Roger Stafford

I watched Roger Stafford fight on those ESPN Thursday Night Fights in 1980/1981.

He was a damn good Welterweight, but not with much bang in his punch.

What he did have, was good ring presence, and an armor-plate defense.

In the Pipino bout in Las Vegas, after getting chased around the ring in Round 1,
Roger came back in Round 2, and caught Pipino with a good right hand that dropped him.

The next few rounds, Pipino came back, but by the end of Round 5 the former Champion was 'gassed'.

Roger just did a workman-like job on Pipino from that point on, and swept the last 5-Rounds.

In Round 9, Roger opened up near the end of the Round, and had Pipino
reeling and ready to go. The referee almost stopped it.

But give Pipino credit, as he showed heart in the 10th Round, and lasted
the distance, despite being completely 'gassed'.


On the overall, the 1980/1981/1982 Roger Stafford was a 'notch' better than Oba Carr, but Oba did have a longer
career and did put together some very good wins.

The 'loss' to Donald Curry,,,,,,,,,,,,,just one of those things when you get caught early, while your legs are
cold and not properly warmed-up.

 

Roger 'The Dodger' Stafford,,,,,,,,

Had '5' very good wins in 1980/1981 on the 'ESPN Thursday Night Fight' circuit.

And also,,,,,,,,,,,,,

11/7/81,,,,,,,,W Unan. Dec 10 over #1 WBA, Pipino Cuevas
10/31/82,,,,,,W Unan. Dec 10 over #1 WBA, Fernando Rocco Castro
7/3/83,,,,,,,,,W Unan. Dec 10 over #11 WBC, Daryll Fuller
5/24/84,,,,,,,W Unan. Dec 10 over #14 WBC, Veabro Boykin

Those were his 'biggest wins'.

In May 1982, 28 year-old Roger Stafford 19-2-1 {8 KO's} was the #2 WBA/WBC Welterweight.

Unfortunately, the Friday Night, May 14, 1982 bout against Ray Leonard in Buffalo, New York
for the World Welterweight Championship never materialized.

There were more than a few boxing writers who felt that Roger Stafford's style just might have had the
right mix to give Ray Leonard some difficulties.

 

The only thing I can say,,,,,,

Is that Roger Stafford in (May 1982), was better than the (May 1984) Kevin Howard that faced Ray Leonard.

Not in punching power,,,,,,, but in ring generalship, hand-speed, accuracy, footwork, stamina, defense and chin.

Kevin Howard was usually good for the 'first 5 rounds', before fading.

Roger, always came on in the 'second half of the fight', and in his 'prime' never had an endurance issue.

Only bad fight he had in his prime,,,,,Donald Curry, in which he was cold and got caught.

 

Roger 'The Dodger' Stafford,,,,,,,,,,

I could understand the let down in Roger, not getting to fight Ray Leonard for the
World Welterweight Championship, on 'center stage for all the world to see', and
for $200,000.

No harm, when he lost to a 'Superstar on the Rise' in 6' 1" Milton 'Ice Man' McCrory in
July 1982.

McCrory was the #3 Welterweight, and was 18-0-0 (17 KO's). Roger, the #2 Welterweight, took him the
distance, and despite being 4" shorter on height and reach, Roger did get in more
'licks' on Milton than anyone else had up to that point.

That bout was a WBC Welterweight Elimination bout.

Milton McCrory built up a big lead, as usual, by using his 'pole-like' left
jab. But Roger mounted a strong-rally over the last '3' rounds.

The fight was closer than the scoring indicated, though it was a Unanimous Decision for the 'Ice Man'

Scorecards;
98-92 (8-2-0 in Rounds)
98-93 (7-2-1 in Rounds)
99-94 (6-1-3 in Rounds)

 

Thank You Sister,,,,,,,,,,,

If anything, Roger 'The Dodger' made more than a few people respect the 'ESPN'
fighters,,,,,,,,,,,,,

For awhile, many considered the 'ESPN Thursday Night' fighters nothing more
than 'glorified club-fighters', not of worthy Championship Title shots.

When Roger defeated Pipino Cuevas,,,,,,,,,,,,some eyes were opened,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

Double Frank,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Absolutely 100% Correct,,,,,,,,,,

Pipino Cuevas was a month shy of 24 years of age when he fought Roger in November 1981 in Las Vegas.

Pipino was far from 'faded',,,,,,,,he had clobbered both Bernardo Prada and Jorgen Hansen in previous bouts,
and he not taken a beating from anyone,,,,only the brutal Knock-out, but short bout versus Thomas Hearns in June 1980.

Reports from Jonny Tocco's Gym in Las Vegas, prior to the bout with Roger 'The Dodger',
were that Pipino looked 'murderous', and showed no effects from the Hearns loss.

Pipino must have been impressing the boxing experts in Las Vegas,,,,, as he was a 10-1
Favorite upon entering the ring versus Roger Stafford, and also had a 'BIG" $$$$
fight with Ray Leonard on the horizon.

The truth,,,,,,,Roger Stafford in November 1981,,,,,,,,,was one hell of a fighter.

 

JTQ,,,,,,,

October 31, 1982

#4 WBA, Roger 'The Dodger' Stafford (United States) 19-3-1 (8 KO's)
versus
#3 WBA, Fernando 'Rocco' Castro (Peru) 28-0-3 (17 KO's)

Fernando Castro was the Fede-Latin and South American Welterweight Champion.

A 5' 11" boxer-puncher, with good boxing skills. Had a decent left jab, and good
ring presence. Very well-schooled in defensive skills. Lacked a 'big-punch'.

The bout was held in Miami Beach, Florida - on, Sunday, Halloween Night in 1982,,,,,,,,,,

Billed as a WBA Welterweight Elimination bout, 10-Rounder.

Roger 'The Dodger' turned aggressor for this one, and pinned Fernando Castro on the ropes,
and kept him there for pretty much the entire bout.

A good workman-type bout.

Scorecard,,,,,,,,,6-3-1 for Roger Stafford

 

Some Funny Business at the WBC Ratings Committee in February 1982

Welterweight Division

* Ray Leonard
1) Pipino Cuevas
2) Chung-Jae Hwang
3) David Madrid
4) Bruce Finch
5) Roger Stafford
6) Randy Shields
7) Milton McCrory
8}Adolph Viruet
9) Colin Jones
10) Bobby Joe Young

Yes,,,,,despite losing to #10 Roger Stafford in November 1981,,,,,,
Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas still maintained the #1 WBC Welterweight Ranking.