Fantasy fights - Part II

1) I almost never pick against Duran at 135. Duran points.

2) Gonzalez late KO. Should be able to get to Lopez eventually.

3) Robinson mid-late KO. If Leonard could do it, so could Robinson

4) Not seen enough of Montiel. I'll go for Marquez.

5) Rosario KO. JLC will be in front of him and Chapo would get the job done.

6) Bowe points. Big and tall enough to get to Vitlali.

7) Whitaker points. The only fighter active in my time of watching boxing that would tempt me to go against #1.

 

I always wondered what the more knowlegeable fans thought of Shane at Lightweight where would he rank all time down there. Impressive record and impressive attributes but no one really around him when he was there.

 

No, unless theres a VERY good reason I usually give the winner of the 15 round fight the benefit of the doubt in a mythical 12 round matchup. Most times the winner would have paced the fight differently and scored an 10th or 11th round KO.

The greats pace a fight, its not down to luck the fighters like Arguello, Leonard and Sanchez score late KOs in 15 round fights....

 

(1) Shane Mosley vs Roberto Duran (Lightweight)

Duran would eat him up really. Get through that razzmatazz speed and flair to get inside and really rough Shane up in a really dominant inside performance IMO, using his long range game to get inside then take Shane apart.

Duran wide points.

(2) Ricardo Lopez (Straweight) vs Humberto Gonzalez (Light Flyweight)

Lopez probably is the better here, and the fact he really could bang adds to his success. I can see Lopez the one dictating the pace and distance of the fight, keeping it long and fairly tactical. Gonzalez won't be able to aggress as well as Lopez has the punch to keep him off. Gonzalez will be pretty much out classed then stopped in the mid rounds IMO, looking to get aggressive to take hold of the fight, then getting countered to hell.

Sorta like a soldier running out from behind cover in a desperate last stand, then getting shot down by the enemy.



(3) Tommy Hearns vs Sugar Ray Robinson (Welterweight)

From what I have seen at Welterweight (and I know Duonedem (spelling) agrees) is that Robinson was a bit more aggressive and imposing at Welterweight and would have no qualms being the aggressor and looking for Hearns.

Thats the thing that swings it for me, Robinson would be able to pressure Hearns and walk him down and land hard, precise combinations to stop him, although it would be tough because of Hearns power and skills.

Another thing to consider Hearns was not much taller than Robby.

Posted this in the classic today.

(4) Rafael Marquez vs Fernando Montiel (Bantamweight)

Don't want to say, need to see more Montiel. But gut says a Marquez decision.

(5) Jose Luis Castillo vs Edwin Rosario (Lightweight)

The conventional thinking would be that Castillo could take Rosario's shots, and apply steady pressure, forcing Rosario to out box him ala Ramirez I.

However, Rosario was a phenomenal puncher. I would like to see him take charge from the off set with hard authoritative punches looking to back up Castillo. With Rosario's angles, speed and punching power I reckon he could spectacularly KO Castillo early with some brutal punches.

(6) Riddick Bowe vs Vitali Klitschko (Heavyweight)

Heavyweights dont interest me, wont even waste any thought on it.

(7) Manny Pacquiao vs Pernell Whitaker (Lightweight)

I just think Whittaker is far too skilled in every department. I can see him making Pac miss and landing some lovely crisp counters and generally outboxing him. However, Pac's awkward stance and speed can catch Pea early and maybe nick a few rounds but once Pea adjusts its all Sweet.

 

Rafa would KO Montiel in 5, different leagues apart at BW. As soon as Montiel opens up he would be decimated!

Agree with Gazs other picks, apart I think Finito could decision Gonzalez if its a prime version movin up and not the one at the end of his career. Just feel his technical superiority would carry him to a close decision.

 

I've bold the words in my last post that you seem to have inadvertently missed..

 

Robinson aint that much shorter than Hearns, maybe 2 inch maybe less.

 

Agree with you here, at bantam there's no way Montiel could hang with a prime Marquez.

The other ones I'm confident in is Whitaker over Pac and Duran over Mosley.

Lopez-Gonzalez don't know enough about, Rosario don't know much about.

Hearns-SRR, you've got to back Ray to eventually get to Tommy surely? Especially in a 15 rounder.

Bowe-Vitali is tough, we've got to remember prime Vitali was quite better than the Vitali we see today.

 

Relatively easy ones to pick IMO.

(1) Shane Mosley vs Roberto Duran (Lightweight): Duran all day, better then Shane in almost every way.

(2) Ricardo Lopez (Straweight) vs Humberto Gonzalez (Light Flyweight): Win for Finito. Lopez is one of the most technically sound and underrated fighters i've ever seen. Only thing that lets him down was not moving up and his comp. He'd be to sharp for Humberto.

(3) Tommy Hearns vs Sugar Ray Robinson (Welterweight - 12 rounds): Robinson stoppage. Here's the big problem for Tommy, He's difficult to outbox, but couldn't fight past fatigue. It's one of the reasons Ray Leonard beats him everytime over 15 rounds. Robinson would get in on him and stop him late.

(4) Rafael Marquez vs Fernando Montiel (Bantamweight): Marquez stoppage. The Marquez brothers are awesome combination punchers. The way Rafa transitions and countering ability would cause Montiel big problems.

(5) Jose Luis Castillo vs Edwin Rosario (Lightweight): Rosario in a war.

(6) Riddick Bowe vs Vitali Klitschko (Heavyweight): close decision either way, leaning towards Bowe. His inside work would probabily make the difference. Vitali isn't a big enough puncher to keep Bowe off, who was more rounded. But it's hard to outwork and decision a prime Vitali.

(7) Manny Pacquiao vs Pernell Whitaker (Lightweight): Pernell comfortabily. The worst possible match-up for Pacquiao, just a Nightmire for him!

 

Duran UD - Easy pick here, Shane Mosley was the same fighter at 135 as he is now for me. He's not a great outfighter, he's a great gunslinger but he isn't likely to beat Duran there. Duran has too many strings to his bow inside and out in this fight, despite Shane's great speed here. Duran could outbox him or beat him in a phone booth it makes no odds.

Lopez TKO - Better boxer, could see his counterpunching being successful here and breaking Gonzalez down over the course of the bout.

Hearns/Robinson - I've never watched Robinson at welterweight so this is very hard. No real point predicting something I know nothing about.

Marquez stoppage - Marquez was a beast at bantamweight. He's a little more technical than Montiel, who is more in the boxer/pressure fighter mould whereas Marquez is very orthodox in style. But the key for me here is Marquez was a genuine puncher at this weight and would be walking Montiel onto a certain number of hard shots.

Rosario stoppage - Mostly comes down to the fact I fancy a prime Rosario to handle Castillo's punching a little better than the reverse. As well as the fact he could change it up and box with Castillo if need be. Either way I don't see JLC's pressure getting it done, I think he'd get banged out or ground down.

Klitschko UD - Bit contraversial maybe, but I've never been a huge lover of Bowe. Though I'd concede he was very well rounded for a huge guy. That said I don't see much of his inside prowess counting for much against a prime Vitali because he has to get there first. I'd fancy Vitali's awkwardness, his volume of punching, to rack up the points from the outside.

Whitaker UD - Nothing needs to be said about this.