BoxRec

Two bombers from different generations. Cuevas was one of the hardest punchers P4P that I have ever seen, but was practically devoid of any real boxing skills. What happens if they met in their primes?

My pick is Cuevas quick and devestating KO. Perhaps even a few broken facial bones.

Pre-Hearns, definitely Cuevas by early round KO. Post-Hearns, I would give Mayorga a punchers chance. After his KO loss to Hearns, Cuevas lost confidence was never the same fighter again.

Cuevas at his best would batter Mayorga to defeat within 8 rounds.

I think a prime Cuevas would destroy Mayaorga in about 3 or 4 rounds... with Mayaorgas heart helping him take a bad beating. At his peak Pipino was one of the most devastating fighters I've ever seen.

Some people might not remember how much of an animal Cuevas was thought to be pre Hearns,I remember Boxing Illustrated picked Pipino to KO Duran when Roberto was getting ready to move up.Laughable in hindsight but that's how hard some experts thought Cuevas hit until Hearns ruined him.Cuevas by early KO.

dws wrote:Some people might not remember how much of an animal Cuevas was thought to be pre Hearns,I remember Boxing Illustrated picked Pipino to KO Duran when Roberto was getting ready to move up.Laughable in hindsight but that's how hard some experts thought Cuevas hit until Hearns ruined him.Cuevas by early KO.

Actually, he did hit that hard. He just didn't know how to do much of anything else besides punch. After Hearns recked him, he could still punch, but I think he lost his confidence.

Cuevas was finished at world level after Hearns decimated him, but before that, yes was an absolute wrecking machine. I think he set some sort of record for breaking bones in his defences.

But I'd make this a pick em fight - both had iron chins and huge power in either hand at 147 - plus little boxing skills. Might come down to heart, and maybe old Ricardo has the bigger fighting heart.

He certainly showed it in the Tito fight. And I'm not too sure when Cuevas showed the ability to take a real beating and keep on firing back.

Cuevas is one of my favorties, but I'd give the slight edge to Mayorga here.

Pre-Hearns Cuevas by brutal KO

I'd have to favor Senor Pipino here.
Completely and in devastating fashion.
The Mexican jawbreaker would finally shut Mayorga's mouth en route to a 5th round KO.

SenorPipino wrote:I'd have to favor Senor Pipino here.
Completely and in devastating fashion.
The Mexican jawbreaker would finally shut Mayorga's mouth en route to a 5th round KO.

Quite a few guys shut Mayorga's mouth when they got in the ring with him. Pipino would be another one.

I love this short write up about Cuevas in the Ring Magazine's 100 Greatest Punchers of all time issue.

"Think being a Champion made Cuevas a better fighter? As a contender, he lost 5 of his first 12 fights and 8 of his final 14. As a titleholder, he made 11 consecutive title defenses, 10 by KO. Interestingly, after dethroning Espada in 2, he also ended 5 of his 11 title defenses in 2nd round. "

He was listed at #31 on the 100 Greatest Punchers list for the record.

gilgamesh wrote:

SenorPipino wrote:I'd have to favor Senor Pipino here.
Completely and in devastating fashion.
The Mexican jawbreaker would finally shut Mayorga's mouth en route to a 5th round KO.

Quite a few guys shut Mayorga's mouth when they got in the ring with him. Pipino would be another one.

I love this short write up about Cuevas in the Ring Magazine's 100 Greatest Punchers of all time issue.

"Think being a Champion made Cuevas a better fighter? As a contender, he lost 5 of his first 12 fights and 8 of his final 14. As a titleholder, he made 11 consecutive title defenses, 10 by KO. Interestingly, after dethroning Espada in 2, he also ended 5 of his 11 title defenses in 2nd round. "

He was listed at #31 on the 100 Greatest Punchers list for the record.

But Pipino would shut it for quite a while as Mayorga nurses a wired jaw for approximately 6 months.

SenorPipino wrote:

gilgamesh wrote:

SenorPipino wrote:I'd have to favor Senor Pipino here.
Completely and in devastating fashion.
The Mexican jawbreaker would finally shut Mayorga's mouth en route to a 5th round KO.

Quite a few guys shut Mayorga's mouth when they got in the ring with him. Pipino would be another one.

I love this short write up about Cuevas in the Ring Magazine's 100 Greatest Punchers of all time issue.

"Think being a Champion made Cuevas a better fighter? As a contender, he lost 5 of his first 12 fights and 8 of his final 14. As a titleholder, he made 11 consecutive title defenses, 10 by KO. Interestingly, after dethroning Espada in 2, he also ended 5 of his 11 title defenses in 2nd round. "

He was listed at #31 on the 100 Greatest Punchers list for the record.

But Pipino would shut it for quite a while as Mayorga nurses a wired jaw for approximately 6 months.

Cuevas by stoppage.