Reading Conteh’s autobiography he said that was the only fight he went into with genuine fear. He said knew he was a shell of his former self and that he basically knew what was coming.
Doesn’t take away from all he accomplished, but it definitely showed. He looked both shell-shocked and gun-shy. And MSM was on a mission.
Hill had power in his left hook and he exhibited it many times. There seems to be this false narrative that Hill was feather fisted or something. Hill had a much better chin. No one has mentioned that yet. This would be a close fight.
Well, Virgil allegedly beat Maske, who was leagues better than this John fellow. But even given the poor discernment of the judges in that bout, just to hang with Maske shows Virgil's class, clearly a level above.
Hill beat Tiozzo. Hill destroyed Leslie Stewart far more impressively than Michael Moorer did. Hill shut out Czyz 12-0. You guys are talking about Virgil Hill like he's Caleb Plant's level or something.
Conteh was a two fisted boxer puncher before his hand injury and you clear bias against him will not alter that,saying he and Hill were similar is BS. Rudiger Schmidtke 174 lbs lost to John Conteh 175 lbs by TKO at 2:28 in round 12 of 15 Date: 1973-03-13 Location: Empire Pool, Wembley, London, United Kingdom Referee: Bernard Mascot "John Conteh of Britain slashed defending champion Rudi Schmidtke of West Germany and knocked him down three times before stopping him in the 12th round and winning the European light heavyweight title Tuesday night. Conteh pummeled Schmidtke with a combination of punches in the 12th round and had him helpless on his feet. Referee Bernard Maskco of France counted to eight as Schmidtke stood with his head bowed, then waved Conteh away, stopping the fight at 2:28 of the 12th round of the scheduled 15 rounder. All three knockdowns came in the 6th round when Conteh attacked with savage fury, flooring the German once for a count of nine and twice for eight counts - all within a minute." Vicente Rondon 180 lbs lost to John Conteh 180 lbs by TKO in round 9 of 10 Date: 1973-09-10 Location: Empire Pool, Wembley, London, United Kingdom Referee: Roland Dakin "Britain's John Conteh floored Venezuela's Vicente Rondon with a left hook in the 9th round and scored a TKO when the referee stopped the fight as Rondon was heavily punished when he got up. Conteh was declared the winner at 1:30 of the 9th round after a lackluster eight rounds. The two fighters clinched often and it was not until the 8th round that Conteh produced his best punch of the fight, a stiff right cross, to stagger Rondon for the first time. With almost the first punch of the 9th round, Conteh threw a left hook to Rondon's temple and dropped the Venezuelan for a count of seven. When Rondon got up, Conteh pounced and drove him into the ropes and began to batter him systematically. Rondon's guard came down and he turned his back in an attempt to escape the blows when referee Roland Dakin threw in the towel." -United Press International Post fight comments "Rondon was up against a much younger and stronger boxer than he has fought for some time and we have no excuses at all for the decision." -Felix Zabala, Rondon's manager "Conteh is an excellent boxer and will certainly beat Bob Foster when he fights him in the near future." -Vicente Rondon
I'd favour Conteh to win a close one on points. I think Hill's fleet-footedness, durability and caution see him go the distance. Not entirely sure he'd make enough of an impression offensively or deal with Conteh in close effectively enough to sway the judges, though. Michalczewski and, to a lesser extent, Del Valle showed the way to beat Hill. You can't wait on him, and you have to get rough and force the exchanges where both men are opening up. Conteh could do this, but he'd need to be at his sharpest to close the distance. I will say, though, that Hill is better than anything Conteh beat and would certainly be John's best win. And if Hill nicked this one on a tight decision it wouldn't have been a shock.
JC gets far more credit as what HE COULD HAVE BEEN instead of what he really did. Hill was world class for over a decade won titles in different divisions. Hill has a better jab and his foot work is pretty good. JC would have problems with Hills movement. I would take Hill by decision in a close fight. JC is not going to out jab Hill.
Thanks buddy, appreciate your kind words, they are not taken for granted, the forum grows as do we, it's a pleasure and a privilege to part of our community, sharing our knowledge and enlightening fellow poster along the way, not in a brash, condescending manor, but a polite and accepting tone,no one can know it all, I am happy to learn and be educated by fellow posters, the aim is to keep our responses well mannered and appreciative, accepting of our mistakes if they occur, and not chiding others when said mistakes are made by them. stay safe Clinton, and I will spare your blushes and not say you incorporate all the above.