Those Philly middleweights

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Saintpat, Apr 28, 2020.


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  1. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    All my life I heard about the gym wars. The fighters of mythic proportions. The 160-pounders from the City of Brotherly Love.

    But look at their collective championship cupboard and while it’s not bare, there’s room for a lot more hardware.

    We have Bernard Hopkins, undoubtedly the most accomplished in the weight class to come from the city, and Joey Giardello, another world champ of some accomplishment.

    But what about the rest?

    Bennie Briscoe was spoken of in reverent terms but never won the big one. Same for the Mayor of North Philadelphia himself, his honor George Benton.

    Willie the Worm and Boogaloo Watts and Cyclone Hart from one generation; Curtis Parker and Animal Fletcher coming on their heels. (Hell, for a couple of years there David Love could have claimed the 160-pound key to the city so dominant was he over the Philly specials, and he was from freakin’ San Diego).

    I’m sure I’ve missed a few.

    So I figured we could have some fun ranking a top 10 all-time Philly middleweight lineup, maybe with a few words’ explanation of why you put them where you did. How about it, historians?
     
    Saintpat, Apr 28, 2020
    Saintpat, Apr 28, 2020
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  2. Bulldog24

    Bulldog24 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Tony Thornton was terrific.
     
    Bulldog24, Apr 28, 2020
    Bulldog24, Apr 28, 2020
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  3. AwardedSteak863

    AwardedSteak863 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Two of my favorite middleweights are from Philly. Joey Giardello and George Benton. Philly is stacked at 160.

    My town (St Louis) owns 175 with the Jinx and Old Mongoose.

    Ranking them is no easy task.
    1. BHOP
    2.George Benton
    3.Joey Giardello
    4. Bad Bennie
    5. The Animal Fletcher
     
    Last edited: Apr 28, 2020
    AwardedSteak863, Apr 28, 2020
    AwardedSteak863, Apr 28, 2020
    #3
  4. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I think James Shuler was from Philly too.
     
    salsanchezfan, Apr 28, 2020
    salsanchezfan, Apr 28, 2020
    #4
  5. The Morlocks

    The Morlocks Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Hopkins comes in around 7.
     
    The Morlocks, Apr 28, 2020
    The Morlocks, Apr 28, 2020
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  6. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I think St. Louis can jump a claim on Sonny Liston, too.

    And lost a potential great in Lemuel Steeples, who died in the plan crash with the USA boxing team in 1980 on the way to, IIRC, Poland for an international competition.
     
    Saintpat, Apr 28, 2020
    Saintpat, Apr 28, 2020
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  7. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Yeah, the Executioner never was one for the night life. Home by 7, in bed by 8, up to run early the next morning.

    So how do you rank ‘em, Locksy?
     
    Saintpat, Apr 28, 2020
    Saintpat, Apr 28, 2020
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  8. AwardedSteak863

    AwardedSteak863 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Yep! Sonny cut his teeth in STL as did Henry Armstrong.

    I put BHOP at number because of his versatility and longevity at 160 but I do believe Benton and Giardello faced MUCH stiffer competition at 160.
     
    AwardedSteak863, Apr 28, 2020
    AwardedSteak863, Apr 28, 2020
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  9. AwardedSteak863

    AwardedSteak863 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    You know what, f--k it. I'm putting Benton and Giardello above BHOP. BHOP has the title defenses but he never fought Dick Tiger four times like Giardello. Benton straight up beat Joey. New ranking is--

    Benton
    GIARDELLO
    BHOP
    BENNIE
    FLETCHER

    God I'm drunk. When is this quarantine going to end.
     
    AwardedSteak863, Apr 28, 2020
    AwardedSteak863, Apr 28, 2020
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  10. Clinton

    Clinton Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Lad, when it ends I'll be on the sauce for a week
     
    Clinton, Apr 28, 2020
    Clinton, Apr 28, 2020
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  11. Xplosive

    Xplosive Obsessed with Boxing banned Full Member

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    Not ranking Hopkins as the greatest Philly middleweight is a joke. Sometimes nostalgia goes too far.
     
    Xplosive, Apr 28, 2020
    Xplosive, Apr 28, 2020
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  12. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    Jel, Apr 28, 2020
    Jel, Apr 28, 2020
    #12
  13. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    Depends on how you're ranking them, I guess. Achievement wise, Hopkins is clear no. 1. Resume wise, it's not as clear. A fair amount of B-Hop's opposition during his title reign was poor to average.
     
    Jel, Apr 28, 2020
    Jel, Apr 28, 2020
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  14. thistle

    thistle Boxing Junkie

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    never understood greatest just because of titles and the opportunity was given to fight for them. so many middles are far, far better than Bhop.

    so WHY because of titles should he be considered the greatest, makes no sense to me...

    how can he be the greatest, what about ALL those Philly Killers who Never 'held' titles who would beat him, and then when you add in the world you get dozens more who are better. never understood this thinking.

    thats whats wrong with Boxrec Ratings, too many points given for world title fights, and nearly all modern fighters get higher scores than most there predecessors, 30 fight careers with 15 mickey mouse titles scores unwarranted points.

    H2H IS the Only way to rate fighters.
     
    thistle, Apr 29, 2020
    thistle, Apr 29, 2020
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  15. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

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    Hopkins
    Giardello
    Benton/Briscoe

    Guys like Kitten, Monroe, Harris, Watts, Heart and Fletcher(?), should probably be next but I have no idea what order.
     
    George Crowcroft, Apr 29, 2020
    George Crowcroft, Apr 29, 2020
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