Classic fights I've watched recently

[handsofstone]

Danny Lopez vs Ruben Olivares


Lopez KOs Olivares in the 7th round of a scheduled 10 round non title fight, multiple knockdowns, 3 KDs in the 1st round alone, both men came out and got right to work, Olivares dropped Lopez with a short cuffing right hand, Lopez wasn't hurt and sent Olivares down with a chopping right hand of his own, a much more hurtful KD and Olivares was down again courtesy of a right/left which sent Olivares stumbling back onto the seat of his pants, Lopez had Olivares down again in the 2nd from a well timed hook/uppercut, lovely knockdown but Olivares got up and came back fighting like the warrior he was

Olivares came right back into it for next few rounds, always aggressive and nailing the taller Lopez with lead right hands over the top and lead left hooks, Lopez had his moments too and tried to impose his size on Olivares but he was getting clipped constantly, in the 7th Lopez caught Olivares with a short little right hand, Olivares was down and couldn't beat the count

Great wee scrap, Olivares was good but Little Red's power proving crucial

[handsofstone]

Eusebio Pedroza vs Ruben Olivares



Pedroza stops Olivares in the 12th to retain his World Featherweight title, excellent performance from Pedroza just put on a masterclass, slick, skilful, great footwork and punch variety, just great to watch a master technichan go about his work, Olivares is an expert at fighting up close and getting in an opponents face and working him over to head and body and with Pedroza being the taller man he could be forgiven for keeping Olivares on the outside by use of the jab but Pedroza chose to beat Olivares at his own game

Olivares never stopped coming forward and was constantly in Pedroza's face trying to rough him up and although he had small pockets of success, really it was Pedroza putting on a demonstration of slick boxing, cute little moves on the inside, parrying and slipping the shots of Olivares and getting off his own punches, right uppercuts especially along with the short hooks and even the occasional bolo punch, every shot in the book really, from start to finish it was a joy to watch

As the fight wore into the 10th/11th Pedroza started to take Olivares apart and opened him up a few times but Olivares gamely hung around until the 12th Pedroza teed on off him chasing him around the ring landing lefts, rights and allsorts, eventually an left uppercut put Olivares down and towel came in, superb stuff from Pedroza

[elmersalsa]

Eusebio Pedroza vs Ruben Olivares



Pedroza stops Olivares in the 12th to retain his World Featherweight title, excellent performance from Pedroza just put on a masterclass, slick, skilful, great footwork and punch variety, just great to watch a master technichan go about his work, Olivares is an expert at fighting up close and getting in an opponents face and working him over to head and body and with Pedroza being the taller man he could be forgiven for keeping Olivares on the outside by use of the jab but Pedroza chose to beat Olivares at his own game

Olivares never stopped coming forward and was constantly in Pedroza's face trying to rough him up and although he had small pockets of success, really it was Pedroza putting on a demonstration of slick boxing, cute little moves on the inside, parrying and slipping the shots of Olivares and getting off his own punches, right uppercuts especially along with the short hooks and even the occasional bolo punch, every shot in the book really, from start to finish it was a joy to watch

As the fight wore into the 10th/11th Pedroza started to take Olivares apart and opened him up a few times but Olivares gamely hung around until the 12th Pedroza teed on off him chasing him around the ring landing lefts, rights and allsorts, eventually an left uppercut put Olivares down and towel came in, superb stuff from Pedroza

The great Eusebio Pedroza was a complete fighter. The most complete boxer that I have ever seen in my lifetime watching boxing. A true and real world champion that didn't get enough props from the American press. But the American press knew he was a great champion. He took all comers and didn't ducked no one.

[DrDuke]

Zora Folley vs Oscar Bonavena

Folley dominated the fight, from the 1st round he was keeping the distance with his jab. Bonavena was moving around and trying some punches from time to time, but Folley was ready to almost every opponent's attack. It was hard to give Bonavena a round in this contest, probably the 3rd was the best for him. In the 8th Folley landed a great one-two knocking Oscar down hard. A confident performance by Folley.

