Classic fights I've watched recently

[AntonioMartin]

I just saw Roldolfo Gato Gonzalez number 2 (there was another Rodolfo Gato Gonzalez who won the WBC world Lightweight title in the 1970s, this one fought for the WBA one in 1981 and the WBC world Junior Welterweight title in 1986 and lost both times; in the pre-internet era I thought they were both one and the same!) pull out a very close majority ten round decision against Andy Ganigan in a war!

Unfortunately, the You Tube video of this classic stops during round nine. But i had Ganigan ahead 74-73 at that point. Ganigan dropped Gonzalez in round three and was seemingly on his way to an easy points victory and then the roof (or Andy) fell. In round six, two times. Both were questionable knockdowns as one was a punch and a push and the other one Ganigan barely touched the canvas with his gloves. But he was hurt! And another but,: the ref counted and so did the knockdowns then. In round seven, Ganigan went down from a very hard right but Gonzalez lost a point for low blows so my card was 65-63 Ganigan In round eight Gonzalez pounded Ganigan so i had the bout 74-73 Ganigan when the video finished

Later on boxrec I saw that Gonzalez won by ten round majority decision. What a war!!

[handsofstone]

Jimmy McClarnin vs Benny Leonard



McClarnin stops Leonard on his feet in the 6th round of a non title Welterweight fight, Leonard was long passed his best and this was his last fight but he still showed glimpses of the classy boxer he was, he nearly decked McClarnin in the 1st when a right hand dipped his legs nearly all the way down, he did send Leonard crashing into the ropes later in the round with a right of his own mind


McClarnin had Leonard down in the 2nd from a right/left, he was thr aggressor throughout and Leonard was counter puncher and in the end McClarnin was too much for him, he rocked him in the 6th with a big right hand over the top and Leonard staggered around whilst McClarnin unloaded both hands on him, about 15 unanswered punches before the ref stepped in

[handsofstone]

Benny Lynch vs Jackie Brown 2


Lynch anniahaltes Brown in 2 rounds to become World, European and British Flyweight champion, Brown down 10 times, mental fight, they'd drew their first fight but this time Lynch went right through him, Brown down 4 times in 1st round, first knockdown came from a right hand, Lynch had him down with every shot in the book after that, rights, lefts, combinations, a couple scrappy ones as well, fair play to Brown he kept on getting up and bizarrely the end came when Brown was on his feet, ref stepping in as Lynch opened him up in the 2nd, savage display from Lynch who I even seen switch which was rare back then

[Counter-puncher]

here's a treat for thread regulars, i saw a few Tapia fights at the time but not this one, which I somehow never saw or heard how fcking awesome it is.

sit back and enjoy two men beating the snot out of each other

[handsofstone]

Mike McCallum vs Milton McCrory



McCallum stops McCrory in the 10th to retain his World Super Welterweight title, really good high end fight, real quality from both men first 7 rounds it was nip and tuck, McCrory tall rangy used his height well, great movement and sharp punching, McCallum walked forward, no slouch himself, great use of the jab, excellent left hooks and right hands, broke McCrory down to the body and by the 8th th wheels started to come off for McCrory, McCrory took a pounding that round as McCallum walked him down with educated pressure


McCallum got McCrory out of there in the 10th, trapped him on the ropes and was teeing off strong left jabs and setting up big rights, eventually it all got too much for McCrory who collapsed in a heap in the corner, he did make count but it was waved off

[Woldemar]

Good perfomance by James Shuler

[handsofstone]

Mike McCallum vs Donald Curry



McCallum KOs Curry in the 5th to retain his World Super Welterweight title, quality fight between 2 quality operators, sharp punching on the outside and class infighting up close, great body work, it was pretty even going into the 5th and Curry was doing well when McCallum iced him with a leaping left hook, top drawer KO

[AntonioMartin]

Roberto Duran vs. Benny Huertas:


A two way first round and Huertas came to fight, even landing a few good right hands before it was suddenly over with a poleaxing punch.

