Eddie Mustafa Muhammad vs Marvin Johnson

Eddie at his mind boggling best.

 

Eddie was very talented but he was a head case.

Yes, ballooning up to fight Snipes than quickly dropping weight was dumb.

But, what was even dumber was when he was given a SECOND Chance to fight Michael Spinks, he inexplicably showed up heavy and REFUSED to make weight, saying the scales were rigged.

Career essentially over.

He has only himself to blame for underachieving so badly.

About the weight loss: I don't think it affected him as badly as Jones.

Eddie was carrying a spare tire around his middle in the Snipes fight. Most of what he lost was fat.

Conversely, Jones was ripped against Ruiz.

Eddie actually lost more weight to get back to 175 but I believe fat is easier to lose than muscle.

 

I do think he would have beaten Spinks in their first fight if he had showed up in prime condition.

He started well and built a lead. But he slowed down considerably in the late rounds.

He was much more experienced than Spinks at the pro level and was still in his prime.

 

I had him ahead against Spinks until he began to tire. Do you see this more of a conditioning issue in that if Eddie was in shape he would have kept his lead for a UD victory?

 

This deserves it's own thread. Good call

 

Toney vs EMM. Fight goes the distance, and Toney barely edges EMM out on the scorecards.

 

You really never knew which EMM would show up.

 

I was so PO'd after his blown up fight with Snipes.
Looked like a shriveled pear stepping in against the jinx.
Despite that, halfway thru the fight, he clearly had the lead then...began to wilt.
And, despite his 'head demons' which always plagued him, he took that championship round BOMB from Spinks and got up and finished! IMO Eddie was unable to be stopped by anyone!
Here comes my $0.02...Eddie was, pure talent wise, a better fighter than Spinks and, had that head of his been screwed on straight, he would go down as one the best PVP fighters EVER! Make a list, check off all the skill prerequisites. No doubt IMHO....
Oh, and the AP scored Eddie-Michael a draw.

 

Agreed .. Eddie really was a head case .. when focused he had all time great potential .. he really did a systematic number on Marvin .. but Eddie got so arrogant he became his own worst enemy ..

 

So it's fair to say that Matthew Saad accomplished more or less every bit that he could have with his respective talent and never say die attitude. He didn't under achieve, or under perform. He always came to fight, and we were able to see the very best of him in the ring.

Is the same true for Eddie? Did he have a ceiling above even other greats of his own era like Spink's and Saad?

 

It irks me to tears how he wasted his true talent.

 

I think Saad could have eked a bit more out of himself if he fought a little less aggressively. He was a decent boxer and had some skills but chose to fight the way he did in an effort to offset the influence of the judges.

Eddiejust lacked that mongrel, that drive. He coasted far too often. He needed more aggression and deep seated will to win. If he had Holmes fighting heart and determination he would have been something very special. That's what he lacked. It' pretty much all he lacked. Enormous power (if only we had more of his earlier fights on tape, he was considered a real banger for the longest time), great defense, excellent chin, superb jab, great body attack. He is one of the smoothest fighters ever, real old school.