I like Joltin Jeff here. Big. tko 2nd half of the fight. He just burrows and works his way inside and does the dirty work. Rocky needs lots of room to throw those looping right hands of his--even the left hook was wide come to think of it. This opponent is not going to be standing on the outside where Rocky wants him to be. Nobody outworked Fenech back then and Lockridge definately won't be. He might land a few shots here or there but nothing to prevent the steamrolling Fenech will do. Now the version of Fenech that fought Calvin Grove is a different story maybe, but not in his youth.
Fenech was a force of nature at Bantamweight. But, he was not really able to impose his will like that at Featherweight and above. At 130, Lockridge would be the stronger man. He would also be both the better boxer, and harder puncher. I can see how many would rate Fenech over Lockridge in a historical sense. But, head to head, I think Rocky would win by clear decision, or, possibly even mid-late stoppage.
Jeff Fenech. I’ll never vote against him. Force of nature, he’d take the heads of pretty much any Feather ever. I can’t make just about anyone the reliable favourite over such a wilful man.
Mug Sanchez? I would expect Sanchez to stop Fenech. And this fight is proposed at 130. In his prime at 130, Fenech got positively annihilated by a healthy Azumah Nelson. He was neither able to outmuscle Azumah (who admittedly is very strong), nor handle the return fire. 130 appeared to be a bridge too far for him.
Just out of curiosity, do people think the robbery of the 1st Nelson fight. Effected Fenech and he was never quite the same ? Or was it after the 2nd loss to Nelson ? Either way he seemed to have a sharp decline after, losing to Groves and getting blown out by Holiday
In the post fight interview, Nelson stated that he was suffering from Malaria, and, had no strength the night of the first fight with Fenech. Normally, I would take that excuse with a grain of salt. But, he is from an area where malaria is a problem. And, the way he kicked Fenech's ass in the rematch adds a lot of credibility to his claim. The second fight wasn't remotely close. It was a one-way beatdown in front of Fenech's adoring home crowd. Fenech was dominated from the opening bell until he finally got stopped. And Fenech had no interest in a rubber match. (I am not counting the side show 3rd fight between two old men 16 years later) Any controversy that may have existed after the first fight was forever eradicated.
Funnily enough they did actually have a rubber match years later, the fight meant nothing resume wise. But for two old boys they put up a decent contest.
Who really knows but I'd favour Jeffy, Anyway "Healthy" Nelson was absolutely washed in the first fight, Jeff walked through him, mauled and chewed him up till Azuhma hid his mouth piece, Did you miss that? the second fight Fenech was an alcoholic doing blow round the clock Nelson looked the same as always. Nelson could barely get by a one armed Martinez and made his name off of party boy Gomez. "A bridge too far" except Fenech beat Nelson fair and square and had his best filmed work there?
I think it was his last great performance before his body gave out on him. Nelson is full of sh*t trust me with the I had malaria. Fenech is one of the fighters that everything just catches up at the same time.
