Greg Haugen talks about Whitaker, Chavez, and his career.

good interview. Greg was a very good fighter, but I do not think he would have ever beaten Chavez trained properly or not.

 

What if Haugen hadn't made the "There ain't 100,000 Mexicans that can afford tickets" remark, what result do you see then? Not necessarily saying Haugen would've won, but, if Chavez wasn't so pissed off, could it have at least gone the distance?

The Chavez of this bout mirrored the Montreal Duran in terms of fiery intensity and drive. Nothing would've denied them on these respective nights.

 

Did he really say all those things?

I remember reading an interview of his where he basically says he said the 100 tijuana cab drivers remark but the rest was either twisted or fabricated by Don King to hype up the fight.

 

Well I agree with you on Chavez being motivated and yeah Haugen made a big mistake, although I think Chavez would have probably won in round 9 or so, but not in such a dominating way. With Duran in Montreal, had Ray stayed on his toes and counterpunched he would have beaten Duran in June of 1980 also. Easily I think, and I am going to get everyone on ESB upset with that comment, but I just believe it and know it. Ray easily beats Duran if he stays on his toes and fights his boxing fight and uses his speed. In the early 1980's, Ray was great once he had the mental and physical aspects of his game focused. As for Haugen. Wow, that fight was brutal- Haugen got Chavez really mad with that comment. I remember Chavez knocked him down in round one with a lead right easily. It looked almost like a mismatch. Put it another way, do I think if Whitaker made those comments about Chavez that Chavez would have beaten Whitaker? No. I think Chavez might have come out more aggressive, and Pernell would have countered Chavez with a nice clean punch, which would have made Chavez go back to his normal fight. Haugen was sort of made for Chavez. He was smaller than Chavez a little and just not as strong. Chavez did everything better.

 

certain fights are not the types you want to get mad. Hagler,Chavez guys like that fight better when they are upset. Hearns got Hagler upset in 1985 and Hagler came out as more aggressive than he ever did. He never fought like that before or after that. Unique for Hagler.

 

Haugen had under-rated talent and abilities but his management sucked and threw him to the wolves. Even so, he beat some excellent fighters and earned the right to share the ring with of the greatest. I hope he is doing well.

 

Nice to hear that he is still coherent and doing ok.

 

Haugen was definitely worthy of the nickname " the toughguy". He is also in my opinion, an underrated, and probably forgotten entity. This was a man who recorded wins over Camacho, Pazienza and Paul.. Not too shabby if anyone asks me. Of course, there were some fighters that he was stylistically unfit for, like Chavez, but frankly I think that a lot of lightweights, Jr. welters, and welterweights, would have had a tough time with this guy...

 

i Disagree he just happen to fight the best fighters around, nothing wrong with his managment putting him in those fights,since he proved he was capable of winning. I remember thinking Jimmy Paul was gonna kill him and he pulled that one out, Thought Camacho would beat him and he pulled that one out, Same with Pazienza, also surprised many by how easy he whupped a comebacking Mancini, he proved he belonged in the ring with Anyone. No shame losing to 2 of the greatest guys around at the time. He deserved those big paydays.

 

Haugen was always a favorite of mine. I was stoked that he won that rematch so well against Paz...I think he got screwed the first time, by the way..and I loved the pre-fight verbal **** he and Paz got into..Haugen called him "pizza face"...I think his mouth got him into a world of **** against Chavez...JCC was the **** when he got motivated by some percieved "insult" to his country or whatever..it was a painful fight to watch..and it was a very lonely, hostile place for Haugen,,he was the token Gringo ritual sacrifice that night..but he asked for it..or rather Don King asked for it for him...his two fights with Camacho were very close and competitive, though I think the "old" pre-Rosario version of the Macho Man would have totally outclassed Greg. Haugen was a good, smart fighter with subtle boxing skills, as Jimmy Paul found out, and he wasn't the "brawler" that all publicity said he was..he was a smart fighter..not a big puncher..and he was in many ways an old school type of guy. I hope he does well in life.

 

:good

 

I think he looks great. I tought this interview was a few years ago at first because of how sharp his expressions are.

 

Haugen's was an interesting, and indeed exciting story. Excellent fighter with a great background. Never would have beat Julio tho.