Frank 'the animal' Fletcher

[SaadOffTheDeck]

No need for homework, I watched it all unfold. Frank was an entertaining fighter who had built a following. This is the first time he's ever been called a marquee name. You need better textbooks.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Fletcher had the momentum at the moment, hard to say which one was more recognized. Scypion had several televised fights including that bizarre finish with Hamsho that drew a ton of attention.

[orbtastic]

Saad, you're on WBVA aren't you? The Jackson fight's up there if you want it.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I don't even know what that is, LOL, but thanks. I'll find it.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I stand corrected,

Frank Fletcher was ranked as the #2 WBA Middleweight in February 1983.

After losing to Wilford Scypion, he dropped to #5 WBA.

He had to fight (and defeat) Juan Roldan in November 1983, if wanted a Championship
Bout with Marvin Hagler.

Following that 'loss' he dropped to #13 WBA.

According to Jimmy Sykes, Frank's friend. 'The Animal' got talked 'pressured' into the bout with
Wilford Scypion by NBC who needed a February TV bout for Sportsworld. Frank could
have said no, and asked for an easier opponent (ie; Dwight 'Tiger' Walker or Tony Cerda)
and then waited for a May 1983 bout with Marvin Hagler.

Good to see you did your "homework" after correcting me.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Of course Saad,

You knew all that information already,,,,,,,,,,,

[BoxBuzz]

..........as for the degree of Frank's notoriety, never underestimate the power of those (she in this case) who controls (swings in this case) the purse.

Many of us were greatly entertained by the passion we witnessed unfolding at any/all "Animal" events.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

..........as for the degree of Frank's notoriety, never underestimate the power of those (she in this case) who controls (swings in this case) the purse.

Many of us were greatly entertained by the passion we witnessed unfolding at any/all "Animal" events.

[BoxBuzz]

My "Frank" opinion is that he was a skosh and a tad over rated......and he had a "hook".....with his dear ol' Mum.

The Animal.........was no Beast.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

My "Frank" opinion is that he was a skosh and a tad over rated......and he had a "hook".....with his dear ol' Mum.

The Animal.........was no Beast.

No defense and no power. He was fun though. Especially coming out of the ESPN tournaments, he and Braxton made noise.

[Rover]

I stand corrected,

Frank Fletcher was ranked as the #2 WBA Middleweight in February 1983.

After losing to Wilford Scypion, he dropped to #5 WBA.

He had to fight (and defeat) Juan Roldan in November 1983, if wanted a Championship
Bout with Marvin Hagler.

Following that 'loss' he dropped to #13 WBA.

According to Jimmy Sykes, Frank's friend. 'The Animal' got talked 'pressured' into the bout with
Wilford Scypion by NBC who needed a February TV bout for Sportsworld. Frank could
have said no, and asked for an easier opponent (ie; Dwight 'Tiger' Walker or Tony Cerda)
and then waited for a May 1983 bout with Marvin Hagler.

Who was #1?

[Rover]

My "Frank" opinion is that he was a skosh and a tad over rated......and he had a "hook".....with his dear ol' Mum.

The Animal.........was no Beast.

[Esquire]

Nonsense aside, Frank the Animal was on one heck of a roll on network television back in the day. He had the heart of a lion but he was limited, and would, and did, lose against better fighters than him.

Had he avoided those who eventually beat him and got a shot at Hagler he would have been destroyed. He was limited in skill, but his pressure first fighting style was something to behold against lesser competition. He made network t.v. boxing fun to watch.

His win against Clint Jackson was epic. It may also have cost him terribly in the long run. Brutal fights do that to human beings.

His fight against Roldan was an epic failure on the part of his matchmaking team. He got destroyed by a very strong and historically under-rated brute of a man. Hagler had all he could handle with Roldan and that proves how difficult Roldan was as an opponent.

Frank's losses to Roldan and Parker demonstrated his weaknesses. He was capable of getting blasted out by hard punching middleweights that could match his intensity.

Nonetheless, the Animal sure was made for t.v., and I'm glad I got to see him in his prime.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Nonsense aside, Frank the Animal was on one heck of a roll on network television back in the day. He had the heart of a lion but he was limited, and would, and did, lose against better fighters than him.

Had he avoided those who eventually beat him and got a shot at Hagler he would have been destroyed. He was limited in skill, but his pressure first fighting style was something to behold against lesser competition. He made network t.v. boxing fun to watch.

