Conteh-Saad Muhammad!

[Rocky Balboa]

Was Conteh in or close to his peak when he fought that epic fifteen rounder with Muhammad?

While Conteh fought a brilliant fight & was in excellent shape, I personally believe he was slightly past his best. I think his lifestyle had caught up with to some extent by this time. His natural talent permitted him to box such a good fight against Saad Muhammad. Credit must go to Conteh's trainer, the late, great George Francis, who had his boxers in top condition!

[My2Sense]

He was considered to have slipped at the very least. He never really was the same after injuring his right hand, which forced him to fight much more conservatively for the rest of his career, and against Burnett (a fight he probably should've lost) it looked like his chin and stamina had become suspect as well. That he was able to last 15 with Saad and give him as good a fight as he did, was considered an upset in itself.

[bennie]

He was past his best but dredged up a last great display. Conteh was a real waste of talent.

[jaclem2]

...jeez..if conteh was past his best in that one at his best he'd belong in there with charles and moore and harold johnson. that fight had him virtually giving a lesson in "the science of boxing" as nat fleischer liked to call it.

[harrygreb]

more due respect and plaudits for john. he was fantastic in that fight and the conteh of '74 ranks very high in the all time list of lightheavies IMO. that version of him beats saad muhammad conclusively.

[banjo]

From the very little footage I've seen of Conteh from around '74 he seemed an amazing fighter, I've also seen the cracker with Saad Muhammad and maybe he was past his best as his lifestyle outside of the ring took its toll on him. From what I've read and heard Conteh was boxings version of George Best - an amazing talent but never fulfilled his potential.

Could anyone recommend any books by/or about John Conteh(if there is any) as he's a fighter who I'd like to learn a lot more about given that he's quite local to me too.

[Collins2000]

From the very little footage I've seen of Conteh from around '74 he seemed an amazing fighter, I've also seen the cracker with Saad Muhammad and maybe he was past his best as his lifestyle outside of the ring took its toll on him. From what I've read and heard Conteh was boxings version of George Best - an amazing talent but never fulfilled his potential.

Could anyone recommend any books by/or about John Conteh(if there is any) as he's a fighter who I'd like to learn a lot more about given that he's quite local to me too.

"I, Conteh" is his autobiography. Excellent read.