Dirty fighters that were seldom dsqd

Pedroza was a unique case study. Reknowned for his dirty nature, but also one of the smoothest, most pleasing styles to the eye when in boxing mode. A hell of a stylistic dilemma to figure out for the opponent. One of my favorites.

 

or Rocky Lockridge (2) , et al.

 

Fighters opposing him seem to actually get more points taken away than he does

 

Hopkins

 

Pedroza and his corner were very much apprehensive waiting for the decision following that one though, due to the points deductions. They were genuinely afraid those fouls would cost them the title.

This brings up another consideration, that being instances where penalties reversed and determined the final score of a match. In their rematch, Armstrong was penalized four rounds against Ambers, costing Hank the lightweight title. He might as well have been disqualified there, as it was essentially the same difference. Losing three rounds on low blows also cost Canzi dearly in his rematch with Ross.

For me personally, I thus factor in not just those who were rarely disqualified, but who somehow managed to seldom even get penalized in the scoring. Ali tops my list. Mercante even pegged Muhammad as a dirty fighter in his autobiography, and Archie Moore specifically identified his physically draining ploy of yanking down on Foreman's head and neck in the clinches as the primary reason George was weakened enough to be knocked out in Kinshasa. Ali also thumbed Terrell. Holmes and Ali wouldn't have liked boxing exclusively with thumbless gloves. (Larry liked thumbing title challengers named Scott for some reason.)

How many photographs have you seen of Marciano following through with an elbow? Rocky did get penalized for low blows a few times, but he was only disqualified in his amateur debut.

Wepner was never disqualified, and seems to have rarely been penalized.

 

This is typical in sports, where instigation provokes retaliation. Usually, it's only the retaliatory strikes in anger which seem to get spotted by the officials, not the cunning and calculated initiatory infraction.

 

True, and I particularly think of his title defense against Johnny Davis with regard to his elbows. (Johnny was no choir boy himself, kneeing Qawi from behind in their middle bout.)

Are you talking about "Hammerhead?" (When I look at the conclusion of Holyfield and Rahman, I'm not sure who to apply that nickname to.)

 

Gene Fullmer
Nigel Benn
Conteh
Wilfredo Gomez

 

Hatton

 

Yep, right out of a cartoon. If Evander had inflicted something like that on Tyson, maybe Mike couldn't have gotten his mouth close enough to take a bite. (I wonder how long it took the swelling to go away. That must've hurt like hell the morning after.:beat)

 

You'd be better off following the refs than fighters.

Its not very common you see it being picked up compared to other professional sports. I've noticed Rugby League in Australia has increased its standard of refereeing substantially and the affects are higher quality matches and player abilities.

 

I can't comment on Benn, but Fullmer and Conteh certainly brought butting heads to the fore (pun initially not intended, but on reflection..."fore" makes for a good rotten play on words).

Gomez? I get the impression he might have gotten far more edgy and urgent in his tactics after Sanchez ruptured his aura of invincibility, but I thought he was fairly sportsmanlike prior to that loss, and he seemed to feel he could afford to be charitable due to his vast superiority over most opponents. (He actually ran after an outmatched Eddie Ndukwu to prevent him from falling backwards out of the ring when he scored an early knockdown.)