Truax vs Benn, Watson, Thornton, Holmes, Rocchigiai

Truax isn't in the same stratosphere as these awesome operators. Neither is Badou Jack (Ron Essett would've stood him on his head).

Look what hell Watson and Thornton gave McCallum and Toney (two of the best 10 boxers ever), how dangerous Holmes looked against Graham and Tate, Rocchigiani blowing out Hamsho (who gave Hagler a great fight) and unofficially beating everyone at light-heavy, etc.

DeGale is the biggest laughing stock in boxing history.

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Look at the difference in speed and timing from the get-go here from DeGale tonight to Eubank Sr, and Thornton was such a top-drawer operator (see Sosa fight for a display of throwback technical skill - Sosa would rip through the division today)

It's just night and day, like leagues apart

 

Don't know about you, but DeGale looked **** and rubbish to me. He's a child in his 30s. Eubank beat an awesome Benn for the title when he just turned 24, and had like 20 big defences by 28.

We know the 80s and early 90s were the golden age of boxing because of the depth of black talent, there were 50 or 60 real US talents per division - the fights were on free TV, more gyms were more packed. Today you have one decent Yank per division, two tops, and then some mediocre Eastern caucasians.

 

Eubank scored more clean head shots than McCallum on Watson in the first nine rounds. McCallum wasn't leading off in that fight, Watson was. Watson attempted counters on Eubank but Eubank's reflexes got him out of harms way each time. They were all on the same level - McCallum, Nunn, Eubank, Toney, the top level. They didn't fight each other. Although the '93-'95 Benn was also on that level.

Thornton was post-retirement against Jones and post-shoulder surgery (thats what stopped him - he was on the ropes unable to move his arm), Jones dropped him heavy with a leaping left hook - there's no disputing Roy's power was extraordinary. Technically awful, but physically freaky. He barely laid a glove on Thornton in the finishing flurry for what it's worth.

 

Eubank was extremely difficult to land a jab against, long-armed jabbers like Watson, Malinga, Essett and Rocchigiani failed miserably to land the jab on Eubank. Hopkins' jab wasn't great, his lead right was though. Trying to out-jab Chris Eubank is not the way Hopkins could win that fight, there are other ways he could don't get me wrong, but we are talking like 1997 Hopkins vs a weight-drained, same-day weigh-in '91 Eubank.

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They never actually fought at the same weight with the same weigh-in to fight period, strangely. Other than 1990-1991 when Hopkins was way down the rankings. But fantasy wise at say middle or super middle, Hopkins has to apply consistent pressure with sharpshooting rights like he did against Glen Johnson, hands high and head moving, hitting the body when possible; that Hopkins beats the stop-start Eubank I believe. Tall, rangey, strong and closing the distance steadily without crossing his feet for 12, maybe giving away the first four to come into it.

The impressive thing about Eubank was his timing from the first bell, distance found early and accurate, as well as sharp reflexes (defend or counter), but he fought in spurts and had to set himself to lead, plus tired after four... Hopkins was a different kind of fighter, not as gifted with flashy flurries and fancy feet, but mistake-less and super-cunning.

 

DeGale has never looked very good to me. He's always looked sloppy.