[klompton]

Zora Folley vs Oscar Bonavena

Folley dominated the fight, from the 1st round he was keeping the distance with his jab. Bonavena was moving around and trying some punches from time to time, but Folley was ready to almost every opponent's attack. It was hard to give Bonavena a round in this contest, probably the 3rd was the best for him. In the 8th Folley landed a great one-two knocking Oscar down hard. A confident performance by Folley.

Zora Folley literally had ten times the experience of Bonavena in this fight. Bonavena had 8 fights under his belt and Folley had 79. Bonavena had been ten rounds once and outside of that fight had never gone more than 6. Bad match to take on the part of Bonavena's handlers.

[DrDuke]

Oleg Maskayev vs Rodney Blount

Maskayev was on the route to high positions in the rankings after McCall loss. He faced a journeyman Blount and this developed to a short, but pretty wild scrap. Maskayev went forward without being cautious and got caught with some solid shots in the 1st round. But in the 2nd Blount wasn't able to counteract anymore, he was battered and stopped with a body punch. Maskayev actually was a pretty good boxer, but he often chose brawling instead of rational boxing, while his chin wasn't special. He was punished for that from time to time suffering KO losses.

[Ambling Alp II]

Zora Folley literally had ten times the experience of Bonavena in this fight. Bonavena had 8 fights under his belt and Folley had 79. Bonavena had been ten rounds once and outside of that fight had never gone more than 6. Bad match to take on the part of Bonavena's handlers.

Agree, it was silly for Bonavena to fight someone this good so soon. Three later it was a different story; Folley was getting old, Bonavena was much more experience. And there was no way Folley was going to get a decision in Argentina.

[handsofstone]

Vicente Saldivar vs Ismael Laguna


Saldivar outpoints Laguna over 10 rounds in a non title Featherweight contest, decent little fight i'd say Saldivar deserved his win, he was the busier, more aggressive and being a southpaw Laguna found it hard to get his jab off effectively, Laguna had his moments, great lateral movement and picked some nice punches but for the most part he couldn't keep Saldivar off him, Saldivar focused most of his attacks to the body of Laguna and let go some sharp bursts when in close, nobody was hurt or rocked but it was still a good match up

[Ambling Alp II]

Always thought Saldivar was very underrated. He has other fights on Youtube as well. Great fighter.

[handsofstone]

Ismael Laguna vs Mando Ramos


Laguna stops a bloodied Ramos on cuts after 9 rounds to become World Lightweight champ, one of Ramos's eyes had been bleeding for a while but by the end both eyes were a mess, really good fight, high end and fought at a ferocious pace, plenty leather thrown from both men and neither willing to give an inch, Laguna the slicker boxer, great speed of hand and foot, excellent footwork as well as upper body movement, tagged Ramos flush with crisp jabs and right hands throughout, Ramos was no slouch himself and landed his fair share of jabs and right crosses


Ramos wasn't as slick as Laguna though so found himself fighting as the aggressor trying to rough Laguna up and make him uncomfortable and for most of the fight it was nip/tuck, Laguna turned it up a notch after the doctor inspected the cuts in the 8th and he knew Ramos was on borrowed time and it was no surprise it was stopped after the 9th round finished, great fight pity no rematch

[handsofstone]

Ismael Laguna vs Guts Ishimatsu


Laguna stops Ishimatsu in the 13th to retain his World Lightweight title, masterful display from Laguna pretty much, for the most part kept Ishimatsu on the outside with the razor sharp jab and lightening quick right cross, dancing out of danger effortlessly, Ishimatsu was strong like a bull and when he got up close it was his fight, he dug in some spiteful looking body punches but Laguna took them well and all in all Ishimatsu couldn't get in close enough times in the fight

