Underrated (non-great) Light-Heavyweights?

The B-Netts. Jesse Burnett and Lonnie Bennett. Both had some great moments in the 70s. The former more than the latter.

They were like Bob Foster spin-offs, especially Burnett. Less size and natural talent, but slicker, smoother boxers. Burnett lacked consistency and pull with the judges. Bennett lacked a chin.

Awesome left hands, the both of them. In fact, both got the better of that battle in their respective fights with John Conteh. He was in the dark days of his career by the time he faced Burnett, but he fought Bennett right in that little prime window he had.

Never seen his head get snapped back by clean shots so often, nor his deceptively short reach get exposed like it did. Bennett had the perfect combo of length, snap, and timing for him. Unfortunately, this was against prime Conteh, and Bennett’s early rounds success just served to **** him off and bring out his vicious streak.

 

Melio Bettina - Southpaw when there hardly was such a thing. Not much video of him but the HL of the Conn fight show him giving Conn all he wants, at least early.

Yaqui Lopez of course, though everyone here loves him.

 

I can count on one hand the number of times I've read about Gus Leznevich here.

 

I always forget about old Gus. Thanks for reminding me of him.

 

Prince Mamah Muhammad got on a little bit of a roll for a while, I think he finished at 25-1. Nice boxing skills, no pop in his punches but a good story. A guy that I know that was 6-4-4 as a light heavy got kicked out of the gym- I think it was at the end of the Main Street gym in LA- for sucker punching the Prince. He was very ashamed of the incident but, as he told it, he had sparred the Prince every day for a week and didn't lay a glove on him and he was going to hit him at least once.

 

Mauro Mina

 

Julio Cesar Gonzalez
Ritchie Kates
Jerry Martin

 

Virgil Hill cos he made around 57 title defences and still no one really rates him at all.

 

My dream fantasy fight is Hill vs prime Archie Moore

 

Barber's fight with Anthony Hembrick was intriguing and controversial. I'd be interested to see cards on that one.

 

One of those that saw one guy peck away and outscore the other but the other one throwing harder shots if not as many. I watched it live on the USA network and came away thinking Hembrick got jobbed. Didn't score it though.