Gilbert Dele 'Forgotten WBA Light-Middleweight Champion'

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Senor Pepe', Jul 8, 2012.


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  1. Senor Pepe'

    Senor Pepe' Boxing Junkie banned

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    Gilbert Dele

    One of those WBA Light-Middleweight Champions, that kind of fell under the radar screen.

    A 'slick' 5' 11" southpaw, with a 'straight-up' style, and pretty good power.

    Born in Lamentin, Guadaloupe in the Caribbean, the France-based fighter, in order won the;
    1) {April 2, 1988} - France Light-Middleweight Championship
    2) {December 20, 1989} - European Light-Middleweight Championship

    Then in January 1991, the 27 year-old Gilbert - with a record of 26-0-1 (17 KO's), was positioned
    as the #1 WBA Light-Middleweight.

    Looked to be a 'keeper' in the WBA 154 lb. Division, by winning the 'vacant' Championship,
    when on Saturday - February 23, 1991 and in front of 27,000 fans at the Stade du Futbul,
    in Point-a-Pitre, Guadaloupe - Gilbert stopped (KO 7) 'American' Carlos Elliott.

    Later, '2-Wins' followed, 'one' a successful WBA Title Defense, and then 'one' 'non-title' bout.

    Then on October 1, 1991, and in Providence, Rhode Island - Gilbert lost a 'freak fight' - to 'a juiced' Vinnie Pazienza.

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    Senor Pepe', Jul 8, 2012
    Senor Pepe', Jul 8, 2012
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  2. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    There is a reason he is rightfully forgotten; he was a dull, boring, colourless, very, very ordinary fighter.

    Humiliated by Pazienza, his career was built up on beating ordinary Europeans, Carlos Elliott, and his best win over a Hwang who was eight years past his best.

    Dele was that bad, he could not even get the decision over Rosi on home ground...
     
    TBooze, Jul 9, 2012
    TBooze, Jul 9, 2012
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    Smokin Bert likes this.
  3. frankenfrank

    frankenfrank Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    When will u get 2 Aaron Davis , Simon Brown or even Dwight Davison , Lindell Holmes & Sanderline Williams ?
     
    frankenfrank, Jul 9, 2012
    frankenfrank, Jul 9, 2012
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  4. Senor Pepe'

    Senor Pepe' Boxing Junkie banned

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    OUCH !!

    You seem to be awfully truculent today, T Booze.

    Doesn't Gilbert get a little bit of credit for winning a 'World Championship'.

    As for his bout with Vinnie Pazienza, the 'musclehead' was 'juiced up' beyond belief.

    'Humiliated', after 8-Rounds, the bout was 'Even' on the judges scorecards.
     
    Senor Pepe', Jul 9, 2012
    Senor Pepe', Jul 9, 2012
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  5. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I am being harsh, but I think, pretty fair. Winning a 'world title'; kudos to the man, he was clearly a top 10 154lber in 90/91, arguably top 5. But perhaps that shows how poor the depth of talent was at the time in the division. Outside of Norris, I was never sold on Rosi, Curry was a prematurely old man, Jacquot very average, Castro tough but very limited and Van Horn was a bust. Jackson had moved up, as had the wild card that was the Beast. Roy Jones was probably only second to Terry (with hindsight) at the time, but was not fighting anyone that mattered.

    As for Pazienza, any alleged 'drug abuses' are just that...

    I would consider it unfair to damn a man who did not fail any drug tests for the fight. If you have evidence to show otherwise, then you can damn the WBA for not picking up on it.
     
    TBooze, Jul 9, 2012
    TBooze, Jul 9, 2012
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  6. Senor Pepe'

    Senor Pepe' Boxing Junkie banned

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    Oh Yeah!

    Done Naturally, without any 'Growth Hormones' or 'Steriods'.

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    Senor Pepe', Jul 9, 2012
    Senor Pepe', Jul 9, 2012
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  7. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Yes, at the time there was no evidence to show otherwise, unless you consider 'rumour' and 'here say' as evidence.

    I suspect boxing has suffered from large drug issues. But the sanctions were never there to punish those found to be guilty, let alone those who were 'alleged' and 'speculated' against.

    I would like the sport cleaned up. It is unfair and even worse, potentially dangerous for both parties if a fighter is abusing drugs. But this sport is in 'Administrative Armageddon', and cannot even come to a consensus on who is champion in an internal organization, let alone have a 'just and fair' drugs policy.
     
