The Kid Gavilan Appreciation Thread

Afew months ago Kid Gavilan was a fighter I never shined too, I never thought him to be as great as many claimed and I did not think he looked too good on film.

Now after reviewing his career I have come to an entirely different conclusion and can see a legitimate case for having him as the 2nd best Welterweight ever or even top.

Heres a list of contenders, champs etc... he beat *Welterweight unless otherwise stated

Walter Cartier (Middleweight)
Gene Burton (Middleweight)
Tommy Bell
Ike Williams
Rocky Castellani (Middleweight)
Beau Jack
Laurent Dauthille (Middleweight)
Billy Graham x 2
Robert Villemain (Middleweight)
Gene Hairstone (Middleweight)
Tony Janiro x 2 1KO (Middleweight)
Paddy Young (Middleweight)
Johnny Bratton x 2
Fitzie Pruden x 2
Bobby Dykes
Gil Turner
Chuck Davey
Tiger Jones
Carmen Basilio
Gaspar Ortega

Pretty impressive list of fighters. One thing to note is that the amount of Middleweights defeated, that is very impressive for a career Welterweight, who never really moved up and campaigned at Middleweight. The Welterweight division was practically ruled whilst he held the title and he was definitly a leading Middleweight contender.

However you should note the amont of losses he picked up, mostly controversial, which should perhaps mark him down.


On film Gavilan is definitly one of the best Welterweights we have footage of. He is perhaps the definition of a 'Ring General' as he really did controll a ring with his tremendous judgement of distance and ability to play the 'judges'.

His accuracy for me is unrivalled among the Welterweights his long whipping hooks and uppercuts as well as his underrated jab and straight were deadly accurate and stinging punches. He put them well together into blistering combiantions and often used these tremondously speedy combinations at precise times in which to 'steal' a round. However, I feel his jab was underviewed.

Apart from his technically correct boxing form he also was a master of feints as he used his, at times, unorthodox punching technique to lead on opponents and used clever movement, and steps to create openings and set up punches. He even feted wit his feet and could lay claim to creating the Ali shuffle aswell as the Bolo punch, as I am sure you are all well aware of his bolo punch.

Aswell as all of the previously mentioned stuff, he had tremendous head movement often bobbing and weaving and slipping. He also was extremly talented physically with speed and a granite chin, some cite that he has a lack of power but I disagree as mentioned above and by McGrain regulary he was a 'stinging' puncher.


Well that is my view on the Kid. Anyone have any alternative stance on the Kid? or want to comment on my view? Or just any general thoughts on the Kid?

 

He's taken me a while to get into (no as long as you) not sure why though.

Definitly a H2H monster, I pick Robinson, Burley to beat him convincingly over a series

and Napoles, Basilio, Duran and Leonard to be about level with him in a series.

 

Good point on Leonard, I just think Leonard is adaptable enough to figure out Gavilan at points of the fight and do enough to win rounds. Like you say there will be some bad decisions.

Burley does beat him.

One guy I think could beat Gavilan in a 1 fight series is Wilfrd Benitez. Has the defensive abilities to limit Gavilan's output and Gavilan isnt a massive puncher that can dent his chin in 1 shot IMO. Just not too sure how the feints would go down with Benitez.

 

Definitly, what do you think Duran would do that would trouble Gavilan?

 

Haha

It would be a good fight but I could also seeing it being quite cagey.

 

Gavilan's lack of power is due to his low KO %, tell Tony Janiro or Walter cartier (Middleweights) he hit like a *****!

 

Ceferino Garcia used the Bolo punch before him I beleive. The actual bolo punch IMO is just showy but the actual angle of the punch is an effective blow and when used without the spin can be effective.

BTW for sheer ballsy, over the top showman ship i think it is round 4 of Gavilan vs Bratton II

 

It could have easily been as would Gavilan had access to films of Garcia at the time of his early career.

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