I don't like the way Rosario kept that left elbow out there so high, like his stablemate Gomez. Nobody had to remind Mancini to go the body and Edwin is literally giving him the punch. And Mancini dug his body shots in there and then followed up really well. I think that sustained body punishment takes a toll early and Rosario gets alligator arms in there and ends up playing an 80% defense and cover up fight. Both are much better suited as an 80% offense guy & the one guy pulling that off wins. Sooner or later I think Rosario gets frozen when Ray comes upstairs and the ref will jump in to wave it off. I just think that high rpm motor of Mancini right off the bat and body punishment doesn't allow Edwin the countering openings he'd want. And if Rosario ever misses one of his counters, he'll get hit a ton before he can get of another chance to counter. Plus, Mancini was the rare breed that didn't seem to register those clean shots--at least not for quite a few rounds anyway. That skill is crucial against this guy. Interesting bout for sure and fun to watch. A tightrope act for both guys and the loser would have had a tough road back in that division back then.
You pretty much know which Mancini is going to show up. Which Rosario shows up? The one vs Camacho or Bramble or the one vs Ramirez (he damn near lost the first fight too). Rosario was an enigma. He wasn't particularly durable yet was hardly ever knocked down. Rosario had those wide elbows which invited body shots. He also liked to square up when being pursued. He definitely had his flaws but had the equalizer also. He would not knock Mancini out. Arguello did it with precision punching and incredible, accumulative body work, and powerful combinations. Rosario hit as hard as Arguello, maybe harder for one punch, but Arguello threw combinations which all had KO power. I think one of these guys is getting busted up and stopped late over 15 rounds. Just depends which Rosario shows up.
When I say Rosario squared up, it was definitely intentional. Almost like a reset for him. I've seen him use that move to try to get guys to walk into a left hook. It could be effective, but it still compromised his defense. And I think Mancini would pour through the gap and exploit this move a bit. I still think these guys could split a series of fights.
he was hittable, yet so was Rosario at times and Edwin didn't have the best chin- I think if we compare Mancini to Bramble which always comes naturally, and also since Bramble fought both-Bramble was knocked out easily by Rosario, we see that Bramble had a good style for Mancini, but Mancini was a tougher guy than Bramble and punched harder. Mancini would be a heck of a fight and I don't think it would go past 3 rounds. It would be another short war for Mancini and Rosario. it would be grueling and Rosario would have to take some of Mancini's punches. Mancini had those fights where he wore out because of stamini late like Arguello and Bramble, but losing early? I am not sure I see that. He could punch and he was strong and had a lot of inner will power.
The thing is though that Rosario isn't that much of a wearing down type of guy. He's more of a game changing punch type of guy. Incredible power and I think it would be a short war, but Edwin 's cleaner work does more damage. Mancini throws punches in bunches until he tires. Rosario throws with bad intentions and depending on his mentality depends on his pacing. Sometimes he was over entusiastic, others he was too patient. No matter who gets their arm raise,we as fans win out on this encounter.
Bramble quit against Rosario imo.I don't think he was genuinely knocked out. Didn't he try and whine about it being a thumb that blinded him after it?
Yes, that's correct. I don't think it was a thumb though. Rosario just stuffed his fist in Bramble's eye.
yeah it was a poor showing of will by Bramble.Soon as he realised Rosario could bang he wanted out. Pretty funny that before the fight, the ring etc were doing their best to tell us he was a granite chinned relentless terminator :yep All from two back and forth fights with Mancini and walking down the pillowfisted, physically weak Crawley(a solid boxer but hardly someone to confirm your Lamotta class chin against)
I agree. Rosario was not the wear out kind of guy. He didn't have to be. Mancini could not be hit with that left hook which Rosario hit Camacho with or it would be all over, but I think it would be a case of him landing clean before Rosario did. Not many guys could take the left hook which hit Camacho. It would be some fight as you said. The fans would win in this one.
I definitely think he would land before Rosario but whether it would be a flush power shot getting there I'd probably question. Shame we never saw it though. Could go 2-1 in an epic zale-graziano type trilogy.
I agree. This matchup has something special about it. Rosario's power vs. Mancini's (not as great power) but still power and spirit. This would not be a boring fight. The Rosario which fought Camacho and Bramble (1986)was probably the best Rosario. I remember Mancini being interviewed either a day or a week after the Bramble/Rosario fight and his comments were something like "I didn't know Bramble had dog in him" Saying he quit That is the comment I remember. Although Bramble said he was thumbed, he was getting hit flush by every punch of Rosario's for a minute or so. It was inevitable that he go down.
BEst Rosario was the early version up to the Ramirez fights. he actually had the look of a potentially varied and highly skilled boxe-puncher then, but he ultimately never lived up to the early promise for me. Right from his first title fights he was a let down, going life and death with Ramirez and Howard Davis(where he started to look like the one-dimensional stlaking powerpuncher he would become). Looked like he might have put it together in the rematch against Ramirez, but we know how that ended up.After that he was mostly a straight line banger.