BoxRec

With the light heavyweight division being less popular and glamorous than most, it seems like these guys not only fight each other, but fight extra for recognition. ie the Spinks, Saad , Qawi era, they were all desperate to fight each other. Kind of like the cruisers at the moment, where there's some good fighters all lumped togeher, all of whom are fighting each other. Anyhow, cruiser hasn't had much going for it, but 175 has.

A couple of my fave fights:

Qawi vs Eddie Davis 1982 (WBA Light Heavy)
Qawi gave Davis a ferocious beating in rd 1, almost stopping him. Even Davis' corner seemed ready to stop, but they let him come out for the 2nd, and it became back and forth trench warfare. Dwight had fallen in love with his power, and ignored his own fine defense. This let Davis shoot off some huge combos, but DMQ, his nose puring blood, went tall out in 11 to win.

Merqui Sosa v PC Williams 2 NABF title wars in 1995
Williams suffered that loss to Toney, and had slipped a level from the solid IBF champ that he'd been. Sosa always came up short vs the very best, but had two great efforts in him and Williams had gone back just enough. Both fights were non-stop infighting: both men were stopped after 7 rds in the first fight (Williams exhausted, Sosa's eye swollen)! In the rematch Williams did better, but Sosa blew him out suddenly in the tenth.

any got any faves

John Coneth Vs Matthew Saad Muhammad would spring to mind it's been while since I've seen it but it's a great fight have to track it down on DVD

Never seen Conteh's challenge to Saad. It seems Saad couldn't avoid great fights back then.

I hear that Conteh v Chris Finnegan I was pretty damn good, also.

How about the Andries-Harding trilogy?

Have these fights been matched for pure intensity and workrate even in the Saad/Spinks, Qawi era?

First fight, Andries really tears into Harding, breaks his nose and builds a points lead. Harding rallies back. I don't think it was the miracle come from behind that ppl say: Harding did great body work all night, and Andries expended too much energy, stopped in 12. Astonishing fight, though.

Second fight, Andries rallies from an almost certain KO loss to win (i think) in 7. Takes a horrendous beating, and then goes all out and nearly nails the iron jawed Aussie to the canvas. Great symmetry from the first fight, the other guy rallying back.

Third fight goes the 12 rounds, and it's back and forth all the way. Unbelievable amount of punches thrown. How the hell does a guy as big as Harding go that pace, and how does a man Andries' age (near 40) manage it? I though the decision could have gone to Andries. Could have gone either way as it was close, but Harding's win seems down to British hospitality!

Saad - López II, Saad was nearly out in the 8th (the fight would have been stopped nowadays for sure) but, I don't know how, survived to even dominate the end of that round and eventually stop Lopez, flooring him 4 times in the 14th.

Richie Aprille rules wrote:Saad - López II.

Good call. I actually rewatched that fight again a few days ago.

I'm with you guys about Saad Muhammaed -Lopez II. For entertainment value, that has to be one of the top 10 fights ever. It was just a war. I remember watching that as a kid and couldn't believe the punches these guys were dishing out and taking.
There were a lot of great lightheavyt fights in the 1970's and early 1980's.

Saad-Marvin Johnson II was a great fight while it lasted. I think a lot of people forget how exciting a fighter Marvin Johnson was.
There was so much talent in this weight class and as a result there were a lot great fights. Guys like Murray Sutherland, ,Richie Kates,Jerry Martin and James Scott never won a title but were involved in some good fights as well.

Ambling Alp wrote:I'm with you guys about Saad Muhammaed -Lopez II. For entertainment value, that has to be one of the top 10 fights ever. It was just a war. I remember watching that as a kid and couldn't believe the punches these guys were dishing out and taking.
There were a lot of great lightheavyt fights in the 1970's and early 1980's.

Saad-Marvin Johnson II was a great fight while it lasted. I think a lot of people forget how exciting a fighter Marvin Johnson was.
There was so much talent in this weight class and as a result there were a lot great fights. Guys like Murray Sutherland, ,Richie Kates,Jerry Martin and James Scott never won a title but were involved in some good fights as well.

Franklin (as he was then) -Johnson I was great also. Even though it's a bit scrappy. I hear Franklin v Lopez I was amazing also. I also love Marvin Johnson-Leslie Stewart I, despite the inconclusive end, as well as Spinks-Yaqui Lopez, which although not great, was pretty damn fierce.

viciousmaussa wrote: I hear Franklin v Lopez I was amazing also.

Yes it is well worth checking out, not quite as good as the rematch but a very good fight in it's own right.

Tiozzo v Branco was shaping into something special. Mauling attack by the Frenchman, near devastating rally by the Italian, Tiozzo showing amazing guts to get back into it ... until the bandages keep falling off the gloves and it gets scrappy.

Adameck-Briggs was impressive. Briggs landed some evil right hands, Adameck a little more busy/consistent. Could've been a draw IMO. I think the broken nose of Adameck (before the fight) and the cut on Briggs (head clash, rd 2) prevented both men from showing their absolute best. What a war though, & I can't wait for the rematch.