Marlon Starling was a highly skilled boxer and arguably the best defensive fighter in the 80`s

Manning Galloway bamboozled many in the late 80s and early 90s. He just did not get the big fights.

 

. made good money in the UK and caused some problems

 

Hes up there for sure. He was hard to hit flush and he blocked alot of shots. Curry was about the only one who got him and tbat was the 2nd bout.
He best up both Simon Brown and Lupe Aquino as well.
Alot of boxers latter on I think tried to copy his defensive shell.

 

I agree! I did go back and rewatch some Zarate fights last year and I do think his defense is perhaps underrated as well as his overall skill due to his power. He was sound when he focused on it but more often than not he could forego it and rely on the power and chin to get him through tough spots. Underrated and good but I wouldn’t include him among great defensive fighters.

 

Not much footage of his bouts from that period floating around online...I could only scrounge up versus Pat Barrett in '92.

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Tbf he did make the Black Flash struggle to lay a glove on him. Still a long way from supporting his defense being anywhere near tops in the decade, though.

 

Better than Camacho, Benitez, Leonard ( when not attacking) Davis Jr, Whitaker, Sanchez, Gomez( Before he went power crazy) J.Chavez, Duran ( possibly the greatest aggressive defensive fighter in the history of the sport) D. Curry ( at welterweight) M.Macallun, M.Tyson ( whom was brilliant defensively in his prime) Saul Mamby , etc, those are just some off the top of my head better defensively than Starling, especially since most were aggressive along with their defensive capabilities. Oh I forgot another one prime M.Hagler.
Starling was a good fighter with a good skill set , but their was nothing really special about him.

 

Tend to have to disagree. He stayed at the top for years.
Could be argued he beat Curry the first time.
Holds wins over alot of very good boxers.
Beat the hell out of Honeyghan.
Beat Simon Brown who became a good champion.
Beat Aquino who also latter became a champion.
Beat Tommy Ayers who nobody wanted to fight at the time.
Spanked contender Kevin Howard who latter went on to fight Ray Leonard and drop Leonard.
Beat Mayweather Sr.
Burst unbeaten Barets As well as Brelands.
From 79 to 84 only one welterweight could beat him and thst was Curry who only got a split decision in the first fight.
And I didn't think Blocker beat Starling either.
In all my years watching him I never saw him take a beating.
Curry in the 2nd match got to him in the 15th round but it wasn't a huge beating.

 

The question was if he was the best defensive fighter of the 80's and was he a good fighter.
He was good , or very good. But he wasn't the best.

 

Fair comment, I brought him up as a mention, Whitaker walks it as an answer.


But I am glad I mentioned Galloway, and as you suggest, his best work probably was early 90s rather than the 80s.


And I got a mention on the clip, on the ITV opening credits!

 

Pedro Vilella beat him. Molinares knocked him cold. Bumphus beat him, too.

He had some very good wins. But those are pretty bad losses for someone to be considered best defensive fighter of the decade.

 

Hilario Zapata has worse losses than that, and he's undoubtedly up there as no less than third best defensive fighter of the era, arguably the best.

 

I was a big fan of the Magic Man! His prime was a time in my youth when I spent almost all my time watching, reading about or thinking about boxing. In other words, I had no real life!

I remember thinking of him as a great overall package of offense, defense and most of the traits you want in a champion. I never thought of him being as good a pure defensive fighter at Benitez. But he was good enough that I'd be open to the idea.

Starling was, in my mind, the best welterweight during my time who is not in the HOF. To me, he was similar (perhaps superior) in talent and accomplishments to Buddy McGirt who did get in. Wins over Brown and Breland were just huge. First fight with Curry could have gone either way. Curry did beat him the second time, but Curry was about as good as a welterweight can be at that time. I think I'll go rewatch some of Starling's fights.

 

Beat me to it, Lad

 

Fine post there, Fuzzykat. I liked Moochie, as well.