I'm also a southpaw, and know the pain of a straight right (and I also agree on KT being underrated here) but Sweet pea could dodge and slip forever. I have no doubt that he'd know to move on the outside to the right
Right but Pea spent his career avoiding that very punch. You can't say the same in reverse. Further Pea would just circle right while pumping a jab into KTs face, which as you know, would further take it away. As you also know bud, Pea almost always came in with a good strategy, do you honestly believe, assuming he avoids bombs, can you really see KT winning a chess match here? I find it extremely unlikely
For a supposed "southpaw killer" Tszyu had a lot of trouble with Mitchell in their first fight. Yes, he destroyed Mitchell in the rematch, but Mitchell's knees were in bad shape by then.
I think that SweetPea would beat them all except probably Aaron Pryor. The Hawk had an awkwardness that would serve him well even against a defensive master. Pryor also could match Whitaker's quickness. I think Aaron Pryor scores mutiple Knockdowns in winning a UD
I can see KT maybe scoring a KD with a good straight right hand. Maybe a couple. If that happened I think Pea adjusts to it. He could hurt KT in return to the body. That is where many of Whitaker's opponents were surprised. I think SweetPea would win a decision but I can see it being one of his tougher bouts.
Pernell beats KT and Pac. Close decision over Cervantes, unless it's outside the US where Cervantes gets the decision. Only Pryor beats him. Pryor misses hundreds of punches but throws enough to still get the win.
People on this board mistake physical aggressiveness and roughness for physical strength (and backfoot-fighting and passivity for weakness), so routinely that I wish we'd stop talking about strength altogether. Almost as bad as the people who think that "strength" = "punching power."
Julio Cesar Vasquez was able to get his slower left hand home against Pea. There would definitely be a window open for Kostya.
I know it doesn't translate directly to functional strength but at a certain point it does... The stories of Kostya"s weight room abilities are pretty legendary. 20+ reps at 220 on the bench, 1000 push up workouts... There was quite a bit of corraboration in the pre internet days. He was strong as f@ck.
Tszyu wasn't exactly in the best shape himself and tons of people act like he was washed in his next bout with Hatton. Personally, I think Tszyu's trouble with Mitchell is worth noting, but I also think Kostya was breaking him down. Tszyu was out-muscling him and outboxing him as the fight went on, getting closer and closer with the bombs while Mitchell spoiled. Sharmba was looking ragged at the end. Anyways, I think Whitaker beats them all, with Cervantes being the easiest and Pryor maybe being the hardest. I have a tough time imagining how a Pacquiao fight would play out. Never thought that highly of Antonio, to be honest. He looked like he was out of answers against the slickest guys.
