Frank Fletcher .Vs. Vito Antuofermo

Vito loved this king of fight and he had more skill than Fletcher

 

I`d also go with Vito to win a decision. This would have been a good one and I can see a potential bloodbath unfolding here as both men cut rather easily.

 

I would say Vito by knockout. Antuofermo was top ranked middleweight for 5 years waiting for title shot, and evendropped down to 154 to try for shot there. He earnrd it at 154 by beating German champ Eckerd Dagge for Eueopeon title, but guess who got world title shot at 154? Dagge won it, then instead of giving Vito shot, he defended against Emile Griffith--who Antuofermo had also defeated, four years earlier. Fight was on television, so Antuofermo got to see 2 guys he had wins over fighting for title!

He went back up to middleweight, fought all the best, and still had to wait.
Fletcher was tough, but had big television build up, and was not in same category as Vito Antuofermo. His victory over Cyclone Hart is one of greatest brawls you will ever see at middleweight for past 40 years, if you ever get chance to see it do so. It's rarley, maybe never, shown. His Vinny Curto fight was good too, all action for 10 rounds.

 

Vito is the much better fighter.

 

Vito would win by a unanimous decision.But Frank would take the early rounds.

 

Vito was a vastly underrated defensive fighter, with a ridiculous combination of stamina and physical strength (for his size). Frank would not be backing him into retreat, and this is one instance where the Animal comes out second in endurance. Fletcher stopped Green when Hard Rock panicked at the unfamiliar sight of his own blood. Antuofermo couldn't have cared less, and would probably be disappointed if he didn't drip at least a little blood at some point. Vito was a world champion. Frank never advanced to a title shot. It would have been very entertaining, but Antuofermo would sweep the final rounds for a clear cut UD.

 

I love Frank! he could box (underrated skill, here), or brawl Philly style, but he is in for a bad night!

Luckily Vito has a tendancy to be a slow starter, as Frank applies some serious pressure to take an early pts lead. Around rd 5 Vito stars hitting his stride, by the 8th he has taken control of the fight. I guess it could go the distance, but I see the mosquito biting him in the 11th, and the animal goes down!

Sorry Frank!

 

This would indeed be a bloodbath. As with Antuofermo-Hamsho, I can see either man taking it on cuts, but I lean toward Vito by decision or maybe even late KO, as he then ponders what Mafia-related movie he'll star in next.

 

I saw Fletcher get brutalized by Juan Domingo Roldan on the Hagler-Duran undercard in 1983.... I vaguely remember Animal having an absolute war with either James "Hard Rock" Green or it could also have been Curtis Parker... Then there was the fight with Scypion where Fletcher's mother attacked WS in the ring after the fight.... It turned it was not really even his real mother.... Great publicity stunt though with her hollering at the top of her lungs ringside during the entire fight.... Loved those days because boxing was more accessible and ubiquitious on network television on the weekends in the 80's..
Anyway, back to the question.... For all the animal's power and aggression he was in Vito's class so I'll take Antuofermo to dominate for the most part (Fletcher would get his shots in too) in a comprehensive points win.... Don't think Vito would knock Fletcher out though.... Roldan, who I mentioned before, had a lot more power in his punches than Vito.

 

Meant to say Fletcher was not quite in Vito's class as a world class fighter IMO.

 

i would take Fletcher in a late stoppage. Vito was pretty used up by 1981 and Fletcher was on point in 80-82. I think Fletcher hit harder and his style would grind Vito down to a bloody mess. Vito POOOUUURRREEEDDD blood in the 80s compared to Frank. and The Animal stays on him and gets him in the 12th, by bloody stoppage. The refs short looks like Chrisadulos after the fist Galindez-Kates fight.:firedevi:

 

Antuofermo by midround stoppage.

 

Vito was classes above and would beat him by clear decision ..