    TBooze, Jul 9, 2012
    TBooze, Jul 9, 2012
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  8. Senor Pepe'

    Senor Pepe' Boxing Junkie banned

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    T Booze,

    You have to agree,

    Vinnie Pazienza goes from a 'lean-rail' 140 lbs. (December 1990)

    To a 'muscle-bound' 154 lbs. (July 1991) versus Ron Amundsen.

    7-Months = 14 lbs. of 'juiced muscle'.

    Something was going on,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
     
    Senor Pepe', Jul 9, 2012
    Senor Pepe', Jul 9, 2012
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  9. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Speculation and rumour, nothing that could be considered 'proof'. I would not want you judging my guilt or innocence...;)
     
    TBooze, Jul 9, 2012
    TBooze, Jul 9, 2012
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  10. Senor Pepe'

    Senor Pepe' Boxing Junkie banned

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    T,

    Many people have been found 'Guilty' on 'circumstantial evidence'.....;)

    If you know anything about Providence, Rhode Island..........

    The City of Corruption.....:deal
     
    Senor Pepe', Jul 9, 2012
    Senor Pepe', Jul 9, 2012
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  11. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Circumstantial evidence that is 'beyond reasonable doubt' (at least here in England and Wales). Pazienza would be able to show he failed no WBA drug test and met all requirements to validate the victory and gain the belt.

    That is 'beyond all reasonable doubt'.

    Now 'speculation and rumour', may over the years have gain more creedence. But there is no mechanism that the WBA has to change a decision made over 20 years ago, even if this 'speculation' and 'rumour' can be shown to be 'beyond resonable doubt'.
     
    TBooze, Jul 9, 2012
    TBooze, Jul 9, 2012
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  12. Senor Pepe'

    Senor Pepe' Boxing Junkie banned

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    T,,

    The WBA (World Boxing Association)

    A reputable boxing association,

    Now do we really need concrete evidence to convict them of any wrong doing.

    How the hell did Vinnie Pazienza get ranked in the Top 10 of the WBA Light-Middleweight rankings anyway.

    A 12-Round Decision win over Ron Amundsen in July 1991.

    That's it, his only win, after getting 'smashed' by Loreto Garza in December 1990, at Light-Welterweight.
     
    Senor Pepe', Jul 9, 2012
    Senor Pepe', Jul 9, 2012
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  13. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Panzienza was a name, Dele and thus the WBA were going to get more monies fighting him than Brett Lally. Amundsen had beaten Serwano to get a ranking, thus Pazienza deserved his ranking, as proven by the victory over Dele.

    At the time Ray Leonard got a shot at the WBC 154lbs crown, having not fought at the weight for seven years. At least Pazienza beat a contender to get his shot...
     
    TBooze, Jul 9, 2012
    TBooze, Jul 9, 2012
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  14. Senor Pepe'

    Senor Pepe' Boxing Junkie banned

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    Actually,

    Verno Phillips and/or Julio Cesar Vasquez were supposed to be next for Gilbert Dele.

    But, as you said, there was more 'money' in fighting Vinnie Pazienza (in Providence,
    Rhode Island) than fighting the other two 'more deserving' Light-Middleweight
    Challengers.

    The October 1, 1991 'Tuesday Night Fight' was broadcast on (I believe) the USA Network.

    Gilberte Dele got a $175,000 fight purse, about $50,000 more than he would have received to
    fight Verno Phillips and/or Julio Cesar Vasquez.

    In one of the newspaper articles, after the fight, Gilbert Dele;

    'I couldn't believe the size of Pazienza, as he was only a little guy at 5' 7". But he looked like a
    bulked-up weight-lifter. I guess he was drinking alot of those protein shakes, with a mixture of gym vitamins'.

    'My original fight-plan, was to go straight at him and bang away at his face, as he was not a very good
    defensive fighter. I had been practicing that style in training camp. But, at the weigh-in, he looked so
    muscle-bound, that my Trainer told me that he may be 'too strong' early in the fight, and that it would be
    better to box him for the first half of the fight, and then wait for him to burn up his muscle energy.'

    'Well, that was a mistake, because that gave him alot of confidence, and his home-town fans helped motivate
    him by cheering him on. After 6-Rounds, he was ahead, and he had not used alot of energy, because I was
    not pressuring him. I really gave him 5 of the first 6 Rounds, and made it easy for Pazienza'.
     
    Senor Pepe', Jul 9, 2012
    Senor Pepe', Jul 9, 2012
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  15. Wladimir

    Wladimir Active Member Full Member

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    Dele was a good boxer but nothing special.
     
    Wladimir, Oct 4, 2024
    Wladimir, Oct 4, 2024
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