His win against Clint Jackson was epic. It may also have cost him terribly in the long run. Brutal fights do that to human beings.

His fight against Roldan was an epic failure on the part of his matchmaking team. He got destroyed by a very strong and historically under-rated brute of a man. Hagler had all he could handle with Roldan and that proves how difficult Roldan was as an opponent.

Frank's losses to Roldan and Parker demonstrated his weaknesses. He was capable of getting blasted out by hard punching middleweights that could match his intensity.

Nonetheless, the Animal sure was made for t.v., and I'm glad I got to see him in his prime.

Nice post

[BoxBuzz]

Esquire, I fully agree with your assessment.

But I would be hesitant to case nonsense aside in such cavalier fashion.

[rayr0683]

Yeah, Frank did put on some decent Fights, but being from Philly myself, and training at Willie Reddish Gym in Frankford area of Philly, during late 70's through 80's, I trained with Curtis Parker who was a small Middleweight, but one of the most exciting Fighters of the Era!! Far more exciting than Frank Fletcher!! In fact, Curtis Parker kicked Animal Fletcher's Ass.....and Parker did in fact Fight the Fighters that you mention above here, except for Tommy Hearns. Curtis Parker fought some of them twice.....Parker vs, Hamsho both the First Fight, and the Rematch were both Wars!! Parker was robbed in the 1st Fight....and it should have given him a shot at Hagler!! Which he never got, but deserved!! He fought a much tougher roster of Fighters than Fletcher did! Parker vs, Alex Ramos was another Classic War!! Dwight Davison was the 1st loss on Parker's record, was on Friday Nite Fights....and Davison just had too much height and reach....was not a great Fight....but Parker made it exciting!! It always amazed me at how Fletcher has gotten so much mention-recognition when he wasn't nearly as good as Curtis Parker...and Parker proved that by whooping him, Parker KO'd Fletcher.....and Parker also had a great Fight against Wilford Scypion as well! He suffered a bad loss to Beast Mugabi, but Parker did not have his long time Mentor and Trainer "Willie Reddish' with him for some time during that period. Curtis Parker fought and beat, or suffered very "Controversial" losses to Top Middleweights....like Michael Olajide, and others....Just felt the need to mention that!! Parker was also known as the Greatest Gym Fighter of the Time....often beating up on much Bigger Fighters-Champions like Tommy Hearns....Dwight QWai...and many others of the Time!! I even watched him spar with Matthew Saad Muhammad up in Norristown Area, at Steve Traitz' Beautiful Gym..was more of a Training Camp...with Living Quarters, Kitchen, was Beautiful, and many of the Top Fighters from all over would come there to Train, and get Top Work prior to Fights, over Frazier's Gym..because it was just that Great!!! I went up there on weekends for years, watching Saad Muhammad for years with Mr. Traitz....as well as Bennie Briscoe who also stayed up there regularly for years till he retired!!...

Always wanted to see Frank go up against Dwight Davidson, Mustafa Hamsho, or even Alex Ramos.Those would have been exciting fights.Hell, even Thomas Hearns would have been a shootout while it lasted.

Hearns would've been a quick decapitation.

[rayr0683]

Fletcher sure didn't deserve a match vs. Hagler more than Curtis Parker did. Parker was 17-0 and ranked I believe #1 at the time he faced fellow Top Contender Dwight Davison and suffered his 1st loss......then it was like he was Pimped Out (Parker's Own Words) facing all of the Top Contenders consecutively.....without ever getting Title Shot......Davison...Hamsho 2 times....Scypion....never really catching any breaks....brutal bout vs. Alex Ramos....Curtis fought a very tough schedule of Top Ranked Bouts which gradually along way pulled him away from his Title shot vs. Hagler.......http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/blog/?p=22110 a nice read!!!

I stand corrected,

Frank Fletcher was ranked as the #2 WBA Middleweight in February 1983.

After losing to Wilford Scypion, he dropped to #5 WBA.

He had to fight (and defeat) Juan Roldan in November 1983, if wanted a Championship
Bout with Marvin Hagler.

Following that 'loss' he dropped to #13 WBA.

According to Jimmy Sykes, Frank's friend. 'The Animal' got talked 'pressured' into the bout with
Wilford Scypion by NBC who needed a February TV bout for Sportsworld. Frank could
have said no, and asked for an easier opponent (ie; Dwight 'Tiger' Walker or Tony Cerda)
and then waited for a May 1983 bout with Marvin Hagler.

Who was #1?