Donaire really. Had no idea who he was then he ****ing starches Darchniyan no problem, and seems the real deal ever since.
Fidel LaBarba was a fresh-faced 20 year old with just 10 bouts to his name when he out-pointed Frankie Genaro to become the top Flyweight in the world in 1925. Little Dado never really fought outside of the Phillipines or Hawaii before 1938 and then proceeds to tear through of the Flyweight and Bantamweight divisions for the next two years en route to holding both the Flyweight and Bantamweight titles (California version), simultaneously. He would remain a highly ranked contender for the 4 or 5 years.
Negative. Both were. I believe featherweight Davey Moore lost to Chan-Hee Park's trainer at the Olympics, either way he was an Olympian who didn't medal. Didn't junior middleweight Davey Moore lose to Don Curry in the Olympic box-off's? But USA boycotted '80 Games.
He had faced World class opposition though. Still, I love this call, deserves more props does Little Dado. Actually, there were **** loads of quality Filipino's at this time.
Keith Mullings at 14-4-1 upsetting Terry Norris was uncanny. I just looked at his record - he lost 4 of his last 6 and gets the title shot. Another was Eddie Gazo upsetting Miguel Castellani. I recall at the time, I just said, "Eddie who?" But one who made a real name for himself but blew me away with his anonymity was Tony Lopez. He was 29-1 going into his fight with Lockridge with only clubfighters Tony Pep and Tommy Cordova on his record and I must admit, I had never heard of him.
Correct but still he had won like a bazillion (actual number 4) new York golden gloves. His first fight was televised as a night if champions thing.
Carlos Monzon...he emerged from behind the mysterious veil of the South American boxing scene to utterly dominate and execute Nino Benvenuti and beat every other middleweight of note until he retired in '77. howard Cosell, in the WW of Sports program on the Monzon ko of Benvenuti kept saying..."the unknown and unheralded Carlos Monzon" in leading up to that pretaped coverage. No one knew anything about him before he ko'ed Benvenuti.
I thought my post showed he had been a major success. Wasn't trying to downplay your original synopsis. I think he's generally underrated. Wanna' see him smash up big punching Charlie Weir, away from home no less, as he was when he beat that Japanese fella'. And he beat Kalule, who gave it a good effort despite being weight drained. And after Duran, he beat Benitez in that mental fight. Hate it when people say 'he wasn't ready for Duran' it's not like that faded Duran was seen as horrific matchmaking. Moore was surging, and remains underrated IMO. Sorry to go off on a tangent but Moore Vs David Reid?
i'm comfortable saying moore takes it. great hand speed, good flow in his combos and smarter than he had a right to be. i like reid and he seems like a nice enough guy but never bought into him as a pro
No I was just backing it up with the numbers. Moore. Reid was a decent fighter but Moore was an offensive genius. Really, really just fantastic at that (and he looks excellent in every fight leading up to Duran). Reid had some skills and a hard right hand but he's too hittable and that droopy eye did him no favors. Moore beats him both hth and resume. If only he had a defense.