In 1997 the British Super Middleweight division was bursting with talent we had This content is protected and This content is protected as undefeated world champs, & This content is protected This content is protected soon to be a champ after Reid, G This content is protected to be a champ after that. but our domestic front was good also with H This content is protected , D This content is protected , D This content is protected , C This content is protected and M This content is protected all somewhere around the British title level. The question is removing Calzaghe, Reid & Woodhall how do you think G Groves and J DeGale would have faired in this era at domestic level? I think both struggle with Francis, Starie and Wharton and both could possibly get by Woods who was tight at the weight and Baker who I think they could possibly outbox. Though Baker was tough and I doubt either would KO him. What you think?
What do I think? I think Dean Francis was the best of the lot. He had a great stiff jab and every shot in the book thrown effortlessly. He would've taken out Calzaghe every day of the week, but for his shoulder injury.
Atberry, did you ever see the amateur bout between Calzaghe and Francis? It was shown on the BBC and Calzaghe stopped him with surprising ease. To be fair Starie also beat Francis as an amateur but lost the return in the pro's.
I think Atberry has a bit of a dislike for Calzaghe beating Eubank and always looks to say Calzaghe lost this or wouldnt have done this etc. Atberry is a big Eubank fan, as I was myself, but sometimes I think he gets a bit carried away in his dislike. All in all though Atberry is a good poster and does remember the era well. I have watched the amateur fight of Calzaghe and Francis and Dean was easily beaten and stopped. Starie and Francis were fighting on even terms before Dean caught Starie and stopped him and Calzaghe was above both of those fighters. I also highly rated Francis and felt he was really going places before his injury. I did a thread a while back about prime Francis vs prime Reid. I always felt that would have been a top match up. Still the question was how do you both think Groves and DeGale would have done in the 97 era? Atberry feels Francis would have beaten them, but what about the others?
Henry Wharton vs Groves my word that would be savage!! Wharton early!. Neither Groves or Degale would fair well with them names mentioned. Catley was and is massively underrated, he rarely gets mentioned on here when talking that era. Dean Francis was a fantastic talent, that fateful night when he got injured was the night his career ended for me. He did get back to some success but not what he should of had. He was world class! Starie was a very good fighter, but his two biggest nights he just didn't perform to level he could. The Calzaghe fighter nearly had me in tears it was that bad... Woods ventured up to LHW after losing to Starie, weight issues IIRC.
Starie and Baker the weakest 2 and I think both DeGale and Groves ease past them.If you put them into the mix with the others as they are now they both lose every fight and that aint just me having rose tinted glasses I truly dont think they would cope.Neither of them fight often enough for a start.Put them in with Reid,Wharton etc and they get stopped by the lot.
Reid would be too much for them at this time. I was thinking just those two at domestic level. I think both would outbox Baker and Woods. Remember how easily Starie outboxed Woods? I think Starie would be trouble for those two. I cant really decide who I think would win in those fights, but would lean towards Starie. Although Starie wasnt a one punch KO artist, he was a very solid punching SMW who seemed to be able to hold punches to the power of Groves and DeGale
Francis improved tenfold in the pro ranks when not draining to make weight or rushing to get shots off. He also grew into a man and punched with tenfold more force as a pro. He preferred a slow pace whereas big Joe preferred a fast pace. Just look what Dean did to the very good, potentially excellent Cornelius Carr. Carr gave Steve Collins all he could handle. Francis obliterated him easily, ripped through him.
Carr wasnt a very big puncher. I have to say I really enjoyed his fight with Collins. Carr boxed against Collins and gave Collins a real fight. I admit Francis was very impressive against Carr. I really felt Francis was going to go along way. Still do you remember how much Francis struggled with Baker in the middle rounds before the big final round KO? Baker was no real boxer but was tough. Back to Carr, Problem is, if I was to rate Carr as a good win for Francis on the main forum, people would Boxrec him and say he was a journeyman who didnt do anything, but he was actually a good fighter I really miss that era.
A Year on now. How do people think Groves and DeGale would do against Starie, Francis, Catley, Wharton, Baker
