Michael Nunn's KO over Sumbu Kalambay

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by mr. magoo, Dec 8, 2016.


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  1. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    I saw this fight live on HBO way back in 1989. It was viewed by many as a fairly good match up going into it and rightfully so. Sumbu was the WBA champion coming off a great run with wins over Dewitt, Sims, Barkley, McCallum and Graham. But the result was an absolute shocker. I consider this fight to be one of boxing's many anomalies due to the fact that Kalambay was a durable guy who retired only having been stopped ONCE in 64 pro fights while Michael Nunn wasn't exactly a huge banger. That left hook landed perfectly in the right place and at the right time.. I believe this to be one of the sport's most devastating one punch KO's.
     
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2016
    mr. magoo, Dec 8, 2016
    mr. magoo, Dec 8, 2016
    #1
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  2. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

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    That fight still bothers me.
    Kalambay was so good it was just a damn fluke.
     
    robert ungurean, Dec 8, 2016
    robert ungurean, Dec 8, 2016
    #2
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  3. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Yes we were all expecting a chess match type of bout with this one,were n't we ? One of those once in a lifetime things.
     
    Stevie G, Dec 8, 2016
    Stevie G, Dec 8, 2016
    #3
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  4. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    It really is mind boggling. A durable champion with so much experience going in against a dude who wasn't a knockout artist and yet he gets knocked unconscious by the first punch landed in the fight.
     
    mr. magoo, Dec 8, 2016
    mr. magoo, Dec 8, 2016
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  5. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Makes me recall reading about how Calvin Grove of all people knocking Jeff Fenech unconscious with a right hand. I know Fenech was by then a bit past it to say the least, but Calvin F-ing Grove?
     
    salsanchezfan, Dec 8, 2016
    salsanchezfan, Dec 8, 2016
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  6. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    I remember. Grove couldn't crack an eggshell with his power and Jeff was a tough dude. Another anomaly.
     
    mr. magoo, Dec 8, 2016
    mr. magoo, Dec 8, 2016
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  7. Brixton Bomber

    Brixton Bomber Obsessed with Boxing banned Full Member

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    How do you guys see the fight playing out had it gone the full twelve?

    Ridiculous amount of skill & talent in one ring, btw.
     
    Brixton Bomber, Dec 8, 2016
    Brixton Bomber, Dec 8, 2016
    #7
  8. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    Good question. Honestly I can't say for sure. Nunn was hard as hell to outpoint at middleweight, and in fact he never lost a decision until he moved up in class. Toney needed a come from behind stoppage to beat him at 160. My inclination is that Nunn's height, reach and speed would see him to a close verdict but I say that with no real conviction. Sumbu was a hell of a good boxer.
     
    mr. magoo, Dec 8, 2016
    mr. magoo, Dec 8, 2016
    #8
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  9. Brixton Bomber

    Brixton Bomber Obsessed with Boxing banned Full Member

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    Oh yeah, Sumbu was absolutely sublime.
     
    Brixton Bomber, Dec 8, 2016
    Brixton Bomber, Dec 8, 2016
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  10. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    This was an odd one seeing that Kalambay was very rarely caught clean and Nunn wasn't a one-punch KO kind of guy.

    But Sumbu did have trouble with southpaws. Light punching Kalule and Graham both floored him as well. Those were flash knock downs, though.
     
    Bokaj, Dec 8, 2016
    Bokaj, Dec 8, 2016
    #10
  11. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

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    Another fluke was the case of Doug DeWitt,....whatever you can say about him, one thing was true....he was tough..went the distance with Thomas Hearns and never came close to going down,....yet, unheralded Jose Quinones flattened him in his very next fight...and a few fights later, the aforementioned Kalambay destroyed him...
     
    red cobra, Dec 8, 2016
    red cobra, Dec 8, 2016
    #11
  12. Saad54

    Saad54 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    It was schocking

    Nunn was not a one punch guy, and Kad a very good chin.

    It was flukish, a 1/100 type of thing. .
     
    Saad54, Dec 8, 2016
    Saad54, Dec 8, 2016
    #12
  13. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

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    I remember showing up at a friend's house that night for the Nunn-Kalambay fight...we were all hunkered down for a tactical boxing match when this ultimate fluke occured. Didn't comprehend it then, and I still don't...so the word "fluke" has to suffice.
     
    red cobra, Dec 8, 2016
    red cobra, Dec 8, 2016
    #13
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  14. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Perhaps Hearns broke him.
     
    Bokaj, Dec 8, 2016
    Bokaj, Dec 8, 2016
    #14
  15. Brixton Bomber

    Brixton Bomber Obsessed with Boxing banned Full Member

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    No. Mike threw that shot and it done the job. Hardly a fluke.
     
    Brixton Bomber, Dec 8, 2016
    Brixton Bomber, Dec 8, 2016
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