Duran vs Jimmy Heair":


One sided but great ten round fight..you get five of the rounds in this video.

[handsofstone]

Mike McCallum vs Sumbu Kalambay 1+2



Kalambay schools McCallum over 12 to retain his World Middleweight title, an absolute clinic, cant believe how pedestrian McCallum looked, Kalambay was too quick, sharp, cute and mobile for McCallum who was flat and had no real success whatever, couldn't work the body without straying low, Kalambay jabbed effortlessly, tagged him with left hooks and right hands and befuddled McCallum all night with his movement and accuracy, superb stuff from Kalambay


McCallum wins the rematch via SD to retain his World Middleweight title, much closer fight than first time around, McCallum earlier work earning him thr decision, he was a lot more effective this time, worked his jab got up close worked the uppercuts and rights, Kalambay took a while to get going but around the 6tg he found his timing and rhythm and the last half was nip/tuck but McCallum got the nod

[Counter-puncher]

Sumbu Kalambay vs Mike McCallum 1



Kalambay schools McCallum over 12 to retain his World Middleweight title, an absolute clinic, cant believe how pedestrian McCallum looked, Kalambay was too quick, sharp, cute and mobile for McCallum who was flat and had no real success whatever, couldn't work the body without straying low, Kalambay jabbed effortlessly, tagged him with left hooks and right hands and befuddled McCallum all night with his movement and accuracy, superb stuff from Kalambay

one of the more under-rated performances in boxing history IMO

[handsofstone]

Sumbu Kalambay vs Mike McCallum 1



Kalambay schools McCallum over 12 to retain his World Middleweight title, an absolute clinic, cant believe how pedestrian McCallum looked, Kalambay was too quick, sharp, cute and mobile for McCallum who was flat and had no real success whatever, couldn't work the body without straying low, Kalambay jabbed effortlessly, tagged him with left hooks and right hands and befuddled McCallum all night with his movement and accuracy, superb stuff from Kalambay

one of the more under-rated performances in boxing history IMO

Phenomenal mate, I'm gonna watch the rematch tomorrow, I'm fascinated to see how McCallum wins considering he was thoroughly dominated here, I believe it was razor tight though?

[Counter-puncher]

In the rematch Imo McCallum won the first (say) 5 maybe 6 pretty clear but then Kalumbay really came back into it. Landed some pretty booming-sounding fucken whacks for a dude not renowned as a puncher. Much better fight, MM more successful pressing the action (somewhat- difficult to press consistently against SK’s excellent movement) behind the jab to the body.

[AntonioMartin]

Hmnn I meant to put this video instead ..lol

[handsofstone]

In the rematch Imo McCallum won the first (say) 5 maybe 6 pretty clear but then Kalumbay really came back into it. Landed some pretty booming-sounding fucken whacks for a dude not renowned as a puncher. Much better fight, MM more successful pressing the action (somewhat- difficult to press consistently against SK’s excellent movement) behind the jab to the body.

[Bodyshot3]

Sumbu Kalambay vs Mike McCallum 1+2

The more you look at Kalambay's record....the better this fella looks

[handsofstone]

Sumbu Kalambay vs Mike McCallum 1+2

The more you look at Kalambay's record....the better this fella looks

Absolutely

[bennie]

Hmnn I meant to put this video instead ..lol

Jimmy's corner should have pulled him out.

