Big fight's that would've been different if both were in their prime

Hahaha.

Hatton was excellent that night, like a man possessed. However KT had been inactive for 19 months and was about 36 years old. It was still a good competitive fight. Timing was just right.

 

Duran vs Leonard 2 November 25, 1980

 

No I agree, as much as I don't want to.

 

It was what it was Morlocks. All part of the Duran legend, the good and the bad.

Leonard was always going to learn from the first fight and against an instinctive fighter liked Duran, who's discipline wavered, provided the result that occurred.

Of course, assuming it wasn't rigged.

 

I get where you’re coming from but I disagree. Pre-exile Ali would have stayed out of Frazier’s punching range more while still strafing him from outside. Would’ve turned Frazier even more, controlled range more effectively, and taken better advantage of his over-reliance on his hook. I think prime Ali would’ve won that one going away.

 

BUT BUT BUT DURAN HAD TO LOSE 60 POUNDS IN 3 WEEKS!!!

Instead of training for the fight he literally had to spend every waking hour jogging or in the sauna. And barely eating. He looked so bad when he entered the ring on November 25th that you can hear the shrieks of concern from the audience when he took off his robe. The commentators wouldn’t stop talking about his poor physical appearance, and the hundreds of writers who wrote about the fight the next day all discussed it at length in their columns.

Prime Duran kills that arrogant phony coward Leonard in 3 rounds or less! Too much savage, unrelenting killer instinct and brutal machismo.

 

Jones v Calzaghe (Jones of the late 90s wins easily)

Canelo v GGG (late 20s GGG who everyone avoided like the plague knocks Canelo clean out)

Tyson v Lewis (would have been the fight of the century if both in their primes)

 

I still think a Steward Era Lewis would have knocked even a prime Mike all over the ring. Mike would make it too easy for the right hand to bust through. That said I give Mike a really good chance against pre Steward Lennox.

 

Tszyu-Chavez: Prime Chavez breaks Tszyu down.

Tszyu-Hatton: Prime Tszyu stops Hatton.

Louis-Marciano: Prime Louis takes Rocky apart.

Leonard-Norris: Prime Leonard destroys Norris.

Curry-Norris: Same as above.

McGuigan-Pedroza: Prime Pedroza breaks McGuigan down.

Holmes-Holyfield: Prime Holmes outboxes Holy.

Holy-Foreman: Prime Foreman stops Holy.

Cotto-Mosley: Prime Mosley beats Cotto down.

Ortiz-Buchanan: Prime Ortiz would have beaten Ken, competitive yet clear.

 

Mancini-Haugen: I think prime Mancini wins a competitive, but clear decision over prime Haugen.

 

I'm quite critical of Tszyu, but any Brit who believes Hatton beats a prime Tszyu is delusional.

The washed up, inactive Tszyu was fighting Hatton on even terms until the late rounds... that's with Hatton's blatantly illegal tactics and a biased home ref.

Against the Tszyu of 99, on neutral ground, and the Humpman would have taken a beating.

Once again, I say that as someone who's critical of Tszyu.

Hatton was a hack.

 

Yet the almost overwhelming consensus leading into that fight apart from the Hatton huggers that is was that Hatton was going to get brutally beaten.

 

I'm a Brit but i think prime Tszyu beats Hatton.

 

That's what I'm saying. It was what it was regarding Duran. He is my favourite fighter of all time along with Robinson, Ali and JMM. That crazy lack of preparation was all part of his make up, especially later on in his career.

Btw, Leonard is class, Duran is never stopping him in 3 rounds.

 

I’m not a brit but I still think that Hatton could have beaten a prime Tszyu which I think is overrated. Not saying he definitely would but it’s close to a 50/50 fight imo.