Both usually only mentioned in passing when talking about Foster, Conteh etc.. They were nonetheless excellent fighters, two of the best of their generation not to pick up a title, alongside Lopez, though neither of them have gained appreciation in the way he has. Ahumada was a versatile well-schooled fighter, with that distinctively Argentinian unorthodox element to his fighting.Not that different to Galindez and Laciar, he could move well, box, jab, swarm and brawl, while switching his offense up effortlessly between textbook punches and awkward looping combinations. Probably deserved the title against Foster and had a great fight with Conteh.I don't think he looked quite the same fighter by his last bout and final challenge against Galindez, but he still gave a strong effort in another tough fight.IF he had a bigger punch, he would have been extremely tough to beat. Kates was different.Far more of a classic, textbook boxer, he was one of the smoothest and best technicians around at the time.He was also hampered by a lack of power and maybe a bit too "polite" at times, yet was undoubtably a very hard man to outbox.Could easily have been a strong champion in some of the more recent light heavy era's. Any opinions on these two often forgotten fighters?..If you aren't too familiar with them and are looking for new fighters to check out, i rate both highly.
Nice thread Mante, i was watching some Kates before because of Sweet Pea's post in the match up thread. I've seen him before like, quality, i like the shots that come off the jab. He looks like one of them fighters that fights off that textbook element- as soon as you feel your jab land, throw the right, and then the combos. Really impressed with his technician (as you said) like style.
I always thought Ahumada was one of the best LHWs never to win the title. He had an impressive string of wins going into his fight with Foster, and of course he was robbed in that one. Very good technician, tough, and could punch. Lost an epic battle with Conteh for the title, and also lost to a peaking Galindez in what may have been his best performance, but neither of those is anything to be ashamed of. He also had a win over Galindez earlier in each other's careers. I would've liked to have seen him against Saad Muhamad. Kates was a good, solid boxer/technician, but I didn't think he was exactly a stellar fighter. He was one of those guys who could do a little bit of a lot of things, but didn't do any one thing spectacularly. He may have been good enough to give a number of quality LHWs a hard time (as he did to Saad and Galindez) but I think he would play second fiddle in almost any solid era. He did have Saad hurt surprisingly badly in their fight though, more than I've ever seen in any of his fights prior to Qawi.
Ahumada was BRUTALLY robbed in that Foster fight...he was landing that left hook all night, and Foster had no answer for them.
The 70's Lightheavies....one of my favorite eras. Foster knew he was thru when he drew with Ahumada. Kates spent 30 rounds in the Ring with Galindez...was stopped with one second left in fight #1.
He had a good arsenal of punches.It was the sneak lead right hand that mainly gave Conteh problems. Excellent chin too, though Galindez seemed to have his number in that respect early on.
A desperate Galindez had to leave his comfort zone of countering his way to decisions and land that title saving bomb that laid out Kates..somewhat riminiscent of Jake LaMotta's last minute ko of Tiberio Mitri.
