Moments when you knew you were in the presence of greatness.

janitor · 08-11-2007, 10:33 AM

Tell me about some of the moments when you watched a fighter and realized for the first time that you were looking at an all time great.

JohnThomas1 · 08-11-2007, 10:45 AM

Tyson's dominant KO of Berbick put him in the realm of can't miss for me. That sort of performance over a solid experienced unintimidated fighter like that was a treat.

peter5 · 08-11-2007, 10:54 AM

I think it was watching barrera give a complete beat down to ritchie wenton i think, after watching that I knew he was something special, even considering the comp! ok, he wasnt exactly a unknown at the time either, but i was young at the time and really took notice of the moment!

Stewbear · 08-11-2007, 10:58 AM

Hmm quite recently of top of my head is Pacman destroying Barrera

salsanchezfan · 08-11-2007, 11:52 AM

Because I hated him so much, I refused to acknoledge what I'd been seeing, but watching Whitaker completely dismantle another great in Azumah Nelson left no doubt in my mind.

The Kurgan · 08-11-2007, 11:59 AM

Lewis-Holyfield I, 8th round. That's when I knew Lewis was the Real Deal.

Barrera-Hamed, I'm sorry to say that I'd never even heard of MAB before that (!)

Matt-Skelton-Michael Sprott II, both of them

Calzaghe-Lacy, after about the sixth round

Lex · 08-11-2007, 12:03 PM

Before HBO and PPV took over boxing the 1970s was a great era for watching up and comers. In San Diego broadcast TV carried lots of boxing featuring Hispanics from L.A., Tijuana and elsewhere. So it was apparent early on that Alfonso Zamora, Carlos Zarate, Danny "Little Red" Lopez and others would be recognized as greats (altho' Zamora may have been a bit of a disappointment compared with the others). Same with Wilfredo Gomez, Salvador Sanchez, etc.

The first time I watched an unbelievably skinny kid named Erik Morales, a few fights before winning his first title. I only had to watch a couple of rounds to realize he was gonna be a great champ.

When I saw Bruce Curry as a teenager fighting in the open division at the Golden Gloves in Fort Worth. Slick guy with a style reminiscent of a small Joe Louis, quick shuffling and rapid fire jabs followed by whistling combinations. He was one of the best amateur light welterweights in an era of great amateur light welterweights, including Ronnie Shields and Sugar Ray Leonard. Bruce's pro career turned out to be fraught with frustrations, especially when he was ripped off for two decisions after whipping Wilfred Benitez. But he finally won the light welter title.

One amateur I didn't give enough credit to was Tommy Hearns. He looked gangly, awkward, didn't use his height and reach as effectively as possible and seemed to have no power.

Well... can't always be right.

ironchamp · 08-11-2007, 01:03 PM

When I saw Bernard Hopkins dismantle Felix Trinidad I realized that B-dop wasnt one of those mediocre titlists who was around only because there was nobody there to beat him. He was a great.

When I saw Winky Wright beat Mosely the second time.

I think after a few rounds of Lacy Calzaghe, I realized that Joe was really that good.

salsanchezfan · 08-11-2007, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tobkhan

Why did you hate him?

.............I hated the way he carried himself. Not an ounce of class or humility, frequently referred to himself in the third person, that kind of thing.

Hitman · 08-11-2007, 01:21 PM

Delalhoya's pro bebut. I remember thinking..."wow! This kid is going places ."

Holyfield's fight with Braxton (Qawi)II. He(Holy) looked like a monster compared to how he looked in the 1st fight, and I knew right then I was looking at the future heavyweight champ and couldn't wait for he and Tyson to rumble.

salsanchezfan · 08-11-2007, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tobkhan

So i guess you dislike Jones as well? Imo guys like that are allowed to act a bit strange, they have done amzing things and they should get some credit.
Beating up other people, raping women or such things are something different.

.............Don't like Jones either, no.

