Wayne Alexander v Maurice Hope

[knockout artist]

Who would win this, for the British, Commonwealth and European Light Middleweight Titles over 15 rounds?

I go for Hope KO rounds 5 to 8.

[bennie]

Wayne Alexander is a dynamite puncher who would have knocked over many of Maurice Hope's opponents...but not the Antiguan southpaw himself. Hope always had a good chin (it took one helluva of a right hand from Wilfred Benitez to finish him) and made the most of his southpaw awkwardness, strength and ability. He was the first British fighter of Jamaican extract to win a world title and did it the hard way by travelling to San Remo in Italy and beating naturalized Italian, Rocky Mattioli, in eight thrilling rounds. Alexander, in contrast, didn't fancy travelling to Puerto Rico to challenge WBO light-middleweight champion, Daniel Santos, so he simply turned down the fight. Hope didn't have that luxury back then, when world titles were few and far between. He had already been robbed in Germany when challenging Eckhard Dagge for the WBC light-middleweight title in 1977, so was determined to stop Mattioli before the end of the 15 rounds in his second stab at the WBC crown (Mattioli had knocked out Dagge for the title). Maurice came out and put the Italian down with a series of blistering southpaw lefts within 20 seconds of the first bell. Dagge fell heavily on his backside, cushioning his fall with both arms. He broke his left wrist in doing so, but hang in there until the end of the eighth when his corner pulled him out. Ironically, he had had his best round of the fight in the eighth.
Typically, Hope gave him a rematch, though this time it took place at the Wembley Convention centre in London. I was there that night and had the privilege to watch Hope hit his very peak. He outclassed Mattioli, and broke him up for a brilliant 11th round stoppage. It secured him a mega fight with Wilfred Benitez in Las Vegas in 1981. Benitez had matured into a formidable fighter, and would go on to score his best win over Roberto Duran. Maurice shrugged off punches that would have finshed lesser men that night, but was worn down and finally nailed in the 12th.
He had one more fight before retiring.
Alexander is also a good fighter, and has a bright future if he gets moving, but I think the difference between him and Hope is shown in their European titles. Wayne won the vacant European light-middleweight title with a third round stoppage of the mediocre Italian Paolo Pizzamiglio in this country last year.
Hope also fought an Italian to win the European light-middleweight crown. He travelled to Milan to stop defending champion Vito Antuofermo in the 15th and final round. Antuofermo, of course, would win the world middleweight title and hold Marvin Hagler to a draw.
By that comparison alone, we see that Hope is too rounded a fighter for Alexander.

[knockout artist]

I agree entirely.

I saw Hope beat Carlos Herrera over 15 rounds, who was subsequently KO'd in three by Tony Ayala Jnr.

Hope was good in every department.

Respectable power.
Good skills
Good Chin
Very well conditioned.

If I remember correctly he was a middle who came down to light middle.

[bennie]

I agree entirely.

I saw Hope beat Carlos Herrera over 15 rounds, who was subsequently KO'd in three by Tony Ayala Jnr.

Hope was good in every department.

Respectable power.
Good skills
Good Chin
Very well conditioned.

If I remember correctly he was a middle who came down to light middle.

He was always quite comfortable at light-middle, but had a feud with British middleweight champion Bunny Sterling and talked Terry Lawless into agreeing to the fight. The talented Sterling kicked Maurice's arse in eight one-sided rounds, and Hope never fought at middle again. In hindsight, it is a fantastic win for Sterling. But, to use the old adage, a good big 'un will always beat a good little 'un.

[knockout artist]

Yes, Sterling was VERY underated and would have been a force on the World Scene today.