Look at how many incredible fighters there were in the 80's. Every division had killers.

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by mark ant, Nov 22, 2022.



  1. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    The 80’s was good. Where did all the talent go in the USA? Not the NFL for sure.
     
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  2. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Coincidentally, I completed my top 25 for the 80's as part of Rumsfelds sticky thread just a few days ago. The only fighters from the divisions you've mentioned, in my 25 and that you didnt list are:

    Lloyd Honeyghan my #22 for the decade
    Michael Nunn #24
    Sumbu Kalambay #25

    From divisions lighter than you covered I had Jung Koo Chang @15 and Gilberto Roman @23.
     
    Last edited: Nov 24, 2022
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  3. Cecil

    Cecil Boxing Addict Full Member

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    But boxing’s moved on.
    More sophisticated training methods and diet make todays fighters much better.
     
  4. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I cannot fathom Honeyghan being rated higher than Roman. Or Kalambay.

    Or Nunn for that matter.
     
  5. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Those things don't make better fighters. Proper instruction and knowhow make better fighters.

    A proper diet is nice, but only matters if the backbone of training actually means something.
     
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  6. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Diet/nutrition is important in cutting weight but not the panacea people make it out to be.

    Sugar Ray Robinson ate steak (and had the chef drain the cow blood for him to drink with it) for his prefight meal and he turned out OK. Imagine if he’d have known the wonders of wheat germ and riboflavin, lol.
     
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  7. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    The thing is, supplements are perfect for this age of fast food and quick meals that might not have the nutritional value meals probably had back in the day. Almost everything in these "wonder pills" is available in regular food that was presumably eaten in training camps for decades and decades. I don't for one moment buy the notion that all old timers trained on a steady diet of pork fat and cigarettes. That's silly.

    Tantalizingly delicious, but silly.
     
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  8. FighterInTheWind

    FighterInTheWind Member Full Member

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    I wasn't around in the 40s (I am old but not THAT old!), and, yes, this was the best era in my living memory.
     
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  9. mark ant

    mark ant Canelo was never athletic Full Member

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    Better than who, Hagler? Hearns? Are fighters quicker than Leonard and Hearns now? Do they punch harder than Hearns and Julian Jackson? Which heavyweights throw qucker and better combos than a prime Mike Tyson?
     
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  10. mark ant

    mark ant Canelo was never athletic Full Member

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    Nunn`s prime wa cut short by Toney, he was hit and miss in fights above 160.
     
  11. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    And still far beyond anything Honeyghan ever dreamt of being.
     
  12. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Rumsfeld's thread called for fighters to be ranked by decade based solely on fights in that decade. Kalambay & Nunn would rank higher than Honeyghan based on their entire career's, imo.

    You've got me thinking on Roman though. He did almost all his work in the 80's.

    According to my notes, Honeyghan went 34-2, inc 6-2 in WW title fights, in the 80's. Roman 53-5-1 inc 12-2-1 in Super Fly title fights. Honeyghan beat Donald Curry, Maurice Blocker, Johnny Bumphus, Jorge Vaca (who he also lost to) & Gianfranco Rosi. Roman beat Jiro Wantanbe, Santos Laciar (who he also lost to), Sugar Baby Rojas x 2 & Paul Ferreri. I admit my knowledge of Super Fly isn't as great as WW & aside from Wantanbe & Laciar, I knew next to nothing about the rest of his wins. So, I may be I've fallen into the trap of under rating some of Roman's wins over fighters I've never heard of, after a cursory piece of research into their careers. I'm open minded if you decided to go to the trouble of convincing me I have.
     
    Last edited: Nov 24, 2022
  13. Cecil

    Cecil Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I was being facetious Mark.
    I agree with you 100%
     
  14. Cecil

    Cecil Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I was being a little mischievous.
    The eighties were far superior.
     
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  15. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    You naughty person you......