[handsofstone]

Mike McCallum vs Michael Watson



McCallum KOs Watson in the 11th to retain his World Middleweight title, incredible fight fought at a ferocious pace, from the opening bell both men went at it hammer and tong and it just got better and better every round, Watson took the fight to McCallum but McCallum's punches just had that more authority on them, Watson was a bit more herky jerky, McCallum had thr stronger jab, the better right hands and the better left hooks upstairs and down but Watson def won a few rounds by pouring it on McCallum when he was having a slight breather


Watson got more ragged down the stretch but he never stopped coming forward and pushing out the punches, McCallum just used his experience to grind Watson down and he turned it up a gear in the 10th, Watson to his credit bit down on his gum shield and tried to fight it out but it got too much and the end came in the 11th, Watson hurt by accumitive shots and exhaustion, McCallum opened him and battered him around the ring with lefts and rights, a big right eventually sent Watson down for the count but what an effort and what a champion

[handsofstone]

James Toney vs Mike McCallum 1,2+3


Toney draws with McCallum to retain his World Middleweight title, competitive fight but without scoring it I thought Toney ran out a clear winner, better punches , landed more,, cuter work, lead right hands and counter rights landing flush catching the eye, better defence and more effective on the inside, McCallum obviously had his moments but I thought Toney was unlucky


Toney wins the rematch by MD to retain his title, a lot closer fight and more of a draw than the first fight I reckon, McCallum was a lot more effective, jab was excellent and he was the steadier boxer throughout with thr better workrate, Toney was the flashy boxer with the flashier combinations, he did land some quality shots but too many lulls in his work and McCallum outboxed him and took advantage of his lazy spells I thought but Toney got the benefit this time



Toney wins the third fight by UD, non title fight up at Cruiserweight, not a classic but another close enough fight, McCallum 40 year old but still a savvy boxer , knows how to survive and hang in there work the jab and get up close, Toney again with the eye catching combos stealing the rounds without looking out of first gear

[DrDuke]

James Toney vs Mike McCallum 1


Toney draws with McCallum to retain his World Middleweight title, competitive fight but without scoring it I thought Toney ran out a clear winner, better punches , landed more,, cuter work, lead right hands and counter rights landing flush catching the eye, better defence and more effective on the inside, McCallum obviously had his moments but I thought Toney was unlucky

I agree, Toney looked like a champ there, cause it was him, who was bothering an opponent more frequently. Also, he finished the fight very strong. I guess, the judges in their second fight was so biased towards Toney, because everyone felt Toney had actually won the 1st fight.

[AntonioMartin]

Hmnn I meant to put this video instead ..lol

Jimmy's corner should have pulled him out.

Oh I agree! But what a heart!

[handsofstone]

Mike McCallum vs Jeff Harding



McCallum beats Harding by UD to become World Light Heavyweight champion, excellent performance from McCallum scores were close than they shouldve been he dominated Harding outboxed him and beat him up, Harding never stopped coming forward and his heart and toughness was impressive but really he was more or less always second best


McCallum was brilliant, strong jab and quality on the inside, banged to the body, drilled Harding up through the middle with uppercuts and landed shots around the side of Harding's high guard, fought at a fast pace as well and was sitting down on his punches, Harding just had to fight to stay in it but he was busted up early doors and McCallum maintained the pace and pressure to see out a clear win

[Counter-puncher]

I’ve seen that about 6 times, it’s probably one of my two favourite ‘old dog pulls out all the tricks’ fights*, Mike so relaxed, swaying at the waist and taking half steps back and to angles, and that bit cute and sly with it with the low blows and the sly little forearms and getting away with what he could, Harding was a blunt implement at the best of times offensively and he really struggled to lay any serious leather on McCallum.



*Holmes-Mercer, ffs

[handsofstone]

I’ve seen that about 6 times, it’s probably one of my two favourite ‘old dog pulls out all the tricks’ fights*, Mike so relaxed, swaying at the waist and taking half steps back and to angles, and that bit cute and sly with it with the low blows and the sly little forearms and getting away with what he could, Harding was a blunt implement at the best of times offensively and he really struggled to lay any serious leather on McCallum.



*Holmes-Mercer, ffs

Yeh McCallum strayed low a few times, lost a point early doors, still it was an excellent performance

[NoScoutingReports]

Just enjoyed Roy Jones Jr v James Toney yet again, how good was Roy at that point ffs. Toney was elite and Roy made him look normal, utter domination on the night. Two legends of the sport mind.