I've never taken anything whatsoever away from either from their in-the-ring exploits. They were both sensational fighters, but I'll leave my admiration for those that don't put themselves on a pedestal.

08-11-2007, 06:29 PM

when hopkins was schooling trinidad

achillesthegreat · 08-11-2007, 07:05 PM

For me, I think I've always been able to spot a good guy or a bad guy. The defining fights I'm thinking of are ones that made you sit up and no matter what you knew about boxing a fighter was showing he was a class apart.

We all knew MAB was good but when we saw him dismantle Hamed we knew we were seeing one of the best Mexicans to ever do it.

We all knew Lewis was good but we still doubted him, especially coming off ANOTHER brutal ko loss but when you saw him dismantle Tyson, you knew he was great all along, you just didn't want to accept it.

Usually its the 50-50/underdog fights where like everyone else you just couldn't say exactly what was going to happen and then BOOM you were FORCED to sit up.

Recently, I'm thinking maybe PAC-MAB, Hopkins-Tarver, Calzaghe-Lacy etc

brooklyn1550 · 08-11-2007, 07:40 PM

Sanchez-Gomez, Barrera-Hamed, Jones-Toney, Holmes-Cooney, Tyson-Berbick, Hopkins-Trinidad

I remember getting the feeling that I was watching a great fighter in all of those fights

mr. magoo · 08-11-2007, 09:21 PM

The first time I ever visited the ESB lounge.

08-11-2007, 10:33 AM	#1
janitor P4P King East Side VIP Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 19,058 vCash: 1000	Moments when you knew you were in the presence of greatness. Tell me about some of the moments when you watched a fighter and realized for the first time that you were looking at an all time great.
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08-11-2007, 10:45 AM	#2
JohnThomas1 Undisputed Champion East Side VIP Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 12,184 vCash: 1000	Re: Moments when you knew you were in the presence of greatness. Tyson's dominant KO of Berbick put him in the realm of can't miss for me. That sort of performance over a solid experienced unintimidated fighter like that was a treat.
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08-11-2007, 10:54 AM	#3
peter5 Marco.A.Barrera ESB Addict Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 2,285 vCash: 1562	Re: Moments when you knew you were in the presence of greatness. I think it was watching barrera give a complete beat down to ritchie wenton i think, after watching that I knew he was something special, even considering the comp! ok, he wasnt exactly a unknown at the time either, but i was young at the time and really took notice of the moment!
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08-11-2007, 10:58 AM	#4
Stewbear Gatekeeper ESB Full Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 333 vCash: 1000	Re: Moments when you knew you were in the presence of greatness. Hmm quite recently of top of my head is Pacman destroying Barrera
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08-11-2007, 11:52 AM	#5
salsanchezfan Champion East Side Guru Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Auburn, WA Posts: 6,895 vCash: 1000	Re: Moments when you knew you were in the presence of greatness. Because I hated him so much, I refused to acknoledge what I'd been seeing, but watching Whitaker completely dismantle another great in Azumah Nelson left no doubt in my mind.
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08-11-2007, 11:59 AM	#6
The Kurgan Emeritus Status Barbarian East Side VIP Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Scotland Posts: 10,773 vCash: 500	Re: Moments when you knew you were in the presence of greatness. Lewis-Holyfield I, 8th round. That's when I knew Lewis was the Real Deal. Barrera-Hamed, I'm sorry to say that I'd never even heard of MAB before that (!) Matt-Skelton-Michael Sprott II, both of them Calzaghe-Lacy, after about the sixth round
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08-11-2007, 12:03 PM	#7
Lex Journeyman ESB Jr Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 191 vCash: 1000	Re: Moments when you knew you were in the presence of greatness. Before HBO and PPV took over boxing the 1970s was a great era for watching up and comers. In San Diego broadcast TV carried lots of boxing featuring Hispanics from L.A., Tijuana and elsewhere. So it was apparent early on that Alfonso Zamora, Carlos Zarate, Danny "Little Red" Lopez and others would be recognized as greats (altho' Zamora may have been a bit of a disappointment compared with the others). Same with Wilfredo Gomez, Salvador Sanchez, etc. The first time I watched an unbelievably skinny kid named Erik Morales, a few fights before winning his first title. I only had to watch a couple of rounds to realize he was gonna be a great champ. When I saw Bruce Curry as a teenager fighting in the open division at the Golden Gloves in Fort Worth. Slick guy with a style reminiscent of a small Joe Louis, quick shuffling and rapid fire jabs followed by whistling combinations. He was one of the best amateur light welterweights in an era of great amateur light welterweights, including Ronnie Shields and Sugar Ray Leonard. Bruce's pro career turned out to be fraught with frustrations, especially when he was ripped off for two decisions after whipping Wilfred Benitez. But he finally won the light welter title. One amateur I *didn't* give enough credit to was Tommy Hearns. He looked gangly, awkward, didn't use his height and reach as effectively as possible and seemed to have no power. Well... can't always be right.
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08-11-2007, 01:03 PM	#8
ironchamp Belt holder ESB Addict Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: New York Posts: 3,645 vCash: 1230	Re: Moments when you knew you were in the presence of greatness. When I saw Bernard Hopkins dismantle Felix Trinidad I realized that B-dop wasnt one of those mediocre titlists who was around only because there was nobody there to beat him. He was a great. When I saw Winky Wright beat Mosely the second time. I think after a few rounds of Lacy Calzaghe, I realized that Joe was really that good.
Top

