Cerdan doesn't get much credit on here but I think he looks Damn good on film. We all know Joey was great but erratic. I could c Cerdan talking 1 out of 3
I saw them both ringside, Giardello several times. I think that Cerdan on his best night would land more blows ,and would win a decision over the at times erratic Giardello. Cerdan was a very strong heavy handed swarmer who could wear an opponent down. I also think that the faded Georgie Abrams who I saw lose a close decision to Cerdan was a better fighter prime for prime than Joey was...Abrams at his best was a helluva fighter,good enough to cope with a Ray Robinson and Charley Burley, both at their bests.. And I am convinced that the MWs pre WW2 such as Freddie Steele, Al Hostak, Tony Zale, Fred Apostoli, Billy Conn, Teddy Yarosz, Ken Overlin, Billy Soose, Georgie Abrams,Solly Kreiger, were a better lot than the rivals of Joey Giardello, post WW2. And A Marcel Thil, Jock McAvoy were equal or better than Giardello and crew. So sue me !
Without going into detail; Cerdan WAS the real deal and Joey was tough and savvy. Cerdan in a UD; think 'chess match'.
Yeah, been saying that for years. I'd pick Cerdan via late round TKO here. Cerdan's biggest problem was fate took his life early in an accident. If Cerdan was American, or British I think he'd be more popular and observed. My $.02
cerdan could clearly fight a bit, but giardello operated at a level so much higher than cerdan i have to pick him here.
I don't think there are many middles with better resumes than Giardello Burt. Tiger Downes Boyd Benton Fullmer Robinson Giambra Hank Vejar Dupas Webb Troy Saxton Mims Durando Miceli Dy*es Turner Graham Langlois Castellani Panter Cartier Pretty good list.
A very good resume fine, but Mc look at some of his losses- Harold Green -kod Rocky Castellani L Bobby ****s L Joey Giambra L 2 Billy Graham L Johnny Saxton L Pierre Langlois L Charley Cotton L2 **** Tiger L Tiger Jones L Terry Downes L Peter Mueller L Ralph Dupas L Henry Hank L Georgie Benton L This resume confirms what I posted. Giardello was a terrific MW no doubt, but was highly inconsistent...I saw him several times and he at times ran out of gas in later rounds...
Mc even in his "prime" he was losing too often. At any rate when Giardello was good, he was very good, but too often he was losing some bouts too often to be a top alltime MW. There was a fighter of his time named Joey Giambra who was on a par with Giardello most likely...
Giardello's resume ****s on Cerdan's...BUT I think I'd take Cerdan by decision anyway. Cerdan would be busy...and I don't think Giardello would have the pop to discourage him enough.
I dont know. This is an interesting match given Cerdan's padded record but aesthetically pleasing style and Giardello's inconsistency. I think one thing that might come into play is Giardello's strength. He was a fairly big and fairly strong MW, that combined with his speed and slickness might cause Cerdan problems because Cerdan was a naturally smaller guy who like to get inside and bang away. Work rate might be the decider here and Cerdan had the better work rate. The Giardello who sleep walked through rounds with and got knocked down by Langlois wouldnt beat Cerdan but the Giardello who beat Turner might. Joey loved guys to come to him. He could chew them up and spit them out that way. It really depends a lot on which Joey shows up but I think the odds would probably have to favor Cerdan slightly.