Yeah but Balboa wanted to continue. Mr. frankfetuer thinks Purrity wanted to quit by asking his corner to cut him! Could be a first in boxing history.
He was taking too many punches and fading. Purity from my memory Did NOT protest. A sign a fighter knows he's done.
Op put it well. I always thought of him as alot like Mike Weaver, the Weaver of his era. Very slow start, originally a journeyman, worked his way up to being a contender. I'd put him just behind Weaver in legacy. He never got a belt and didn't get as many wins over top 20ish contenders as Weaver, but his best win was way better than any three of weavers wins.
Not much to say about him. An OK trialhorse with a great chin who lucked out against a green Wlad. He wasn't really skilled or dangerous at all to a top fighter but he had the experience to upset a much better but less experienced fighter. In the end he nearly lost to anyone decent he fought, but was always game and you have to appreciate that. Not in the same league as Weaver, who actually had quite a few wins against top fighters. (read, fighters at the top of their game at the time he fought them, not good prospects who would go on to dominate a decade later)