Most overrated fights?

YesThePretender · Apr 12, 2020

NoNeck said: ↑

Leonard--Duran II and Ali--Liston I and II

People get teary eyed about thess stinkers.
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People are not putting context into these fights. Hagler vs. Hearns was great whether you put context in it.

Clinton · Apr 12, 2020

Eddie Ezzard said: ↑

Best fight ever for me if you factor in the build up. Joe being thought to be shot, Ali taunting him, Veronica Porsche, Belinda Ali flying over to whoop her man (if she and Veronica had been on the undercard that would have been some show), the Marcoses and all the sideshow - then the conditions in the ring and arena which obviously you can't factor in watching reruns 45 years later. As for the action, it's pretty good. A bit too much covering up and flurrying with cuffs from Ali but he got the job done so who am I to criticise? Joe fought a great swarming fight in conditions that should have made such a high-energy style almost impossible. Incredible effort from Joe. And Ali's resilience makes the heart ache knowing what we know about his condition just a few years later.

I agree that some great fights lose some sparkle out of context - Hagler-Hearns, to me watching it now, is one guy having a decent moment or two early on before getting beaten down fairly quickly. But in the 80s, especially around the Fab 4, there was just a magic that elevated everything into a must-see event and when I first saw it, I was captivated. Watching it again now, though, I don't see what I was so affected by. But if you weren't around at the time, trust me (I'm beginning to sound like Perry/Houdini - 'you had to be there to know'. Perhaps it's the 180 miles I did on the treadmill earlier on this evening) this was heart-stopping stuff.
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Well put!!!

Clinton · Apr 12, 2020

JohnThomas1 said: ↑

Great post. The build up and "feel" at the time are so important. Hearns had that electrifying win over Duran, who Hagler had struggled with, and Hagler had may years of top notch performances behind his belt including a fine win coming in. They were the standout top 2 P4P boxers on the planet. They also seemed to have a genuine disdain for each other which again had to be felt at the time i.e. some years earlier Steward pulling Hearns out of their initial proposed match up.

By the time the bell rang the boxing world was on the edge of their seats. Hell, we were on the edge of our seats well before. So much "anticipation". Then when they go at it like two wild animals right from the ding words are not enough.

If you didn't live and breathe boxing at the time and the build up then the fight is just so sterile really. You've missed much of what made it so special.

More importantly tho, did people gather around? The fam at least? Wide eyed awe?
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Excellent

YesThePretender · Apr 12, 2020

Eddie Ezzard said: ↑

Best fight ever for me if you factor in the build up. Joe being thought to be shot, Ali taunting him, Veronica Porsche, Belinda Ali flying over to whoop her man (if she and Veronica had been on the undercard that would have been some show), the Marcoses and all the sideshow - then the conditions in the ring and arena which obviously you can't factor in watching reruns 45 years later. As for the action, it's pretty good. A bit too much covering up and flurrying with cuffs from Ali but he got the job done so who am I to criticise? Joe fought a great swarming fight in conditions that should have made such a high-energy style almost impossible. Incredible effort from Joe. And Ali's resilience makes the heart ache knowing what we know about his condition just a few years later.

I agree that some great fights lose some sparkle out of context - Hagler-Hearns, to me watching it now, is one guy having a decent moment or two early on before getting beaten down fairly quickly. But in the 80s, especially around the Fab 4, there was just a magic that elevated everything into a must-see event and when I first saw it, I was captivated. Watching it again now, though, I don't see what I was so affected by. But if you weren't around at the time, trust me (I'm beginning to sound like Perry/Houdini - 'you had to be there to know'. Perhaps it's the 180 miles I did on the treadmill earlier on this evening) this was heart-stopping stuff.
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That is making a complicated and great fight simple.

Eddie Ezzard · Apr 13, 2020

YesThePretender said: ↑

That is making a complicated and great fight simple.
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Thanks mate. I think...

andrewe · Apr 17, 2020

WBC President said that the Thrilla in Manila was the best boxing match in 20 years, in front of Holmes V Norton

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(I timestamped where Larry mentions this)

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Most overrated fights?

YesThePretender New Member Full Member

Clinton Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

Clinton Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

YesThePretender New Member Full Member

Eddie Ezzard Boxing Addict Full Member

andrewe Ezekiel 33 banned Full Member