Savage/Brutal/Tragic but Classic-Is this why we watch boxing
Posted: 07 Dec 2011, 09:01
Joined: 14 Dec 2005
Posts: 184 Great fight - Old School Warfare - G-man got hurt - Is this why these sorts of fight don't happen anymore??
There are a few very significant facts people should always consider when looking at why gerald got hurt.
1st the fight itself
This fight happened in 1995, yet people remember it like it were yesterday. So brutal and exciting! so much drama, emotion and in the end devastating - is this why we watch boxing? 2 of the lb for lb hardest hitters in boxing just went at it, looking to KO each other. These were pure pugilists - KO artists - g-man had 20 1st round KO's benn had 16 1st round KO's, and had won his first 22 fights by KO. These two were at the the hardest most effective punchers in boxing - one punch KO artists, and they were throwing bombs, and landing and the fight went 10 rounds!!!! Both stood there and fought it out.
One of the best fights in history gets hidden because Gerald got hurt, I think it should be the other way round and the fight should be celebrated and dedicated to Gerald who gave a brilliant fight.
Facts why Gerald got hurt
1. He was young and naive, sacking Manny was his first big real mistake. No tactics in the fight! I reckon under Manny this wouldn't have happened as he would have noticed that gerald was struggling and would have pulled him out
2. G- man had tremendous talent as a puncher, no doubt he could hit hard, double that with his speed, accuracy and aggression, he was a beast - i'm a big boxing fan and rarely have fighters put fear in me like the g-man. Gerald had four world title fights but did not go more than a round, which is no good for ring experience, generalship at the highest level. To be completely fair Gerald had not really fought anyone untill Benn - old julian and mugabi they were past it, and have always been suspect chin wise. Its no good trying to adapt to the higher level against Benn, who is relentless. He had the talent but needed more learning fights. He was too overconfident that he will KO Benn in the first but Benn had wars before at world level and could tolerate alot more than the fighters G-man had been fighting.
3.Following on from the point above, g-man's defence was poor, as with all great punchers, they cannot just rely on punching alone, you might not KO or hurt everyone, beards might stand up, there's when you need ring savvy. It looked like g-man has never had to defend and looked shocked when Benn was constantly punching back, and very hard.
4.His corner were all clowns and didn't know what they were doing, but g-man knew that and was doing it all on his own at 25 years old - shocking!
5.He got his nutrition / weight making all wrong - for a puncher ( usually big at the weight ) to come in 4 lbs under is very suprising - it looks like he lost too much weight and got it all wrong - again reckon Manny would have picked up on this
If anyone is to blame its Gerald himself, he should have had professionals around him, manny around him, he needed more fights before fighting Benn, work on his defence, planned some tactics, a plan b or even c. He should have made his weight better, he should have been bang on the 12 stone as Benn is a big drainer and would probably be 12-13 lbs heavier on fight night. Put all of these facts to one side - at the end we must all remember the fight was brutal, savage and Benn could have been the one hurt, or both. We missed out on a great talent in Gerald. Gerald was confident that with his fearfull reputation, Benns chin, age, battle wearyness and a freak round one would do the job, and he nearly did but he put all his eggs into one basket and was punched out for a couple of rounds, which allowed Benn to get in his rythym and gave us a fight we cannot, ever forget even though it ended in tragedy.
Savage, Brutal and Tragic but a Classic and why we watch boxing for!!!
Posts: 184 Great fight - Old School Warfare - G-man got hurt - Is this why these sorts of fight don't happen anymore??
There are a few very significant facts people should always consider when looking at why gerald got hurt.
1st the fight itself
This fight happened in 1995, yet people remember it like it were yesterday. So brutal and exciting! so much drama, emotion and in the end devastating - is this why we watch boxing? 2 of the lb for lb hardest hitters in boxing just went at it, looking to KO each other. These were pure pugilists - KO artists - g-man had 20 1st round KO's benn had 16 1st round KO's, and had won his first 22 fights by KO. These two were at the the hardest most effective punchers in boxing - one punch KO artists, and they were throwing bombs, and landing and the fight went 10 rounds!!!! Both stood there and fought it out.
One of the best fights in history gets hidden because Gerald got hurt, I think it should be the other way round and the fight should be celebrated and dedicated to Gerald who gave a brilliant fight.
Facts why Gerald got hurt
1. He was young and naive, sacking Manny was his first big real mistake. No tactics in the fight! I reckon under Manny this wouldn't have happened as he would have noticed that gerald was struggling and would have pulled him out
2. G- man had tremendous talent as a puncher, no doubt he could hit hard, double that with his speed, accuracy and aggression, he was a beast - i'm a big boxing fan and rarely have fighters put fear in me like the g-man. Gerald had four world title fights but did not go more than a round, which is no good for ring experience, generalship at the highest level. To be completely fair Gerald had not really fought anyone untill Benn - old julian and mugabi they were past it, and have always been suspect chin wise. Its no good trying to adapt to the higher level against Benn, who is relentless. He had the talent but needed more learning fights. He was too overconfident that he will KO Benn in the first but Benn had wars before at world level and could tolerate alot more than the fighters G-man had been fighting.
3.Following on from the point above, g-man's defence was poor, as with all great punchers, they cannot just rely on punching alone, you might not KO or hurt everyone, beards might stand up, there's when you need ring savvy. It looked like g-man has never had to defend and looked shocked when Benn was constantly punching back, and very hard.
4.His corner were all clowns and didn't know what they were doing, but g-man knew that and was doing it all on his own at 25 years old - shocking!
5.He got his nutrition / weight making all wrong - for a puncher ( usually big at the weight ) to come in 4 lbs under is very suprising - it looks like he lost too much weight and got it all wrong - again reckon Manny would have picked up on this
If anyone is to blame its Gerald himself, he should have had professionals around him, manny around him, he needed more fights before fighting Benn, work on his defence, planned some tactics, a plan b or even c. He should have made his weight better, he should have been bang on the 12 stone as Benn is a big drainer and would probably be 12-13 lbs heavier on fight night. Put all of these facts to one side - at the end we must all remember the fight was brutal, savage and Benn could have been the one hurt, or both. We missed out on a great talent in Gerald. Gerald was confident that with his fearfull reputation, Benns chin, age, battle wearyness and a freak round one would do the job, and he nearly did but he put all his eggs into one basket and was punched out for a couple of rounds, which allowed Benn to get in his rythym and gave us a fight we cannot, ever forget even though it ended in tragedy.
Savage, Brutal and Tragic but a Classic and why we watch boxing for!!!