I found myself thinking about what might have happened had these two met in the ring. Could Gavilan match or better Cocoa Kid's record against Williams in a series? No weight stipulated- just best versions of both.
Cool fight. Awesome fight. Style advantage for Holman I guess but marginal, KG is pretty universal. Hard to imagine either man losing this to be honest.
Gavilan at 147. Williams at 160. Gavilan just wasnt as good north of 147. He didnt have the strength or power to be as effective there.
What fights or attributes hint at this stylistic advantage, in your view? My guess is Holman does slightly better against the Kid's closest rivals at the relevant weights- those being Basilio, Bratton, and Graham- than the other way around. Gavilan may outdo Holman against Hardwick, but I strongly doubt he'd find much success against Burley. The match-up against Burley is what sways it Williams' way for me.
A guy as busy and durable as Gavilan would give Burley problems in my opinion. Its almost certainly going to the cards and Gavilan is great at piling up points. Burley could timid and outworked.
I think Williams would benefit mostly from a style that protects him from KG benefitting any way rather than any stylistic foil. Williams would probably box Gavilan like he did the other dangerous fighters he met, especially slightly past his peak, but before that too I reckon. A sort of faster-handed Bernard Hopkins maybe. Most of all he'd punish KG over anything flashy, I don't see any bolos, I don't see any right hand leads, and I think Williams would slow him down to the body, too. The Williams jab, an underrated punch if ever there was one (Joe Louis speaks about it with reverence) is a controlling punch that Williams loved most of all because he didn't have to risk his hands. I think that after a fast start, KG would find it difficult to win rounds, not because he was being out-boxed in the traditional sense but because he would be unable to get anything going. Williams wouldn't fight him even in spurts, I don't think, it would be tolls for moving into space. Fifteen round fight benefits him here - i think I talked myself into a Williams victory.
Hi Buddy. Neatly laid out, and on point, and lots to agree with, I also see Williams coming out on top, possible it could be a split decision, due to The Hawks phoenminal work rate, but yes a win for the murderer's row incumbent. stay safe McGrain, chat soon Mike.
