Just a few questions, as i see he is highly rated by many around here. How good was he? Of the film I've seen he appears to have a great jab and footwork but what were his strengths and weaknesses as you see them? As for his series with Curtis Cokes and Emile Griffifth how controversial were the decisions and did he prove himself superior to these fighters. Hopefully you can help me out with understanding his career a little better.
One of the better all round fighters Ive seen a decent catalogue of. The consensus is that he got the better of Griffith in their series and was flat out robbed in the 4th fight which I have not seen ..From what Ive seen of I think the 2nd and 3rd, he looked like the better fighter. Considering how revered Griffith is today, Rodriguez should just about be considered his equal or at least his better at 147...but a lot won't remember him that way. As for the Cokes fights...the first one sounds like it could have gone either way but considering the circumstances behind that one you gotta feel for LMR there. His plane was hijacked on the way to Dallas and it completely derailed his preparation for the fight. He defeated him by wide and unanimous scores in the rematch a few months later. By the time he fought Cokes for the eliminator, Luis was getting past it and reportedly having issues with the weight. I think also instead of Luis rightfully being champion and having the paydays and opportunities that come with it, he had to again take on fair dinkum and world class middleweights just to pay the bills...putting a lot more mileage on his body. I have not seen any of the Cokes fights though, would really love to. Great outside and inside fighter, could box as good as anyone but also was very at home sluggin it out in close...One of the better body punchers you would see, what he lacked in pure speed he made up with timing and natural fighting instinct..but its not like he was slow at all. Great fighter in every sense of the word IMO.
I agree with both of you. Like I stated before, Luis Manuel Rodriguez was one of my favorite boxers ever. I liked him so much that when I boxed as a kid, I would try to copy his style. I met Emile Griffith several times before I told him that I rooted against him every time he fought Rodriguez. Emile is such a nice guy, so I told him that when I watch the tapes again, I root for him.
Rodriguez KO'd Tony Mundine in less than a minute in 1970 when he was supposed to have been well past it :bbb
Cokes & Luis had great respect for each other per my discussions with Cokes' manager. Raging Bull's descriptions of their 3 fights are accurate...and Cokes knew he had to get Rodriguez out of there in the 3rd fight. The 15 round distance worked in Cokes favor as Luis faded late. A fouth fight was to happen if Rodriguez had won the Nino Benvenuti fight and the MW title. Luis would then defend against Cokes at 160. But both fighters were past their primes and best that it didn't happen.
Great responses thus far. Was a reason (excuse) given for Luis' late fade out in the third Cokes fight? Had he been struggling to make the weight or something? It's certainly unlike Rodriguez to fade late from the select fights I've seen of his. Whilst Luis mastered most styles, would it be fair to say that he never mastered an elite, speedy boxer-puncher? (Can't really put that down as a weakness, more a question mark I guess...) How do you think he would fair against the likes of Ray Leonard, Tommy Hearns, Ray Robinson and Kid Gavilan in that respect?
Wow thanks WhataRock and Raging B(_)ll twoo great responses.. it's a shame that BS decisions spoilt his career somewhat. Its always a tragedy when a great fighter has to keep on fighting just to pay the bills...