Laguna's shots early were just bouncing off Ishimatsu but he was piling up the points and around the 11th he turned it up a gear and started to walk Ishimatsu down and hurt him, landing the right uppercuts through the middle and coming over with the left hook and you could see Ishimatsu fall apart, tough man though wouldn't go down and it was good to see the ref step in in the 13th, Ishimatsu had nothing left

[handsofstone]

Ken Buchanan vs Ismael Laguna 1


Buchanan beats Laguna by close decision to become World Lightweight champion, been wanting to see this fight for years having only seen the rematch, been watching a lot of Laguna lately a stumbled on this being uploaded last month, happy days, great fight between 2 quality operators, high tempo from both men, sharp left jabs and right leads, lot of movement side to side, sticking and moving, there wasn't a lot to split them most of the fight but Buchanan seemed to pull away in the closing rounds as Laguna tired and looked to hold more frequently, Buchanan upped the workrate, jabbed more and landed those lead right hands more often, still a close fight but Buchanan the deserved winner, his activity down the stretch making sure of it

[handsofstone]

Lennox Lewis vs Gary Mason


Lewis stops a brave Mason in the 7th to retain his European Heavyweight title and win the British title, sterling effort from Mason who was fighting with one eye from the 3rd, Lewis started off faster, landed some right hands in the 1st and by the 2nd had established the jab swelling up Mason's eye in the process, Lewis seemed to switch off though and Mason started to have success, roughing Lewis up banging away to the body and landed some solid shots lunging in

The eye was bad though and you knew it wasn't gonna last long despite him probably landing the better punches, Lewis was still peppering away with the jab though and in the 7th shook Mason with a big left hook and follow up, Mason somehow managed to come back firing and hit Lewis with a few big shots on the ropes, there was a clinch and when the ref separated both men Mason sagged a bit in the corner so the ref rightly stopped it

[chrisjs1985]

Ken Buchanan vs Ismael Laguna 1


Buchanan beats Laguna by close decision to become World Lightweight champion, been wanting to see this fight for years having only seen the rematch, been watching a lot of Laguna lately a stumbled on this being uploaded last month, happy days, great fight between 2 quality operators, high tempo from both men, sharp left jabs and right leads, lot of movement side to side, sticking and moving, there wasn't a lot to split them most of the fight but Buchanan seemed to pull away in the closing rounds as Laguna tired and looked to hold more frequently, Buchanan upped the workrate, jabbed more and landed those lead right hands more often, still a close fight but Buchanan the deserved winner, his activity down the stretch making sure of it

Both Buchanan-Laguna fights were thoroughly enjoyable. It's crazy that the Scotsman is the guy who handled the heat in the late rounds better in fight I. That said I'm sure he was very relieved that the return would be indoors at MSG rather then back out in the heat and humidity. The re-match followed a similar pattern only Buchanan being much more dominant, especially late.

[handsofstone]

Both Buchanan-Laguna fights were thoroughly enjoyable. It's crazy that the Scotsman is the guy who handled the heat in the late rounds better in fight I. That said I'm sure he was very relieved that the return would be indoors at MSG rather then back out in the heat and humidity. The re-match followed a similar pattern only Buchanan being much more dominant, especially late.

Totally agree mate if that was you who uploaded it on youtube thanks

[chrisjs1985]

Totally agree mate if that was you who uploaded it on youtube thanks

No worries mate. I'd been dying for years to see that fight too.

[elmersalsa]

No worries mate. I'd been dying for years to see that fight too.

Great fight. But, I think that Ismael Laguna won that fight in Puerto Rico. The return match in Madison Square Garden was a draw, but, I could see Ken Buchanan winning the decision, too. Two incredible skilled and evenly-matched boxers.

