Randolph Turpin - If Fighting In The 1990 s?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Fergy, Mar 22, 2023.

  1. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    So im putting Randy Turpin, our marvelous Middleweight from the UK, in to that early 90 s era of fighters.

    Who would he have beaten back them iyo.
    Think hed fit in great with the Brit pack of Eubank, Watson, Benn, Graham.
     
    fortissimus and DS Phil Hunter like this.
  2. James Page

    James Page Active Member banned Full Member

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    I only ever saw clips of Turpin from the first Robinson fight, and a few clips from the rematch.

    He was ok I suppose, nothing too spectacular. Not sure about the UKers, may be Calzaghe and Benn would take him.

    I think the American fighters of the 1990s would have absolutely no problems with him.
    Take your pick, Toney, Liles, Littles, B Hop, Keith Holmes, Segundo Marcado, I think they all would defeat him
     
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  3. Reinhardt

    Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Don't dismiss him too quickly, he was a real strong middleweight. Hopkins could take him but it wouldn't be a rout.
     
  4. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    I agree. He was, as you said, a strong guy, he's not getting blown away easily. An on form Turpin is a tough fella to fight.
    Like to see him against Benn and Barkley
     
  5. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    His thighs were tree trunks.
     
  6. lone star

    lone star Active Member Full Member

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    They weren’t in round 11 against SRR in their second fight. He was strong but look at the 90’s class. Toney, Nunn, RJJ just to name a few. He would be a handful for any middle weight but would most likely be British/European/Commonwealth champion type at most. No world title I feel.
     
  7. DavidC77

    DavidC77 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Are you including the WBO title in that?
     
  8. lone star

    lone star Active Member Full Member

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    Maybe he might have got that one. A big maybe. The thing with the WBO is at that time it wasn’t recognised as much. But going by your question and even my own statement Turpin has a chance of winning any of the Alphabet titles depending on who holds it. But the majority of the 90’s Middleweights were solid.
     
  9. Melankomas

    Melankomas Prime Jeffries would demolish a grizzly in 2 Full Member

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    They'd destroy him. Way too big and ferocious for Turpin, but I think he would do well at a lower weight class.
     
  10. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    It's a lovely thought. Maybe he'd have got the help he needed in a more modern time.
     
  11. DavidC77

    DavidC77 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I'd fancy Turpin's chances against Benn and Eubank.
     
  12. DavidC77

    DavidC77 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Even if you put counselling to one side, better financial guidance and a more rigid taxation system would certainly have helped.
     
  13. DavidC77

    DavidC77 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I don't see how any middleweight would be too big for Turpin, considering that he pretty much fought right at the 160 limit and later moved up to light-heavyweight.

    He would never have fought in a lower weight class. In fact, he never weighed in at less than 156lbs.

    I'm not saying (by any means) that he would have beaten all the middleweights in the 90's but I think that, in his prime, Turpin's unbelievable physical strength would have been an obstacle for any middleweight in history.
     
  14. Melankomas

    Melankomas Prime Jeffries would demolish a grizzly in 2 Full Member

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    Yes, in an era where cutting weight was not even nearly as frequent. Some dudes at 160 and 168 nowadays are almost 200 pounds.
     
  15. DavidC77

    DavidC77 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    You mean that some boxers competing in a middleweight bout nowadays actually enter the ring as cruiserweights?