After withstanding the Beast's early aggression, I like Griffith by clear decision. If he can do it to Dick Tiger twice, he will certainly do so to Mugabi.
I think Mugabi had better stamina than people tend to think. He carried his power late. He would need to knock Griffith out to win, and I doubt he could do that, but Mugabi's offensive arsenal would keep Griffith from getting too agressive, and I don't see The Beast punching himself out. So I think Emile would manage to net another win by sneaking in under the wire points wise. He was a specialist at doing just enough to get the nod in a narrow contest.
Yep Hurricane Carter aside (not a fluke but I'd bet my balls that Carter wouldn't be able to do that to Griffith again if they fought) I don't see Griffith getting blasted out by anyone and that is Mugabi's only chance here. Griffith is too well rounded and conditioned for the Beast and would likely take a clear UD or maybe a late stoppage.
Carter would never be able to replicate that ko. If they fought a rematch, Griffith would have finessed him even better than he did Tiger. BTW, Griffith would have won a clear decision over the beast. He was way too smart for Mugabi.
Carter blasts Griffith out in a round, Tiger beats the **** out of Carter and Griffith twice outpoints Tiger. Just one of those anomalies that boxing routinely throws up and what makes it such a great and unpredictable sport. Griffith despite a sometimes boring style was tough to beat and Mugabi was too one dimensional to stand a chance. One match up of a similar ilk that would be awesome would be a Griffith-Julian Jackson one. A true Virgin Islands boxer-puncher face off.
Griffith's style didn't turn many fans on, but he was one of the savviest boxers ever. he was a master at going the distance and getting a points win. Either that, or losing a decision. i think he developed into one of the best ring mechanics ever. He could box vs a slugger and be aggressive vs a boxer. He was the definition of versatility.
Just out of curiosity what makes you believe this? Outside of getting stopped by Hagler (where to me he seemed to fade down the stretch) he had only (early career)...I don't see any evidence that he carried his power late or that he had good stamina...It could be a case of pre-prime Tyson just not having many opportunities, does not mean that he does not have it either. So I am not saying he does, merely that I don't see it and was wondering what you saw that I didn't??? In his comeback after 5 years off he lasted more than 8 several times and went the distance a few...I plead ignorance on this 2nd stage of his career but looking both at his record and quality of opposition, I assume this does not play a factor in evaluating him on one side or the other. I think John makes the early 4 rounds or so tough going, but Griffith has the timing figured out by then and begins to take the lead....a weary Mugabi either fades down the stretch or gets stopped in the 12th round.
I think fighting eleven brutal rounds with someone like Marvin Hagler on even terms is pretty solid evidence of stamina. I'm not saying Mugabi's stamina is elite, but it seems clear that he's not the kind of guy who punches himself out after two rounds. He also showed very solid stamina against James Green in a fast paced fight.