Joe Bugner vs Duane Bobick in 1977 , 12 rds

frankenfrank,,,,,,,,,,,,

Thanks,,,,

Your compliment is 'mucho appreciado'.

On the Bobick vs. Wepner bout.

Duane Bobick really started pounding Chuck along the ropes.
Bad cuts over Wepner's eyes were a result of the stoppage (Round 6).

But no doubt, if the fight went on, Bobick would have either dropped
the 'Bayonne Bleeder', or the bout would have been stopped by TKO.

Bobick received $50,000 for that fight, his largest purse up to that point.

And read Chuck Wepner's quotes;
Chuck said after the bout; 'That Bobick was a powerful puncher'.

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Wepner was very competitive for the first 3 or 4 rounds though. Wepner even won some of the early rounds. It was a good win for Duane, but I thought he took too much punishment, and overall, looked a little too ponderous and mechanical.

 

At the time, Dundee didn't realize that Bobick's durability would fail.

I was a school kid at the time this fight took place. I remember I bet $1 on Bobick. Even then, at that age, I realized that Bobick's chin was untested, and that he might not hold up against Norton's power. But I picked him based on faith, I guess.

If Bobick's chin were better...a big IF...then Dundee's prediction might have come true. Bobick certainly could maul and brawl -- digging deep to the body -- when he wasn't threatened by dangerous hitters.

 

I read your reply, but disagree with you. Comparing common opponents is simply not a good way to figure out how two fighters will fare against each other.

The best way to analyze is to compare styles, to see who performed better on the highest level (world class or semi-world matches, as opposed to club fights), and get a reading as to where a guy stands relative to whether he's in his prime or not (i.e., as opposed to being pre-prime, or post-prime).

Bugner primed between 1973 and 1977. Bobick primed from late 1975 (the Newman match) until 1979 (when he lost to Tate).

Curiously, has anyone here seen the Bobick KO4 Newman fight? I would love to see a film of that. Ditto for Bobick KO8 LeDoux.

 

Wells fought Lyle as an amateur? How did that turn out?

Also, what was Wells's final amateur record?

 

frankenfrank,,,,,,,,

100% correct,,,,,,,,,,

I remember watching that fight, and screaming for Duane to grab Norton
and clinch, even tackle him. Bobick froze.

Count the overhand rights and right upper-cuts that Kenny landed.

Nobody could have absorbed those punches and stayed upright.

Most, if not all of those over-hand rights landed on the left side temple.

Senor Pepe'...

 

You've got a point here. Indeed, almost anyone would have gone down from that Norton barrage.

Although I don't think Bobick's durability was the best, his chin was far superior that of Richard Dunn. Just the punches he did take from Norton, while remaining upright for a bit, tell us that.

 

Up to the point of the Ken Norton fight, Bobick was regarded as a very durable fighter.

Though he was hit more than few times in his previous 38-bouts, he was
never staggered, hurt or floored.

Yes, the competition was almost entirely 'B' and 'C' class, but he more or less walked through the punches that his opponents landed.

 

That is not true.

On an ongoing basis, before the Norton fight, it was an open question as to whether Bobick could take a truly powerful punch. Some presumed he could, based on Bobick's sparring with Frazier. Others - basing their opinion on the Stevenson and Lyle amateur fights -- had their doubts.

Of all the leading contenders of the mid '70s, Bobick was the only one that hadn't yet proven his capacity to take a big punch.

As a matter of fact, I remember reading a forum letter in World/International Boxing, from a fan who claimed to be in attendance for Bobick's fight against Ned Edwards. That fan claimed that Bobick was noticeably shaken by Edwards at one point. Whether true or not, I don't know. But I think you get my point.

 

Bobick's true asset was his upper-body strength. He could maul with almost anyone, and was skilled at slamming body punches home. But heavyweights who fight like this -- trade openly with foes in order to beat them down -- absolutely must have great chins. Bobick's chin was, at best, fair to somewhat below average (relative to the other contenders).

 

I think we got off track on this thread.

Lets just say,,,,,,,if Duane Bobick had not fought Ken Norton,
and we substituted Joe Bugner in his place.

Who would be favored, and what would the outcome be.

It's still a pick-em fight.