Lopez came up short at lightheavy against Saad twice, Michael Spinks, Victor Galindez twice & John Conteh, all champs. But Lopez was very competitive in these fights. Does Lopez have the power and skill to beat Marvin Johnson, who himself could sometimes be tagged pretty good? This content is protected
WOW good good fight!! I'll think about it a bit. Rt now favoring Johnson over 10. I have the utmost respect for both these warriors
Siding slightly with Yaqui on this one. Especially the longer the fight progresses. But I wouldn't leave my seat during a matchup like this.
If there is a Valhalla for boxers both of these fighters would deserve to be their. Both were the ultimate warriors who didn't give their opponents anything, they had to take it from them. A great FIGHT !!!! On the level of Chacon vs Limon or Boza Edwards where neither fighter would give ground willingly. I lean to Lopez on this one, better durability and stamina but it would be a war to the end.
I like Marvin .. Yaqui was an insane warrior but he would get hurt coming to Marvin early .. Marvin was a step behind Saad and Mustafa but a step above Yaqui .. still an amazing fight ..
Now THIS is a classic boxing thread. I'm taking Lopez. The jab would be key here, as well as the body work from Lopez. Yaqui withstood the early attacks of big punchers before, I see no reason to see him flattened by Marvin here. Lopez by late TKO.
Their careers overlapped and they could have easily fought, but didn't. I think I slightly favor Lopez, yet he had such bad luck, I don't know. Johnson came out on top in some big fights. Anyway, great fight, wish it had happened.
I have to pick Yaqui. He has much better stamina. He has the toughness to withstand Johnson's early assault and turn on the gas late. Lopez by TKO around the 10th round.
As shown in the second Saad fight, Lopez could box. He can use the jab against the onrushing Johnson. Marvin had only one way he could fight, Lopez was a bit more versatile. I think he'd survive Marvin's early assault, unless he got a bad cut and it is stopped. Barring that, I see Lopez coming on after Johnson slows down, and punishing Marvin for the TKO in the later rounds.
The thing that stops me picking Yaqui, as much as Iike him, is that he seemed to always come up just short at the highest level. Marvin Johnson, for his faults, was a world champion. So even though I like Yaqui on paper in this one, I can see it turning into a war and favouring Johnson. One of the few great matchups that didn't happen in one of the great eras for the light heavyweight division.
Ok so thought about this a bit. Sticking with my original gut feeling with Johnson if it's over 10. Make it a 15 rounder and I lean towards Lopez as Johnson didnt have Lopez's stamina or durability late.