Let us now extoll the virtues of this generally unheralded but impossibly tough and unusually effective ruffian from Syria by way of New York. Ridiculous chin, awkward to the point that it actually benefitted him, swarming style, and more than his share of cocky bravado. In a non-Hagler middleweight division, I'm sure he wins a belt for at least a time, and was probably the second-best middleweight in the world from about 1980-1983. I had him winning narrowly against Minter which was a nice scalp still at that point, Benitez (though that was a faded version of course) he handed Mr. Mensa-head his first loss, and also beat Parker and Scypion. Whether or not you agree he on all those fights, he didn't shy away from a challenge. That much must be admitted.
Perhaps this would have fared better if I'd pitted Hamsho against Marciano. Or have Mark Ant start the thread for me.
Lol. Nice thread, Sal. Hamsho was awkward and filthy, but he was good solid contender in a decent era of middleweights, and would have been a good solid contender in other top eras as well, I think.
He would have been a title-holder if he'd come along a few years later. Among the post-Hagler belt-grabbing crowd he would have done fine.
Mark can’t help you this time, as it seems he has been temporarily booted. I haven’t watched the fight in years, but I also remember thinking Minter won the fight...but I am admitted Minter fan so maybe I need to revisit that fight?
Actually, a lot of you here seem to think Minter won. I might actually be in the minority thinking Hamsho did.
Here are my cards on the first Hamsho-Curtis Parker fight and the Alan Minter fight. In the Parker fight, the ref should have just phoned in his appearance, because it was 10 rounds of warning Hamsho about butting with no points taken (and some of them really blatant). The Minter fight I had it a little closer but Hamsho a close winner. Two good fights. I should mention that I thought Hamsho deserved the rematch with Parker, but not this one. Round 1: Parker Round 2: Hamsho Round 3: Hamsho Round 4: Even Round 5: Parker Round 6: Parker Round 7: Parker Round 8: Parker Round 9: Even Round 10: Parker Total: 6-2-2 Parker Round 1: 10-9 Hamsho Round 2: 10-9 Minter Round 3: 10-9 Hamsho Round 4: 10-9 Hamsho Round 5: 10-9 Minter Round 6: 10-9 Minter Round 7: 10-10 Even Round 8: 10-9 Minter Round 9: 10-9 Hamsho Round 10: 10-9 Hamsho 96-95 Hamsho
Hamsho against Vito primes would have been awsome..Hamsho got a gift against Parker first fight but hes a brutal nights work for almost anyone
From memory Hamsho finished strongly to win. AP scored it for him. He was tough and game and had that determination. He could well have been best of the rest, quite likely. A bit more power would have gone a long way for him too imo. Good brawler.
He was so tough and awkward, very busy fighter, I didn't like him, but of course would watch him, and hope he got beat
