BoxRec

Michael Nunn in his prime around 1989 vs the following...

Sugar Ray Leonard
Thomas Hearns
Roberto Duran
Marvin Hagler
Roy Jones Jr.
Bernard Hopkins

Oh my god, perhaps my favorite boxer, Michael "Second To" Nunn! A match with Ray Leonard was a distinct possibility, and I woulda picked Nunn. Hearns and Hagler I think would have been his most challenging fights of the bunch, but, just a fan's opinion remember, yeah, I go with Nunn winning against each of these guys.

How about Nunn vs James "lights out" Toney............never mind.


Nunn was a slappy south paw.....phhhtttt on him.

cybox wrote:Michael Nunn in his prime around 1989 vs the following...

Sugar Ray Leonard
Thomas Hearns
Roberto Duran
Marvin Hagler
Roy Jones Jr.
Bernard Hopkins

A match with Leonard was completely out of the question at the time because as leonard was helping out with the commentary, fear struck at his heart on the night Nunn took out Kalambay. Kalambay was a smooth stylist as Leonard was.

Actually, I believe that Kalambay would have won a comfortable decision over Leonard. Nunn though would have wiped out ray early. He could insult Leonard's wife and mother and still not get a match, so great was the fear of being publically humiliated.

But if it did happen I see Nunn's slippery style throwing Leonard into not only a state of frustration but that of sheer terror. Can you imagine knowing you are but mere instants away from being KTFO?

Mike would have no problem getting ray in early trouble. With the end in sight, Mike senses the kill. Ray tries avoiding an sweeping hook and ducks directly into Mike's uppercut. What does Ray do? he goes down of course. He attempts to rise but figures "what's the use I cant beat him anyways so I might as well stay down so I don't get hurt" and stay down he does.

But we know in reality this fight would never have happened despite his excuses. That's why he chose Duran instead. Ray Leonard was a great champion and he didnt want to go out a loser.

And at the last second between rounds they switch fighters in the Leonard corner and nobody sees the corner of Leonard sub in James Toney and down goes Nunn, and Ray comes back out from under the ring where he was fearfully hiding. Ray then gets to take credit for the KO of Nunn.

That is just how it happened right Elton........

ringsider wrote:And at the last second between rounds they switch fighters in the Leonard corner and nobody sees the corner of Leonard sub in James Toney and down goes Nunn, and Ray comes back out from under the ring where he was fearfully hiding. Ray then gets to take credit for the KO of Nunn.

That is just how it happened right Elton........

Wrong asshole. This isn't wrestling

cybox wrote:Michael Nunn in his prime around 1989 vs the following...

Sugar Ray Leonard
Thomas Hearns
Roberto Duran
Marvin Hagler
Roy Jones Jr.
Bernard Hopkins

--- In 89 Leonard wouldn't touch Nunn unless the fight at jrmid and Ray had a 30' ring, so strike Leonard.

Duran too far above his best weight, inconsistent, and stylistically all wrong for Nunn at middle.

Jones/Pops too nooby. Hagler too rust. Hearns would be the only dream match.

Best to Nunn in 89, figure Marv and Roy guaranteed to take him. Duran no changes, Hearns to have an improved chance in a competitive bout. Pops outboxed.

Prime for prime I think only Hagler and Hearns beat him. In 1989 Hearns has the best chance

Prime for prime, Nunn loses to Hearns, Hagler, Roy, and Hopkins. Duran style-wise is too slow at 160, and Leonard at 160 is taking off his game by the right jab in his face all night.

I don't rate Nunn as highly as some others seem to do.

Prime for prime he beats Duran at MW, the rest beat him. Fine boxer though

dr_devious wrote:Prime for prime he beats Duran at MW, the rest beat him. Fine boxer though

And James Toney beats his ass for real, in real life. D

cybox wrote:Michael Nunn in his prime around 1989 vs the following...

Sugar Ray Leonard
Thomas Hearns
Roberto Duran
Marvin Hagler
Roy Jones Jr.
Bernard Hopkins

Nunn at his peak would beat Leonard and Duran for sure IMO. He would've had too much for the naturally smaller men.

Hard to say with the others. I'd give Hagler a slight edge over him, and Nunn the edge over Jones. But the fights are all tough to call, with a lot of intangibles involved.

Nunn at his peak would beat Leonard and Duran for sure IMO.

