What about Ken Overlin? The reports and resume lead me to believe he was one of the best of a good middleweight era.
Have you seen his fight with Luis Rodriguez? He lost about 8 of the 10 rounds for similar reasons (being generally outworked), but gave a good acccount of himself nonetheless. Very calm, reserved counter-puncher. Managed to catch the very defensively sound Rodriguez with quite a few flush counters off the ropes. On the other hand, it was one of Rodriguez's most balanced and versatile performances, so it's understandable that most wouldn't mention Thompson's skills. Rodriguez really showed the full arsenal in that fight.
I haven't mate, but I would love to get a chance to. Even though he was past his best by that stage it would still be an interesting fight to see. :good
Come to think of it, Luis Manuel Rodriguez is underrated. Not by those who know him, or mostly on here, but in general he is forgotten and that leads to him being udnerrated. No, a better way would be to say he is undervalued.
Thompson's starching of Don Jordan is a beauty as well.I'll put it up on youtube if i can find it. I've always liked those two Paret fights as well.Thompson reminds me a bit of early rounds Monzon, the way he languidly, but effectively slips punches from that upright stance, then brings the long rights over.
Just out of interest, what do you think are his best filmed perforamces? I have seen 7 rounds of Griffith III, McClure I, Jesse Smith.
Kates and Ahumada don't get a lot of love either.Both were perfectly capable and talented enough to put the kind of run together that would get many calling them greats, were they around today. Or huge puncher Chung-il Choi and Navarette from the golden 130 era.Choi was one of those guys who would be vulnerable to a loss from any good tough pressure fighter/slugger or overly aggressive type, but try and box with him and he has a great chance of doing a Hearns on you.Fantastic offensive fighter.
His performances against McClure in the rematch and Denny Moyer are pretty good boxing displays, but I like the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Griffith fights the most because Griffith was the hardest opponent he faced and he showed his ability to blunt a skilled fighter who was both stronger and harder hitting with a consistent body game and a sneaky jab.
Kates's second fight with Galindez is one of my favorite technical chess-match at the weight, though ultimately it was Galindez's physicality that won him the day, same with their first bout and the Gregory fight. Kates was excellent technically, very smooth and educated, he just seemed to lack that next gear that seperates the goods from the greats. Wasn't the most durable, either.
Holmes gets plenty of respect, both begrudgingly and otherwise..it's Gene Tunney who's been underrated ever since his own title reign.
Have you scored the Paret fights mante? Who did you think got the better of them? It's a pity Thompson spent most of his time fighting in obscurity. He's kinda like Jose Legra in that sense, another somewhat underrated fighter I'd say.
It's been 3 or 4 years since i watched them.I'd need to look them out and watch again to score properly.My impressions seemed similar to yours, Paret throwing far more and outworking him, but Thompson scoring the heavier shots and countering well throughout.