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Both in their prime, who would have won? Mugabi was a muderous puncher, but would have been giving away height, and possibly reach, although Mugabi did have a long reach for a guy who was 5'8/9. John seemed a big guy for a light-middle, as did Herol.

Graham had good boxing skills, and I get the feeling his game plan would be to box, use the jab to keep Mugabi at bay and unsettle him. Joh, meanwhile, would have to get into punching range to try to land the knockout blows, specifically looking for the over-hand right. That was a muderous punch!

While I feel Mugabi would have won by KO, I do not figure it would have been a 1, 2 round job. Graham was unorthodox and was not easy to tag. Mugabi by KO in around 5 for me.

Great match up. Mugabi did lose effectiveness and confidence as the rounds went by. Graham did lose concentration on ocassion though. He really should have beaten Jackson. It's that loss which makes me wonder if Graham could win this one. I think the Mugabi who fought Hagler could win this.

Herol is one of my favorites but I can't help but think Mugabi would eventually catch up with him and win by KO. There's obviously a possiblity Grahm could out box him but there'd be some life and death moments en route.

Mugabi KO 10 with the scorecards close.

Edit: Interestingly enough Mugabi actually lost to Graham in the final of the 1976 Junior World Championships.

Graham should beat Mugabi comfortably with the tools he had, but would possibly choke and make a vital mistake.

Ezzard wrote:Graham did lose concentration on ocassion though. He really should have beaten Jackson. It's that loss which makes me wonder if Graham could win this one. .

The punched that KO'd Graham could've KOed anyone.

The Mugabi who fought Hagler would eat any version of the messer Graham!!!!

generic screen name wrote:

Ezzard wrote:Graham did lose concentration on ocassion though. He really should have beaten Jackson. It's that loss which makes me wonder if Graham could win this one. .

The punched that KO'd Graham could've KOed anyone.

I think just about anyone, yes, but really Graham had no need to put himself in that position. All he had to do was jab away at the eye for a few more rounds and the fight was his.

Another interesting matchup

Graham always took risks, that's Ingle style for you (or more accurately, Graham style!). I think the Jackson KO was a 1 in 10 occurrence though, and I don't think Mugabi hit as hard. I do think that Mugabi applied sustained pressure better than Jackson, but Graham had an absolute squeeker against a much better pressure fighter in McCallum (I felt he won it), so I'd have him beating Mugabi at least 9 out of 10.

(yes, I'm a notorious Graham nuthugger ;) This is a styles thing though; Mugabi's style was perfect to make an exciting fight against Hagler, even if the result was never really in doubt. I'm NOT saying that Graham is better than Hagler)

I'd take Graham on points; Mugabi of course has a legit puncher's chance.
Surprised this isn't at middle.

Mugabi KO in midrounds

generic screen name wrote:

Ezzard wrote:Graham did lose concentration on ocassion though. He really should have beaten Jackson. It's that loss which makes me wonder if Graham could win this one. .

The punched that KO'd Graham could've KOed anyone.

Than would've KO'd a bloomin' horse.

Good match-up. I'd go for Graham's skills to get him a decision, there'd be some scary moments - and it isn't a prediction I'd make with a great deal of confidence.

Graham always took risks, that's Ingle style for you (or more accurately, Graham style!). I think the Jackson KO was a 1 in 10 occurrence though, and I don't think Mugabi hit as hard. I do think that Mugabi applied sustained pressure better than Jackson, but Graham had an absolute squeeker against a much better pressure fighter in McCallum (I felt he won it), so I'd have him beating Mugabi at least 9 out of 10.

(yes, I'm a notorious Graham nuthugger This is a styles thing though; Mugabi's style was perfect to make an exciting fight against Hagler, even if the result was never really in doubt. I'm NOT saying that Graham is better than Hagler)

I am with you on this. Herol gave McCallum a hell of a fight and the Bodysnatcher was one of the outstanding fighters of that era and you could hardly separate them with a fag paper. The tragedy was the Jackson fight; a moment of madness when the world title was there for the taking. Mugabi could conceivably have turned the same trick with his power and persistence but I still believe that Jackson got all his Christmases in one go on that night.

The fight with Jackson must surely be Brendan's biggest single disappointment....

I thought Ingle had split with Graham by that point??? I could be wrong.

Paul Ingle?

He was a super bantamweight

Brendan Ingle, the trainer.

I think he was back with Ingle by then. I think the only major fight without him was Kalambay 1

Mugabi never beat anyone of the caliber of Graham.

Mugabi wouldn't have landed at all and would have been bust up.

The ease with which Graham handled Kalule is probably an indication.