I remember Watson going over like a chopped tree by Barker in a big shock, dropped hands overconfident. Watson was predicted to win and go to LA, having despatched top international John Beckles in one round in London finals
Re: When you knew they were special
Posted: 22 Sep 2020, 12:20
by coghaugen11
A teenaged Watson with a full-on tash if I recall
Re: When you knew they were special
Posted: 22 Sep 2020, 12:22
by coghaugen11
What Benn did with Russell
Good job Mike kept his hands up at Finsbury Park
Re: When you knew they were special
Posted: 22 Sep 2020, 13:23
by lefthook82
Martinez when he came over here and gave a few of our guys a slap
Adam Smith's commentary in the Stone fight is probably my favourite of all time
"Whatever happen next, he wont be invited back to this country"
Re: When you knew they were special
Posted: 22 Sep 2020, 14:39
by Coco
lefthook82 wrote: ↑22 Sep 2020, 13:23
Martinez when he came over here and gave a few of our guys a slap
Adam Smith's commentary in the Stone fight is probably my favourite of all time
"Whatever happen next, he wont be invited back to this country"
Prob one of the few times Smith showed an understanding of how boxing works!
Re: When you knew they were special
Posted: 22 Sep 2020, 17:37
by THEBUTCH
What sadistic manager put Barker in with an 8(8)-0 Benn after just one pro fight ?
Re: When you knew they were special
Posted: 22 Sep 2020, 17:42
by coghaugen11
THEBUTCH wrote: ↑22 Sep 2020, 17:37
What sadistic manager put Barker in with an 8(8)-0 Benn after just one pro fight ?
Absolutely ludicrous! We all saw how hard Benn was banging on FW's Seconds Out series on ITV on Wed nights too
Re: When you knew they were special
Posted: 22 Sep 2020, 17:43
by THEBUTCH
Barry Hearn was a right C#@t to Richard Williams shoving him back in with Martinez after the 1st loss.
Even though Williams put in a stirling effort against the then relatively unknown Martinez, dropping him before losing, we could all see he was world class and the 2nd defeat was totally unnecessary
Re: When you knew they were special
Posted: 22 Sep 2020, 17:53
by THEBUTCH
Yeah I agree coghaugen11. Benn came with amateur titles to his name too. Ghastly match making.
I'm still wondering that myself. Makes folks laugh, so it's worth bringing up.
I was on that train for a short time! I was late teens and Fields had won 19 out of 22 in the 1st round, 2 in the 2nd, and lost by KO in the first. Lewis was on the way out and I thought he might be an exciting new massive puncher , 6'9" and 20 stone. Then I saw his fight with Sherman Tank Williams and realised
Re: When you knew they were special
Posted: 22 Sep 2020, 18:59
by margaret thatcher
His career peak was making it to the prize fighter final, where Mike Perez stopped him in like 2 minutes. beat Sprott and Airich to get there, which tbh i didn't even expect him to be capable of
Re: When you knew they were special
Posted: 23 Sep 2020, 01:32
by tonyevs
Coco wrote: ↑21 Sep 2020, 17:38
Denys Cronin was a damn good fighter, ABA champ too
Cronin traded on his strength (I think that was used in BN after he was robbed against Michael Gale some years later). He never lifted weights back then - but was ripped like a bodybuilder.
I know all fighters have excuses for their losses, but Cronin went into the fight with a longstanding back problem. He was confident because Eubanks sparring partner then was friendly with Cronin (Simon Collins I think) and had assured Cronin he'd have no problems with Eubank .. he obviously lied; Eubank was a couple levels above unfortunately.
Cronin could have achieved a lot more. But outside distractions and lack of any sort of proper trainer meant he quickly fell into a journey man role of short notice fights.
Re: When you knew they were special
Posted: 23 Sep 2020, 06:27
by bennie
Wally Swift managed Russell Barker, a former British welterweight and middleweight champion from Nottingham and a right hard bastard inside (and outside) the ropes. Wally steered Del Bryan, Roy Smith and his son, Wally Swift Junior, to British titles with no promotional backing whatsoever. His fighters were always on the wrong side of the programme listings but they were all on good money and good money is the name of the game.
