[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jez9Kr-wCDI[/ame] Saad is a little bit past his absolute best here, but as the finish suggests was still a fighter of some repute. How good was Lottie Mwale? Just checking his name up showed a built up record, but he seems to have gone on to mix in some good class for a number of years, invariably losing though. Believe he was the Commonwealth light heavy champ going into this fight. Mwale seems alright; in the early going he's slipping the (as usual, slow starting) champs jab and peppering him with combos, using a high guard and good upper body movement to evade Saads attempts to start building his rhythm. Saad gets through as the 1st progresses but with credit to the challenger, he's game and isn't dissuaded. Late on in the first he lands a barrage of shots that may have shook another fighter up more visibly, but Saad soldiers on, landing a nice short left hook in close at the end of the round that doesn't quite shake up Mwale up as much as the announcer seems to think IMO. I gave the first round to the challenger. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=988G4tSGIYY[/ame] From the beginning of the third round Saad starts demonstrating the potency of his left hook, landing different shots with it, all with perfect form and whipped in with speed. I think Mwale smothered his own work at stages in this round; the resilient champion starting to show his class, bombarding the Zambian after pushing him back to the ropes. In the fourth and final round, Saad boxes a bit more patiently, not chucking big shots but pulling his shots to draw Mwale into something big. The final shot, a left uppercut following a right hand, is beautiful in its form and placement; the results are destructive. And for those that only want to see the (aesthetically pleasing) chill-inducing stoppage [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmxVi3Q4Xdc&feature=related[/ame]
Mwale wasn't all that well known/regarded as compared to the other top light-heavies of that era, but he did have the distinction of having beaten Marvin Johnson prior to his capture of the LHW title.
Wow, didn't know that. As I say I only skimmed over his record, saw he was undefeated when Saad challenged him, don't like to use Boxrec as a source. :yikes****, also see he sparked SIBBO in one round!!!?!?!?!? What am I missing here? I f'n hate boxrec as a source and this is why, I still can't get a gauge of him as a fighter. A good defence for Saad? Obviously not much in the grand scheme of things. M2S; where do you rank Saad in the great pantheon of 175lb fighters? I have him just outside the top ten personally.
i remember mwale kayoing a young tony sibson in 1 round.sibson was out of his depth and mwale was a very good fighter.saad muhammad had been the ultimate warrior with a huge heart.
Same here. He could've possible made my top 10 if he'd had more longevity. Here's the fighters I'd rate over him: Charles Tunney Moore Spinks Langford Foster Harold Johnson Conn Greb Loughran Bivins Gibbons Qawi After that, he could rate anywhere IMO.
Bar his win over him (which knowing you, you will have put into perspective anyway) what is it about Qawi that sees you rank him over Saad?:good
Agreed. I think he'd spark Archie Moore at least once in a 3 fight series. Moore is obviously superior, but they both have styles that see them getting hurt and I think Saad has the power to put The Ol' Mongoose away. Even if anyone disagrees with the above hypothesis, there's no doubting that Moore vs Saad would've been a war for the ages:good
More dominant in his wins (vs. the same era of opponents), more technically skilled, and was more successful over a longer period of time (and vs. bigger men).
Mwale was very good imo.Viscious puncher and good technician.Just so hard to break into the very elite at that time though. Two viscious knockouts against Gregory and Saad finished him.
Yeah, he impressed me. I thought he did okay, though his upper body movement dropped off as the rounds carried on, dunno whether he had stamina problems or whether he was just gaining some respite after a tough and hard-fought start to the fight. Either way; aesthetically, Saad's most pleasing knockout imo. Beautiful uppercut.
