BoxRec

What happens with this match at light heavy?

funny how people recognise john conteh to be one of the very best ever british fighters and yet think he might have trouble with a guy like dennis! madness, absolute madness.

depends on which andries was fighting,pre hearns conteh would have made him look foolish,post hearns after spending time in the kronk it would have been much closer

I'd go with Conteh

I respected dennis going to the kronk after getting his arse kicked by hearns but it didn't turn him into a great boxer. conteh at his peak was a great boxer

I think it easier for people to see that Conteh would have a hard 15 rounder with Jeff Harding. And if that's a case, then obviously Andries is a tough fight too. I think it would have been an ageing fight for Conteh with Andries. He could have won, but it would have been hell down the stretch!

may be right except that conteh had better stamina and dennis would have struggled in a long match against john

polecateddy wrote:I think it easier for people to see that Conteh would have a hard 15 rounder with Jeff Harding.

Personally, I don't see Harding as being a hard fight for Conteh at all.

Giancarlo wrote:

polecateddy wrote:I think it easier for people to see that Conteh would have a hard 15 rounder with Jeff Harding.

Personally, I don't see Harding as being a hard fight for Conteh at all.

At his best? Hell nah, I agree with you. Conteh was one of the most talented Lt. Heavies I've ever seen before he became a party animal.

Andries always, always had the happy knack of forcing guys into a certain kind of ugly war...even those men who were streets ahead of him in terms of technique, experience and god-given ability. Even ATG Hearns - so superior to Dennis in every way - was forced to have an (unexpected) brawl with Dennis and would admit that he found it hard at times. The way Andries kept getting back-up from clean shots against Tommy beggars belief.

I think that Harding - a proper hardcase himself - has gone on record as saying that he simply did not want to go toe-to-toe with Andries for a third time and that he opted to adapt his style and try to win the decider by boxing from range.

Just for the record, I think Conteh wins but also has to go to war, taking some proper lumps and Andries is still throwing, rumbling and unbowed after 12 seriously tough, hard rounds. Hard night for Conteh, but his jab is too sharp, busy and it lands cleanly enough to seal a decision that looks comfortable on the scorecards; but deeply uncomforable the next morning.

Bodyshot3 wrote:Andries always, always had the happy knack of forcing guys into a certain kind of ugly war...even those men who were streets ahead of him in terms of technique, experience and god-given ability. Even ATG Hearns - so superior to Dennis in every way - was forced to have an (unexpected) brawl with Dennis and would admit that he found it hard at times. The way Andries kept getting back-up from clean shots against Tommy beggars belief.

I think that Harding - a proper hardcase himself - has gone on record as saying that he simply did not want to go toe-to-toe with Andries for a third time and that he opted to adapt his style and try to win the decider by boxing from range.

Just for the record, I think Conteh wins but also has to go to war, taking some proper lumps and Andries is still throwing, rumbling and unbowed after 12 seriously tough, hard rounds. Hard night for Conteh, but his jab is too sharp, busy and it lands cleanly enough to seal a decision that looks comfortable on the scorecards; but deeply uncomforable the next morning.

Fair comments.

Conteh without a doubt over 15 rounds conteh would very probably stop Andries very late on in the fight . Andries could be as tough and brave as he likes but conteh had a really good jab was fast and agile and had a little underrated punching power . This is a bad match-up for the rock

Bodyshot3 wrote:Andries always, always had the happy knack of forcing guys into a certain kind of ugly war...even those men who were streets ahead of him in terms of technique, experience and god-given ability. Even ATG Hearns - so superior to Dennis in every way - was forced to have an (unexpected) brawl with Dennis and would admit that he found it hard at times. The way Andries kept getting back-up from clean shots against Tommy beggars belief.

I think that Harding - a proper hardcase himself - has gone on record as saying that he simply did not want to go toe-to-toe with Andries for a third time and that he opted to adapt his style and try to win the decider by boxing from range.

Just for the record, I think Conteh wins but also has to go to war, taking some proper lumps and Andries is still throwing, rumbling and unbowed after 12 seriously tough, hard rounds. Hard night for Conteh, but his jab is too sharp, busy and it lands cleanly enough to seal a decision that looks comfortable on the scorecards; but deeply uncomforable the next morning.

Conteh had that venomous streak himself, though. He was a beautiful technician when that was what the pace of the fight dictated, but he was very adept at getting down (and downright dirty) when that was what was called for. And he was damn good at it, as he showed most notably against Ahumada (who I thought was better than Andries).

I always backed Andries in his fights with Harding...but it was a close call because Harding was fantastic value for money and his whole back story of making something of himself having basically been a beach-bum and a bit of thug-in-the making was interesting as well. Sadly, once he'd retired he went back on what sounds like a ten-year booze bender!

He will always be defined/remembered for the Andries triology....which is kind of a shame because he had a big stoppage win on the road against Tiozzo in France, took a risk and opted to outbomb Tom Collins and certainly did not disgrace himself against McCallum either.

Conteh would have dealt with Harding but again, it would have been close and not without some drama for John.

bodyshot3 - I like your assessment of the conteh - andries match up. I see it pretty much the same way.

nowadays conteh seems such a nice fella with that big cheeky grin, but just like hagler is today I still wouldn't trust him if things got edgy. gotta love both of 'em

@misterpunch...cheers for the feedback.

I read a really good interview a few years back (pretty sure it was in Boxing Monthly) with Jeff Harding about his fights with Andries and what it was like having to fight him and the message was clear; mate it was a nightmare!

Harding got one hell of a shock in the second fight (defending at home in Australia) and that highly unlikely win by Andries must rate as his best result (only man to stop Harding) and showed just how tough and dangerous he really was.

Dennis lost plenty of fights but I doubt anyone left the ring against him feeling that they's had it easy.....he was one hell of a determined, strong and awkward guy to fight.

true enough - he sometimes goes to the LEBA meetings, if I see him i'll ask him about the harding fights. I remember them at the time being wars.

Conteh would of f****d him!! As would of bunny Johnson!