[BoxBuzz]

That Pryor could beat Benitez is imagineering on a fantasy level.

[m1kee50]

Here are the answers to the test....One is too close to call, I'm assuming we can count Ali in his overall prime which bordered into the 60's as well.

HW

Ali v Holmes

LHW

Foster v Spinks

MW

Monzon v Hagler

JrMW

Wajima v McCallum

WW

Napoles v Leonard

JrWW

Benitez v Pryor

LW

Duran v Whittaker

JrLW

Arguello v Chavez

FW

Marcel v Sanchez

JrFW

Gomez v Fenech

is that the BRS test buzz? cos i have to tell you its flawed - PBF loses to Ann Wolfe 99 times out of 100

[Arbachakov]

That Pryor could beat Benitez is imagineering on a fantasy level.

Styles.Benitez was not too good against wild swarmers and it's that kind of fighter that usually gives pure boxers the most trouble.

See Bruce Curry.

[Seamus]

Canto v Laciar is a good style matchup i,e boxer v puncher. But so far I'm the only one who think's Laciar would be a bit too strong for Canto and would take a close decision.

[dr_devious]

Ali v Holmes - Ali, by a whisker

Foster v Spinks - Foster

Monzon v Hagler - Heart says Hagler, head says a draw

Wajima v McCallum - McCallum

Napoles v Leonard - Leonard

Benitez v Pryor - Pryor

Duran v Whittaker - Duran

Arguello v Chavez - Chavez

Marcel v Sanchez - Sanchez (although Arguello is the best FW of the 70s)

Gomez v Fenech - Gomez

Zarate v Chandler - Zarate

Canto v Laciar - Canto

[Borinken25]

HW

JrWW

Benitez v Pryor While I think Benitez was the better fighter, Pryor was a MAN at heavyweight, while Benitez was just a teenager. Pryor outworks him.[/i]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Benitez just a teenager when he defeated prime Cervantes?

[Borinken25]

HW

Ali vs Holmes

LHW

Foster vs Spinks

MW

Monzon vs Hagler

JrMW

Wajima vs McCallum

WW

Napoles vs Leonard

JrWW

Benitez vs Pryor

LW

Duran vs Whittaker

JrLW

Arguello vs Chavez

FW

Marcel vs Sanchez

JrFW

Gomez vs Fenech

Zarate vs Chandler

Canto vs Laciar

[I Feel Fine]

Ali, slim
Foster
Maybe Monzon, he was so much bigger than Hagler, and in terms of skill/toughness its pretty close
McCallum
Leonard
Eh, Pryor
Eh, Whitaker 2/3... this is my least confident pick
Chavez... maybe
Sanchez
Gomez
Zarate
Never seen Canto

[Ezzard]

JrMW

Wajima v Hearns or McCallum Either man easily wins. Wajima was little more than a local champion with a world belt.

Just wasn't sure who to go with on any count. Griffith at 154 would have been better but he didn't really have too many fights at the weight in the 70s. It would have been more competitive but probably have crushed the thread.

WW

Napoles v Leonard Most people will disagree with my pick, but I simply think that Napoles was the better fighter, and I rank him above Leonard at 147. Further, Leonard would hold no stylistic advantage over "Butter." The only way Leonard wins is if he outworks Napoles. I don't see that happening.

I think this is a reasonable argument. I went with leonard because of a percieved size advantage as Napoles started at a lower weight, but then Duran moved up and beat Leonard.

Fly

Canto v Laciar Canto, although I'd consider Chang Jung-koo the best flyweight of the 1980s.

Fair comment... these two were the best of the 80s and I've just seen more of Laciar.

[Ezzard]

Currently running at

1970's wins = 62.5

1980's wins = 42.5

(half points courtesy of BoxBuzz's Arguello-Chavez prediction).

Buzz, what's your sim got to say about this?

[BoxBuzz]

I will post the sims on each fight later this week. In a pick'em fight I am beginning to be drawn a bit toward Chavez as I review some films. Bu only very slightly so. terapberry would be proud of me.

[Ezzard]

I will post the sims on each fight later this week. In a pick'em fight I am beginning to be drawn a bit toward Chavez as I review some films. Bu only very slightly so. terapberry would be proud of me.

Hey, we're all proud of you!

[BoxBuzz]

Ali Vs Holmes http://www.boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=63098

Foster Vs Spinks http://www.boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=63099

Monzon Vs Hagler http://www.boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=63100

Wajima Vs McCallum http://www.boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=63101

Napoles vs Leonard http://www.boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=63102

Benitez Vs Pryor http://www.boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=63103

Duran Vs Whitaker http://www.boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=63104

I'll get to the others some time soon

[Borinken25]

Thanks, BoxBuzz.

Muhammad Ali winner by UD
Bob Foster winner by UD
Hagler/Monzon a draw, I'm ok with that.
Mike McCallum winner by UD
Ray Leonard TKO 9
Wilfredo Benitez winner by UD
Pernell Whitaker winner by SD- wouldn't surprise me.