Greatest Middleweight fights of the 80's?

Man Barkley-Duran was a hell of a fight, I'd put it at even level with Hagler-Hearns.

 

Saved me a job.

 

Great shout. Does it make the top ten though now my Toney v Barkley error is gone?

 

Quite possibly if you factor in the social significance of the fight. The importance of the fight was part of the question. It was part of a very ugly time in our history.

History - almost 40 years. Already! How's that possible?

 

Lyle v Foreman

 

Some that haven't been mentioned.

Frank Fletcher vs James Green
Tony Sibson vs Don Lee
Iran Barkley vs James Kinchen
Iran Barkley vs Robbie Simms

 

Sibson v Minter

 

Unfortunately, Hagler-Antuofermo I happened about 32 days too early to be in the 1980s.

I’d add:

Frank Fletcher vs. William “Caveman” Lee

And

Frank Fletcher vs. Clint Jackson

 

Sibson-Lee was a good answer. Finished Sibbo at top level, Don Lee was a dangerous but fragile puncher who Tony would have stopped pre-Hagler.

Amazing to think that Sibson had to travel to France to defend his EBU title 6 weeks after such a traumatic loss against a good opponent in Louis Acaries.



Today they would be out for a year and comeback to win the some stupid meaningless title against a fighter who has lost his last 2 or 3 fights by ko.

Boxing really has gone downhill.

 

these two werent at 160

Tony Sibson vs Don Lee
Iran Barkley vs James Kinchen

 

Troy Darrell-Michael Olajide 2 undefeated middleweight fringe contenders face off. Both had undefeated records of 22-0

Canadian champion and Michael Jackson lookalike Michael Olajide had based himself in New York and beaten Curtis Parker and James "Hard rock" Green on points to make it 7 straight wins culminating in a one-sided 9th round kayo of always dangerous Don Lee.

Troy Darrell was born in Bermuda but had fought his entire career in the US being based in New York.

He had 18 kos in his 22 wins with the last 6 being at middleweight having outgrown the 154 division.

His most notable win was an off the floor ko over Pedro Estrada. Estrada for the New York State light-middle title.

Incidently Estrada went off the rails after the Darrell fight and was suspected of killing 7 in drug related offences. He was caught and

sentenced to over 80 years in prison.

Slick boxing Olajide came out bombing. Recent references to his lack of power (he had 16 kos in 22 wins) because he couldn´t stop the veterans Parker and Green and took 9 rounds to stop the fragile Lee and ruffled Michael´s feathers.

He dropped Darrell twice and nearly scored a sensational 1st round win.

After that it turned into a war of attrition with Darrell finding a home for his right hand bombs whilst Olajide struggling to find form.

It was nip and tuck as both found room to land hard shots. Troy seemingly seemed to have overtaken the early round hiccup only to get hurt again in the 10th.

This last round nicked it for Olajide who would fight for the World crown twice and have a legendary fight with Iran Barkley.

Troy Darrell would fight future champ Frank Tate in his next fight. Tate was a slick boxer who outpointed the tough Darrell over twelve.

3 months later Tate would floor Olajide twice and outpoint over 15 for the vacant IBF crown.

 

Hi Buddy.
Good call, also is that a Vespa GS I see before me ?
stay safe , chat soon.

 

It's a Vespa VBB. 1965 edition.
Had it for about 5 years now.

 

Are you sure ? Don Lee weighed 161 pounds.

I'm pretty sure Barkley vs Kinchen was at Middleweight aswell, because this fight was not long before Barkley won Middleweight title from Hearns.

 

A memorable one was Mustafa Hamsho crashing the party to upend golden boy Bobby Czyz, who was being touted and pushed as a real up-and-coming middleweight force.

The physical dominance surely siderailed that trajectory, but the way Bobby bounced back from it to forge a very meaningful championship career over time is a testament to his toughness and resilience.

Not a great fight but very interesting result at the time.