Both guys had good amauter backgrounds and solid wins as professionals before having their career's ended early due to injuries (eye for Reid) and in Simon's case a horrific accident that led to loss of life and imprisonment. Who do you have?
I think Simon beat Wright clearly fair and square despite Winky perpetrating the myth he always got robbed. Simon was busy and strong. Reid never really put all the pieces together in the pro game. He could dazzle for a few rounds then fade off. Against Simon that may end up costing him down the stretch to losing a close one. I think Reid had more talent so it’s a close, hard fighr.
I'd take Simon without thinking twice. A high volume guy with excellent stamina versus a flashy guy with some of worst stamina ever seen on the world level. Reid's handspeed would make it competitive for awhile, but Simon would be in full control late and Reid would be falling apart. A better matchup would be Simon vs Vargas.
Reid had a sloppy defense that was never close to being improved. He's fortunate to have come along during a void in the division. And that defense will not work against the punches Harry throws. He'd be very fortunate to make it to the finish line in this.
Not easy to pick. Reid was better than Simon, but Simon found ways to win and Reid tended to get sloppy. Reid's win over Bouduani was a pretty big deal. I'm not sure if Simon ever looked like he was on that level even if he edged Winky before Winky's peak.
I agree. Those three wins you listed look really good. He also beat an old Simon Brown and Keith Mullings who was on the Slide. Rodney Jones was a damn tricky fighter.