One word answers: who wins these fights?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by sweet_scientist, Mar 16, 2011.


  1. El Bujia

    El Bujia Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I had a feeling sweet_scientist put the Nunn/Fullmer matchup in there for a reason, that's why I held off. I gotta refresh myself on Don. I've seen at least a fight or two of his, but have little distinct recollection of his ability.

    Any reason for that pick, sweet, outside of Nunn's irritating inconsistency? I know this is strictly a "no analysis" thread, but that's an intriguing pick. I'm thinkin' I might keep your views in mind while going over some of his fights to see if they hold merit.
     
  2. sweet_scientist

    sweet_scientist Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    As you know Pea, I'm on a quasi-trolling spree at the moment (trying to put a few provocative statements out there), but I pretty much just find it odd that we'd dismiss a guy who beat the likes of Joey Archer, Emile Griffith (even in the Griffith loss I thought he drew with Emile), Bobo Olson, Terry Downes (yep, he was robbed), and drew with Tom Bogs in Denmark and Gustav Sholz in Germany (make of that what you will). He even gave Nino Benvenuti hell in his hometown.

    What the **** has Michael Nunn really done apart from land a lucky one on Sumbu?

    Now don't get me wrong, Fullmer has losses to guys of lesser quality than Michael Nunn, but I definitely think he has a chance of roughing Nunn up and beating him.
     
  3. El Bujia

    El Bujia Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    :lol:I thought it might've been a sort of Devil's advocate pick. I hear you on the trolling, though. It's good fun, people oughta try it more.

    Nunn was largely a waste of talent, but he clearly had a lot of it, even though I've always been the guy to point out his faults. If he comes in like he did in any of his fights post-Kalambay (he must've thought he was on top of the world after that one) and pre-Toney, I could easily see him giving away a close one to someone of that ilk. He was awful in those fights. No drive whatsoever.

    As an aside, how do you think Kalambay would've done in a rematch, or at an earlier point in his career? I've always subscribed to the theory that it was indeed a 1/100 punch he was caught with, but I think Nunn would've been a very difficult puzzle for him to solve anyway. It's tough to see many pure boxers faring well against his like, provided he came in on form.
     
  4. sweet_scientist

    sweet_scientist Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Indeed, Nunn was a talent, but I always thought (even at his best) that he had an almost Paul Williams-esque lazy defensive side that could see lesser talents finding their marks on him and pushing him in fights where he was clearly the more able. I don't know if it stemmed from an arrogance or what, but he definitely left openings for others to exploit.

    Against Sumbu at that stage of Sumbu's career, I agree with you that he would have found Nunn a handful, but I think I still would have given him even odds in a rematch. Sumbu seemed to have more go in him (even at that stage) and would have really tested Nunn down the stretch if it remained close.

    As for Don Fullmer, he's just one amongst hundreds of guys from the past that don't get their due becuase they were overshadowed by such a cornucopia of talent.