Re: When you knew they were special
Posted: 23 Sep 2020, 06:59
by bennie
coghaugen11 wrote: ↑22 Sep 2020, 12:18
I remember Watson going over like a chopped tree by Barker in a big shock, dropped hands overconfident. Watson was predicted to win and go to LA, having despatched top international John Beckles in one round in London finals
Beckles was a bit of a surly customer but he had the ability to hurt an opponent with every punch that he landed and won two ABA light-heavyweight titles. He also represented England in the world championships in Reno in 1986, reaching the quarter-finals, and the European championships a year earlier in Hungary, where he picked up a bronze medal.
Re: When you knew they were special
Posted: 24 Sep 2020, 16:56
by hitman_hatton1
floyd mayweather/miguel cotto vs justin juuko - no wonder he was shot to pieces by the time michael gomez got him.
acelino freitas vs barry jones - he was just a lot of ko's on a record before this.
josh taylor vs ohara davies - he just ticked all the boxes here and then some.
Re: When you knew they were special
Posted: 24 Sep 2020, 17:35
by coghaugen11
I'm sure Beckles beat Steve Collins at 178lb in about 84
Re: When you knew they were special
Posted: 25 Sep 2020, 07:10
by MightyWarrior
I remember John Beckles, big puncher with a fragile chin ...lauded by BN as the next big star then flattened in one a couple of times ..
Was that Barkers pro debut ? Jesus Christ that’s as tough as it gets ! Took some good shots there but the last one.. oh my God, like an anvil dropping ..
I remember being convinced Canelo was a great prospect, when he took a huge shot off Cotto’s brother, rocked badly and survived it in style.
Re: When you knew they were special
Posted: 25 Sep 2020, 07:43
by garethhop
Carl Frampton against Steve Molitor is one from me.
A real step up in class for him and he effectively retired Molitor that night.
Turned in a pretty good career since then.
Re: When you knew they were special
Posted: 26 Sep 2020, 02:12
by Heretic
For me the moment with Fury was the second figth with Chisora.
Chisora has been handsfull for pretty much everyone.
I don't think that Fury lost a round that night.
Re: When you knew they were special
Posted: 26 Sep 2020, 03:13
by Coco
Talking about Fury, while it wasn't def proof, I remember him being punch perfect against a big bald Irishman.
He didn't try and steamroll the overmatched opponent, he stepped back, picked his shots showing impressive hand speed and variety, taking him out with body shots.
However I felt he had showed his true level against McDermott......
What do I know!
Re: When you knew they were special
Posted: 26 Sep 2020, 04:14
by THEBUTCH
Fury caught my attention when he won the ABA title. Breezed the final against a guy from Repton (Campell I think).
I couldn't have said there and then he would go on to achieve all he has, but it was obvious he was going to win titles in the pros.
Re: When you knew they were special
Posted: 26 Sep 2020, 05:25
by Deserter
Coco wrote: ↑26 Sep 2020, 03:13
However I felt he had showed his true level against McDermott......
What do I know!
Must admit I was exactly the same Coco - if you'd said then that Fury would go on to achieve what he has I'd have laughed at you.
Re: When you knew they were special
Posted: 30 Sep 2020, 08:29
by Fray Bentos
bennie wrote: ↑23 Sep 2020, 06:27
Wally Swift managed Russell Barker, a former British welterweight and middleweight champion from Nottingham and a right hard bastard inside (and outside) the ropes. Wally steered Del Bryan, Roy Smith and his son, Wally Swift Junior, to British titles with no promotional backing whatsoever. His fighters were always on the wrong side of the programme listings but they were all on good money and good money is the name of the game.
I remember Roy Smith winning the British title in Alfreton against Andy Straughn in a barnstormer, I don't know if he rocked or knocked down Straughn in the final round but Smith won the title in front of his people in Derbyshire, only to lose it in a round to Tee Jay who just steamrollered into him, I remember Smith getting down from the first knockdown - spitting one of his front teeth out in the process.