08-11-2007, 01:21 PM	#10
Hitman Journeyman ESB Jr Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: CA Posts: 133 vCash: 1000	Re: Moments when you knew you were in the presence of greatness. Delalhoya's pro bebut. I remember thinking..."wow! This kid is going places ." Holyfield's fight with Braxton (Qawi)II. He(Holy) looked like a monster compared to how he looked in the 1st fight, and I knew right then I was looking at the future heavyweight champ and couldn't wait for he and Tyson to rumble.
Top

08-11-2007, 06:29 PM	#12
sugar_ray Guest Posts: n/a vCash:	Re: Moments when you knew you were in the presence of greatness. when hopkins was schooling trinidad
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08-11-2007, 07:05 PM	#13
achillesthegreat FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE East Side VIP Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 18,206 vCash: 1000	Re: Moments when you knew you were in the presence of greatness. For me, I think I've always been able to spot a good guy or a bad guy. The defining fights I'm thinking of are ones that made you sit up and no matter what you knew about boxing a fighter was showing he was a class apart. We all knew MAB was good but when we saw him dismantle Hamed we knew we were seeing one of the best Mexicans to ever do it. We all knew Lewis was good but we still doubted him, especially coming off ANOTHER brutal ko loss but when you saw him dismantle Tyson, you knew he was great all along, you just didn't want to accept it. Usually its the 50-50/underdog fights where like everyone else you just couldn't say exactly what was going to happen and then BOOM you were FORCED to sit up. Recently, I'm thinking maybe PAC-MAB, Hopkins-Tarver, Calzaghe-Lacy etc
Top

08-11-2007, 07:40 PM	#14
brooklyn1550 Roberto Duran East Side VIP Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 12,401 vCash: 1000	Re: Moments when you knew you were in the presence of greatness. Sanchez-Gomez, Barrera-Hamed, Jones-Toney, Holmes-Cooney, Tyson-Berbick, Hopkins-Trinidad I remember getting the feeling that I was watching a great fighter in all of those fights
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08-11-2007, 09:21 PM	#15
mr. magoo Undisputed Champion East Side VIP Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicago, Illinois USA Posts: 12,517 vCash: 1000	Re: Moments when you knew you were in the presence of greatness. The first time I ever visited the ESB lounge.
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