Qawi would win IMO, DeLeon would give it the classic Bugner, just glad to be there show, ala what he did against Holyfield.
A well tuned 1982 version of DeLeon is gonna beat Qawi of 1985 at 190 pounds... DeLeon was a master boxer... Prior to 1985, DeLeon didn't lose much.... Qawi is an all around great fighter, but prime DeLeon was better at 190..... :bbb:deal MR.BILL:hat
Yep. I kind of think DeLeon has a nice chance for the upset here. Most folks will go with Qawi, but a lot of that is based on his lh bouts. If you just go watch his cruiser bouts only, it was a much different guy in there and Carlos was a good boxer. I think the Qawi footwork had slowed up quite a bit and he just would not catch DeLeon enough to win a decision.
To be a five time champ, he had to lose the title four times. And to do that in the 80s, in that barren division is pretty impressive.:scaredas: DeLeon was very talented, but far too inconsistent.
Deleon didn't have anything near Spinks firepower, which is the only thing that gave Qawi pause in his prime. I'd say a decision or late stoppage for Qawi.
I wouldn't say that Qawi was ever in his prime at cruiserweight. With all things considered, he was a man who stood 5'6 tall. He wasn't the force he was at 175, the cruiserweight division was simply weak enough for him to have a respectable run at it. I think it would be a close fight and I have difficulty in deciding which way it would go. Might resemble Qawi's bout with Ossie Ocasio.
I hit the wrong "button" in my vote...(sorry)...I think De Leon outboxes Qawi for stretches in the early rounds, but Qawi eventually grinds him down and stops him in the 14th or 15th.
