How do they do? Both were big hitting Korean supermiddles, with late fight stamina, especially Park whom scored two stoppages in the 15th during his title reign. How do they do against the likes of Froch, Calzaghe, Kessler, Direll?
Well, Baek was a huge puncher, but otherwise technically limited and ponderous, plus toward the end of his prime when he fought above 160 consistently. He's the type who hits hard enough to have a genuine punchers chance against almost all of the top-rated super-middles of recent years, as hardly any are talented enough to entirely factor out his one great attribute.Probably gets a few shocking KO's against the Lacey's or Abraham's, but is also always liable for an upset loss or schooling due to his lack of overall ability. unlikely to be a champ for more than a few defences unless protected. I like Park and would say he's more naturally talented than most of the recent fighters, big problem is he really did have a bad chin.Norris level. That gave him a Norton-esque fear of big punchers who would pressure him.He would also often fight within himself to minimise risk, resulting in close Eubank-esque fights where he looked more talented, but wasn't working.He's also a natural middleweight. On the plus side he's good athletically, fine lead right, varied combos...generally a fluid talented mid-range offensive fighter who was quite like Chan-Hee Park at times. I think in a best vs best scenario he would beat most of the recent guys,-maybe even surprising Calzaghe though i reckon he's more likely to get outworked there.Also liable for the odd embarassing sudden KO loss. If he fights at 168 it probably pans out much like it did for him in the 80s, though he would be more recognised in today's established 168 scene. Now at 160, that's where he could potentially have a very good career.
I think Calzaghe beats both. Park was better than Baek, although ironically Park was dethroned by Fully Obelmejias, while Baek dethroned Obel. Park had a long reign, his best victim was arguably Lindell Holmes and that decision was very close. I think Calzaghe would definetly outwork Park and I think he would ko Baek. Baek was past his best at 168 and was ko'd by the ordinary Darren Van Horn. I think Park may beat Kessler. I don't know enough about Dirrell to say what would happen.
I have a bit of a different read than you on Baek. Regarding his power, I think Baek's KO ratio is a bit misleading, as he was not a concussive puncher as, say, Sung-kil Moon. He was a guy who knocked folks out by stringing together punches; so I don't know if he has a puncher's chance against contemporary or near-contemporary Super Middleweights. Also, it is important to stress that Baek--like Park--was not a natural 168 pounder; he was probably a natural welterweight who fought at junior middleweight in his prime, because he couldn't be arsed to train to get down to his optimum fighting weight. On the same token, I think you under-estimate Baek's technical skills. Of course, I am not saying he was a Chang or Chan-hee Park, but he was a clever fighter who was good at closing distance and optimizing punching angles. I think perhaps we have a terminological problem here. That is, it seems like some folks consider fighters who are slow or lumbering as technically un-sound because they are easily out-boxed, while, on the flip-side, they consider technically un-sound but very fast fighters as great "technicians" or possessing superior "boxing skills," simply because they can out-box folks on natural athleticism (e.g. Ali, Roy Jones). Baek simply gives the impression that he is technically incompetent, because he is so slow; it also does not help that I suspect most of his films that are readily available in the West show him at his past-prime, corpulent self. I agree with you mostly on Park, except you seem to over-rate him a bit.
