Page 1 of 1
Glenn McCrory: How good was he?
Posted: 13 Mar 2005, 19:16
by states
A question I've wanted to ask for a while. I know people have given their views upon Glenn as a pundit, and they've been pretty varied views.
As someone who's never actually seen him fight though, I wanted to know what he was like inside the ropes:
I actually prefer him to Jim Watt as a 'colour man' alongside the likes of Ian Darke or Adam Smith, but I know nothing about him as a fighter.
Could anyone fill me in? For instance, how would he compare to todays Cruiserweights? I get the impression that he would have taken out either Haye or Macarinelli without too much trouble, is that true? Also, I've read that he struggled with the limit of 190lb's, is that the case? Would he have been more succesful with today's weight limit?
Posted: 14 Mar 2005, 03:26
by s9s
My own impression was, having seen him a couple of times, was that he was a bit of a plodder, no knockout punch, more graft than craft. Won the IBF belt (in its early days) against a nobody, lost it to the first semi-decent fighter.
Posted: 14 Mar 2005, 07:46
by MightyWarrior
He started out as a heavyweight with Alan Minter's old manager, Doug Bidwell, and within a year was voted as Box News prospect of the year ( I think ).
Then Glen came unstuck when he was badly ko'd in a big upset by fellow Geordie John Westgarth ( now a promoter I think? ). Went of the rails after that, finaly getting flattened by ex Brit heavy champ Hughroy Currie.
Went off to the States to rebuild, and did some sparring with Mike Tyson while over there I believe. Came back to the UK and scaled down to cruiser, deciding he just wasn't big enough for the big boys.
Good decision: reeled off some good wins before claiming the IBF cruiser title. His first defence was an absolute war, and Glen showed real courage to get through that one. But weight making problems caught up with him as he was ko'd by a body shot in his 2nd defence.
Too good and too tough for Haye and Enzo I reckon.
Posted: 14 Mar 2005, 08:09
by jamesmcdonnell
Would have benefitted from the new 200lb weight limit. It's the best thing to happen to the cruisers in a long while.
Posted: 14 Mar 2005, 10:37
by stujones
I think McCory isn't given his due enough. He was a solid enough world opperator who suffered because of a lack a dietary knowledge. As James said the new weight devision and we would have seen a different fighter - or if he knew the information he does now about nutrition.
His first defence was an excellent performance and one I would recommend people who never saw him to view. However, its unfortunate that most peoples' memory of Glen is that body shot he took when he lost the title, and getting battered (with that Rocky IV esque beard) vs Lewis.
I remember his fight with Al Cole also, it was a brave effort. I think Glenn's heart was not in the game as much then and he was there I think to prove people wrong that he could still hang in world class as opposed to really think he could win it. He did to that, whilst he was a fairly wide loser - Al Cole would have remembered him.
I would class him as good, and possibly better, than our latest world champion Clinton Woods.
Posted: 14 Mar 2005, 10:46
by stujones
Had a look at McCory's record, who remembers Terry Armstrong. The man hyped by a prime Mike Tyson as one of the best fighters a round. He was Tyson's sparring partner and apparently was giving the champion some problems. I remember the BBC gave a real hype job (in the days when they cared about boxing) when he fought Mason and I thought he was going to anhilate Mason (I was only about 8 though). I remember his picture being splashed around the back of the papers (in the days where the papers cared about boxing) of him in the ring with Tyson - and Tyson predicted a Armstrong win.
He was possibly the worst inported fighter I have ever seen and how Tyson sparred with him was beyond me. For the record, McCory flatterned him a round sooner than Mason. I wonder is McCory and Armstrong sparred before their meeting, given that both worked with Tyson.
http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=001923
Re: Glenn McCrory: How good was he?
Posted: 14 Mar 2005, 14:55
by KOJOE90
states wrote:As someone who's never actually seen him fight though, I wanted to know what he was like inside the ropes:
I can only echo the other views already voiced here. McCrory without doubt would have benefited greatly from the new higher Cruiserweight limit.
When he lost his IBF title he was dead at the weight and so it was no great shock when he lost after taking a hefty body shot.
Here is an earlier thread with some other views on Glen
http://www.boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21570
Posted: 14 Mar 2005, 15:00
by KOJOE90
stujones wrote:Had a look at McCory's record, who remembers Terry Armstrong. The man hyped by a prime Mike Tyson as one of the best fighters a round. He was Tyson's sparring partner and apparently was giving the champion some problems.
http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=001923
I remember the Mason vs Armstrong fight, from what I remember he was of a simular build to Mason. But to be honest I can't recall any hype surrounding the American.
Posted: 14 Mar 2005, 15:58
by states
Cheers all.

Posted: 14 Mar 2005, 16:44
by dandantheweatherman
In the late 80s McCrory was stuck between struggling to make cruiserweight and being too small to compete at heavy.
The guy he beat for the IBF title (Patrick Lamumba) was rated number 1 or 2 in the world by 1 or 2 governing bodies and US boxing mags at the time. McCrory wobbled him in round 1 then dominated to win on points. His first defence was against Siza Makathani and McCrory had a poor start and battled back to scrape through. The fight was on edited delay on ITV but from what I saw I thought it should have been even-ish at the time of the stoppage, although I seem to recall one of the judges having him well ahead.
According to Gavin Evan's new book about Lennox Lewis McCrory had money problems when he fought Lewis, which is a shame.
To McCrory's immense credit he managed to get back down to being a cruiserweight and lost a title try in Moscow to Al Cole.
There was something in the Guardian a while ago about him having a disabled brother and that a film was going to be made.
Posted: 14 Mar 2005, 16:51
by KOJOE90
Glen had two Boxing brothers
Shaun
http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=026538
I can't rememeber the other? Paul maybe?
Blah!!!!
Posted: 14 Mar 2005, 17:03
by HeavyHitters
Posted: 14 Mar 2005, 19:49
by Twinkle Toes
s9s wrote:My own impression was, having seen him a couple of times, was that he was a bit of a plodder, no knockout punch, more graft than craft.
Yer I tend to go with that consensus.
Posted: 15 Mar 2005, 05:29
by jamesmcdonnell
dandantheweatherman wrote:In the late 80s McCrory was stuck between struggling to make cruiserweight and being too small to compete at heavy.
The guy he beat for the IBF title (Patrick Lamumba) was rated number 1 or 2 in the world by 1 or 2 governing bodies and US boxing mags at the time. McCrory wobbled him in round 1 then dominated to win on points. His first defence was against Siza Makathani and McCrory had a poor start and battled back to scrape through. The fight was on edited delay on ITV but from what I saw I thought it should have been even-ish at the time of the stoppage, although I seem to recall one of the judges having him well ahead.
According to Gavin Evan's new book about Lennox Lewis McCrory had money problems when he fought Lewis, which is a shame.
To McCrory's immense credit he managed to get back down to being a cruiserweight and lost a title try in Moscow to Al Cole.
There was something in the Guardian a while ago about him having a disabled brother and that a film was going to be made.
Yes, I read that bit in the book, it was quite funny actually. McCrory started following Lewis aroud goading him and calling him a coward so he could get a shot at him. I can just imagine Glen trailing after him shouting out...."lewwwwwwwis yooo poooofter."
