John was very skilled in the style he employed, he understood distance so well as he kept his weight on his back foot allowing his opponents blows to just miss while he would catch them with his own short lefts. I learned so much watching him that I was able to mimic myself.
I don't think we ever really saw Conteh at his peak. Early in his career (circa Ahumada) he was fiery and rugged, but that was cut short when he (permanently) injured his hand. IMO, the Conteh that fought Saad was perhaps cagier and an improved technician from the one that beat Ahumada, but he no longer had the fire and toughness he had shown earlier.
I think the young Conteh that beat Finnegan in the first fight already had the workings of a master boxer, similar to a Benitez with more offensive firepower. I honestly think he had that kind of talent. While he did fight with a much more rugged approach in the Ahumada fight, I think he was more or less just looking to prove himself. He seemed capable of switching up strategies for different fights and/or switching mid fight to adapt to his opponent. With Ahumada, he showed that he could hang in the trenches with and get the better of the thought to be stronger Ahumada, hampering his eyes and coming on strong down the stretch. Against Finnegan in the first bout, and Yaqui Lopez later on when essentially fighting with one hand, he showed that could box and counter like a master. The Finnegan bout was the better overall showing IMO, only because he was limited almost strictly to using the left hand against Lopez. He really had all the tools to become great.
After going hrough a tough patch after retiring he got himself back on track and as far as I know earns a comfortable living on the after dinner speech circuit. he was always a good talker John.
Most talented post-war british fighter imo. How did you score the first Mathew Saad fight? Thought Conteh was a little unlucky there.
I thought that Saad Muhammad just about deserved the verdict. Those two knockdowns were the clincher. John put up a great fight,though. It's a pity that he did n't retire then. It was sad watching the rematch. I thought John was definitely robbed in the Mate Parlov bout. In fact that was probably the biggest robbery I've seen in my years as a boxing fan.