What a joke.

of course he would beat them. that's why neither would take a fight with him at the time. Well, Duran might have but Leonard never would. Duran I can't imagine how he would win with age working against him.

I imagine Leonard - Nunn going pretty much like Norris-Leonard in favor of Mike of course. Leonard no match and just too timid the way I see it always in fear of getting caught by that left hand. A pathetic spectacle.

Elton John wrote:of course he would beat them. that's why neither would take a fight with him at the time.

Yep.

my thoughts exactly...why would Hearns, Duran or Leonard want to fight a young, slick, fast, good defensive southpaw...they didn't want to risk it.

cybox wrote:my thoughts exactly...why would Hearns, Duran or Leonard want to fight a young, slick, fast, good defensive southpaw...they didn't want to risk it.

Hahaha....what about him fighting a slick tough, who was a much better at ducking, feinting, and defense than Nunn.....

His name was James Toney....and we know what happened there.

Is this thread about a fight in 1989 or prime for prime?

Either way it's difficult to answer because:-

a) Some of them mentioned were well past their bests in 1989.

b) One of them had been retired for 2 years in 1989.

c) One of them was a novice in 1989

d) 3 of them were in their primes at weights well below Nunn's weight.

Syntax Error wrote:Is this thread about a fight in 1989 or prime for prime?

Either way it's difficult to answer because:-

a) Some of them mentioned were well past their bests in 1989.

b) One of them had been retired for 2 years in 1989.

c) One of them was a novice in 1989

d) 3 of them were in their primes at weights well below Nunn's weight.

That is right.....and a guy who was in his prime at the same time as Nunn(James Toney) flattened him. (made $$$ on that fight)

But you never hear guys blabbing about Toney Fighting all those guys. IMHO James Toney would have faired much better than Michael Nunn against any of them.(and we know RJJ gave him a boxing lesson for real) He was a better technical fighter, could feint and slip with the best of them, counter, and he had KO power in either hand. And probably most important, he had a better chin than Nunn.

well whats to say about Toney's loss to Drake Thadzi and 2 to Montell Griffin? THese are 2 fighters who would have lost to Nunn for sure.

ringsider wrote: Hahaha....what about him fighting a slick tough, who was a much better at ducking, feinting, and defense than Nunn.....

His name was James Toney..

--- Doubt you can point me to a single pre cruiser fight where Toney pitched a masterclass of ducking, feinting, and defense. He was a crude face first pressure fighter against Nunn who visibly starts to tire come midrounds. Even suspect judges have Nunn with a wide lead and I've never heard otherwise but from mythmakers.

Reason why Toney is so punch drunk today is because of all the punishment he took and now nothing but a punchbag. Used to hear the nonsense about Ali being untouchable, but clearly someone was getting to him as he lost 5 and was lucky to escape with his skin intact in a half dozen or more others.

Now, Roy Jones, he was near untouchable until he started getting lazy and hanging on the ropes a few years back. Toney will not be remembered as a great defensive fighter, trust me. He'll be remembered as a fatboy who had some talent but wasted much of it with an untreated eating disorder and poor training choices.

He'll be remembered as a fatboy who had some talent but wasted much of it with an untreated eating disorder and poor training choices.

What a bunch of crap.......

I admit he is no heavy, but the body changes with age. At MW Toney was a helluva fighter. Much more so than Nunn.

Toney was given a gift decision in a early defense against Reggie Johnson..remember? What about his gift he was given against Dave Tiberi and the gift he was given against Mike McCallum in that draw. Toney should have alot more losses against fighters that Nunn would haven beaten

cybox wrote:Toney was given a gift decision in a early defense against Reggie Johnson..remember? What about his gift he was given against Dave Tiberi and the gift he was given against Mike McCallum in that draw. Toney should have alot more losses against fighters that Nunn would haven beaten

BS......Toney KTFO of Nunn.... KO remember?

you actually think Toney beat Johnson and Tiberi??? you obviously don't know much about boxing and scoring then

Nunn was beating Toney until he got clocked in the 11th. I'm not saying Toney didn't win you can't dispute a TKO loss but Toney sure as hell wanted no part of Nunn in a rematch. Why do you think Roy Jones passed on fighting Nunn after the purse bid was won for the fight. He said a little over $2 milloin was not enough to fight Nunn and he vacated the title. Roy knew a southpaw Nunn would have been tricky to beat.