[handsofstone]

Lennox Lewis vs Mike Weaver


Lewis KOs former World Heavyweight champ Weaver in the 6th, controlled performance from Lewis, chipped away with the jab and came over the top with some big right hands, actually caught Weaver with a big right seconds into the fight but Weaver tucked up and rode out the follow up onslaught, Weaver never really offered much, Lewis jabbed his head off and landed some clean shots which had Weaver covering up

In the 6th Lewis KO'd Weaver with a big right hand, short jab then came over the top with the right to drop Weaver heavily and for the count

[Caractacus]

Maybe not a classic,but entertaining.
( I think Foreman may have been trying to puropesly look vulnerable so that Tyson would try and get him in the ring)

[Bodyshot3]

Lennox Lewis vs Gary Mason


Lewis stops a brave Mason in the 7th to retain his European Heavyweight title and win the British title, sterling effort from Mason who was fighting with one eye from the 3rd, Lewis started off faster, landed some right hands in the 1st and by the 2nd had established the jab swelling up Mason's eye in the process, Lewis seemed to switch off though and Mason started to have success, roughing Lewis up banging away to the body and landed some solid shots lunging in

The eye was bad though and you knew it wasn't gonna last long despite him probably landing the better punches, Lewis was still peppering away with the jab though and in the 7th shook Mason with a big left hook and follow up, Mason somehow managed to come back firing and hit Lewis with a few big shots on the ropes, there was a clinch and when the ref separated both men Mason sagged a bit in the corner so the ref rightly stopped it

Always had a proper soft spot for big Gary.....absolute tragedy that he was killed riding his bike across London

[handsofstone]

Lennox Lewis vs Glenn McCrory


Lewis KOs former World Cruiserweight champ McCrory in the 2nd to retain his European and British Heavyweight titles, demolition job from Lewis came out from he 1st bell and set in about McCrory who just didn't have the size and strength to hold Lewis off, hurt McCrory straight away and battered him into the corner, landed some big shots, especially the rights to head and body, McCrory showed a big heart to make out the round without going down let alone being stopped but he was hurt bad and already looking on the way out

Lewis came out for the 2nd in the same vein leaving where he left off and getting right on top of McCrory and landing bombs with both hands finally dropping McCrory with a short right uppercut on the inside, McCrory bravely got up even tried to slug it out with Lewis but when Lewis dropped him with a straight right, glancing on the chin of McCrory it was over

[oogiebe]

Lennox Lewis vs Glenn McCrory


Lewis KOs former World Cruiserweight champ McCrory in the 2nd to retain his European and British Heavyweight titles, demolition job from Lewis came out from he 1st bell and set in about McCrory who just didn't have the size and strength to hold Lewis off, hurt McCrory straight away and battered him into the corner, landed some big shots, especially the rights to head and body, McCrory showed a big heart to make out the round without going down let alone being stopped but he was hurt bad and already looking on the way out

Lewis came out for the 2nd in the same vein leaving where he left off and getting right on top of McCrory and landing bombs with both hands finally dropping McCrory with a short right uppercut on the inside, McCrory bravely got up even tried to slug it out with Lewis but when Lewis dropped him with a straight right, glancing on the chin of McCrory it was over

I imagine you were watching some early'ish Lewis fights in general. If not, why would you select this one? Wasn't McCrory a blown up CW?

[handsofstone]

I imagine you were watching some early'ish Lewis fights in general. If not, why would you select this one? Wasn't McCrory a blown up CW?

I'm working my through his career mate, obviously not every fight but just the notable ones

[oogiebe]

I'm working my through his career mate, obviously not every fight but just the notable ones

I figured. I do that with Lewis too from time to time. My fav HW ever.

[Bodyshot3]

@Handsofstone...….have always felt this was the fight/cheque McCrory had earned back down the line but without being a bona fide threat.

Glenn surely did not make a mint as a world CW champ - even being the owner of a decent strap - and big Len came onto the scene at precisely the right time for Glenn in terms of landing a way to get paid for a hard, good-ish career.

Boxing is full of hard luck stories.....but in this case, McCrory pocketed a tidy 'owing' sum and he's been quite honest in some interviews that it was an impossible job and he wanted to try and stay in there for as long as he could.