Elite Light Heavyweights

Thanks Flea...it was a great era for lightheavies with Conteh and Mustafa just narrowly missing each other's orbit..and frustrating too in that both could have been so much better than they actually were (a scary thought really)

 

Range control was one of Conteh's best attributes. I thought he boxed superbly early on and throughout most of the fight against Saad until he started to fade in the later rounds, partly due to the fact that he himself was on the slide by that point and the accumulative effect of Saad's blows. In his prime I'd have favored him to hold on to the lead over Saad and win a close, competitive, but comfortable decision. Having to resort mostly to pure boxing later in his career because of his right hand troubles, at least against the top players, is what hampered his overall effectiveness. With a sturdier right hand and a sturdier dedication to the sport in general, there's no telling how far he could've gone. One of the best talents of the past 40 years, IMO.

 

It's sporadic, but I mean that when he does throw it he throws it with vigour. Not as much in his 'prime' but, as you said, Conteh limited exposing his dwindling punch resistance by tightening things up. I personally feel he looked awesome in 'Matador mode', Saad was just too persistant.

Prime for prime they would both be a mess. Because of Conteh opening up more I say he still gets tagegd more. Do you agree that he was dentable, even at his best? I just don't feel he was iron clad, though he was very tough. I feel mixing up his approach may see him out of their quicker.

Of course, if he implemented the same style as he actually did, but with increased physical attributes, he probably would've lasted the distance. But I don't feel Saad was around his best either, although the rematch made him look awesome to anyone who wasn't aware of how shot Conteh was by then (I mean, he looks like he's pissed in the ring, going down multiple times, sometimes from nothing)

 

Got there just before, well put mate:good

His general durability though Pea; unstoppable in his prime, or do you feel he could go against the 'right' opponent?

 

Incidentally, thinking of the Conteh saad fight has got me thinking about Eddie Cotton.He's another guy that hardly ever gets mentioned and he was a damn good boxer-puncher.He gave a mighty effort against Torres when well past his best...a proper clean boxing effort, unlike most of the stuff Hopkins has given us at a similar age.

 

Conteh was sheer class..competing with his ring gifts was his "gift" of appealing so much to the opposite sex, and that helped take a toll on his 'in the ring" exploits, much like it did my man Willie Pastrano.

 

Cotton is someone I don't know enough about,t hough Greg was telling me about him yesterday.

Have only seen of Torres whats on youtube to be honest. Lovely left hook. Am I remembering correctly that Jose wasn't the most durable? Or am I wrong? Can't remember which poster said it to be honest.

 

I'd say Saad was definitely at his best for the Conteh fights, what makes you say otherwise Flea?

As for Conteh's durability, I think it was very strong. I wouldn't class him as unstoppable in his prime with as little evidence as we have to prove it either way, but I think he showed that he was the type of fighter that would regroup and come back stronger than ever once hurt. It lit a fire underneath him. His toughness and mentality are just as big a part of my high rating of him as his technical skills were. He really seemed to be the total package before hand and drinking issues slowed him down before we really got to see him at his best. If anything, the fact that he was able to adapt so well after his right hand went just strengthens my stance on his mental fortitude even more.

If you're asking me to pick a fighter to stop him, I'll go with the standard: Bob Foster. He's as much of a stylistic dilemma at that weight as Tommy Hearns was at Welterweight.

 

Where Cotton blew it was in the last round of his fight with Torres, when in the words of a fight writer "he did nothing, in a kingly, regal sort of way"..

 

Bob Foster was "The Killer Preying Mantis From Mars"..in regards to the lightheavies of his time...a great, and scary guy at the time.

 

I'm just getting my dates mixed up Pea.

Good post, what I was looking for from you:good

What do you feel about my theory that Foster was terrified of being hit? Or do you think he was so determined to keep it at his range he almost panicked to re-set himself? I'm talking about Light-Heavy Foster, not the usual 'he got smashed by Frazier' irrelevant bull****.

Foster was one mean mutha ****er, and luckily for him anyone that tried to follow up any initial success got banged out

Maybe I'm just overreacting he just seems to overtly flinch when people throw punches at him. He was definitely a very composed fighter, but I just saw him panic a few times when I watched a fair bit of him recently.

 

Was I? :huh

Never seen him fight, got a DVD of him I will watch tommorow though.

 

Ezzard Charles, Sam Langford, Archie Moore, Gene Tunney, Billy Conn, Michael Spinks, Bob Foster, Tommy Loughran, Roy Jones jr and Harold Johnson. There are other notables like Jimmy Bivins, Dwight Muhammad Qawi and Tommy Gibbons.

 

foster had absolutely NO fear of any lightheavies..he was one of the most "I'll knock him dead" type guys I've ever seen in the ring...and with his power, it was easy to see why.

 

I'll find some genuine examples of what I'm talking about Red :good

Just seems to run off when pressured. The only thing I can compare it to is the way Wlad and Vitali panic when under pressure (and yes, despite his decent chin Vitali does **** himself) but maybe it's just him desperately trying to regain range, although, considering he could knock you dead with full extension or just a few inches he needn't bothered

One of the most terrifying stalkers I have ever had the pleaure to watch, I base my style around him myself (although I love getting hit:nut)