My take on greatness

[Grant]

I know we all do this in our heads everyday. here's my greatest aussies since say the 60's, and why

1 lionel rose, at Bantamweight.
why? Beat a great IN his own country at probably Harada's best weight. Lost to a great in his home country and along the way fought some good Mexicans as well
From what I heard Harada wouldn't even fly over Mexico.
2 Jeff Fenech. at Feather
Why? well this is tough, If I had have had control of Jeff he would have been feather champ for ten years instead of chasing meaningless belts. Never universally recognised IMO but would have beaten them all.
3 Kostya,
Why? Longevity and fought some gooduns although many past their prime.
4 Fammo
Why? Legra was not a great but his defining fight was against Saldivar, wafer thin Loss IMO


OOPs have to go
when I get back i will talk about
Tony Mundine
Hector
ferarri
Harding
the man

et al

[Zelley]

Looking forward to the discussion about Tony Mundine, including his victories over Bunny Sterling, Denny Moyer, and Emile Griffith. Or what happened in the 1971 bout with Luis Rodriguez in Australia.

Also, more on Lionel Rose would be welcome.

[Beltane]

I always remember the Mundine versus Luis Rodrigeuz fight as it was the day I drove all the way back to Sydney from Deniliquin in 12 hours (bad roads in those days) and got home just in time to watch the ref's instruction.

Tony came out with a flurry of jabs and Luis stepped back and threw his only punch and hit Tony with a mighty hit, flush on the jaw and he was knocked out in 54 seconds. I never forget while the count was being applied, Tony's head was nodding, looking that it was trying to beat the count but the rest of his body refused to move. Fancy driving 500 miles to see a 54 second fight. Reminds me now of the knight's head still wanting to fight in that memorable scene in the Monty Python's Holy Grail film.

As it was generally with a Tony Mundine fight, they ended in a knockout with either Tony or his opponent on the canvas!

[amwsnw]

Greatness....I would have to say, baring in mind I have been following boxing for about the last 25 years, my top 3 would be...Fenech, Kostya (we will claim him a an aussie) and Jeff Harding.
Always open to argument but these are the guys I have grown up with so can only base it on what I have seen. Good post.

[Grant]

5 Tony Mundine. Why?OK Controversial I know, Succeptable to being KOed with one punch. But he strode the world stage. Beating Bunny Sterling who from memory was number one contender, loosing to Luis Rodriques and others should not take away from him the glory of going toe to toe with Carlos Monzon. He beat Emile Griffith in Paris (OK past his prime) but from my memory of Fighter Magazine he was the consummate boxer that night.
I consider him a real Prize Fighter, going where the fights were, His Commonwealth title fights against sterling were a real contest, something his less well credentialed son is yet to achieve. Much more valuable than any vacant or interim title.

6 Jeff Harding, why? Well his was the classic story. He took his shot and won a version of the light heavy championship. Against all odds.

7 Hector Thompson Why? He fought two man wars with Manny Santos and lost to Duran in Panama. My dream fight would have to be Hector Vs Kostya. Now there’s a pay per view.

8 Paul Ferarri Why? Lost to Carlos Zarate by a cut eye and fought everyone in his division, Like Tony and Hector fought against rated contenders and didn’t try to protect his record by fighting Phillipino taxi drivers.

Two spots to round out the list..........

[Brute]

I always remember the Mundine versus Luis Rodrigeuz fight as it was the day I drove all the way back to Sydney from Deniliquin in 12 hours (bad roads in those days) and got home just in time to watch the ref's instruction.

Tony came out with a flurry of jabs and Luis stepped back and threw his only punch and hit Tony with a mighty hit, flush on the jaw and he was knocked out in 54 seconds. I never forget while the count was being applied, Tony's head was nodding, looking that it was trying to beat the count but the rest of his body refused to move. Fancy driving 500 miles to see a 54 second fight. Reminds me now of the knight's head still wanting to fight in that memorable scene in the Monty Python's Holy Grail film.

As it was generally with a Tony Mundine fight, they ended in a knockout with either Tony or his opponent on the canvas!

I remember that fight too, but from memory Luis hit Tony four times, knocking him down twice.

[Brute]

I know we all do this in our heads everyday. here's my greatest aussies since say the 60's, and why

1 lionel rose, at Bantamweight.
why? Beat a great IN his own country at probably Harada's best weight. Lost to a great in his home country and along the way fought some good Mexicans as well
From what I heard Harada wouldn't even fly over Mexico.
2 Jeff Fenech. at Feather
Why? well this is tough, If I had have had control of Jeff he would have been feather champ for ten years instead of chasing meaningless belts. Never universally recognised IMO but would have beaten them all.
3 Kostya,
Why? Longevity and fought some gooduns although many past their prime.
4 Fammo
Why? Legra was not a great but his defining fight was against Saldivar, wafer thin Loss IMO


OOPs have to go
when I get back i will talk about
Tony Mundine
Hector
ferarri
Harding
the man

et al

Legra did win the featherweight a second time, beating Clemente Sanchez. Granted, Sanchez did not make the weight, but Jose did knock him down 12 times and win in a 10th round KO, losing it later to Eder Jofre..

132 wins, 12 losses, 4 draws. Not a bad record.

[Grant]

Yeah, I was only going from my memory.
He was obviously a terrific fighter, my apologies