I'm going to pay my respects and learn about 'em. Join me if you want. To win a title in boxing is the dream that every single little boy who walks into the gym has in his head. It is the aspiration of every successful pro. There is no disputing the leap in the heart that every fighter gets when he is even in the same room as a belt. The feeling in his heart when he raises it on high in his dreams. Champion and great are not one in the same, but too often, the very good fighters who don't leave deep etches on the sports' storied history, but who do carve a place in the books by achieving this dream, are marginalized and ignored, their accomplishments defamed by ignorant fans with no perspective of how much harder they worked then their peers, how much the suffered and persevered, how hard it is to win a title, and instead, all the esteem is heaped upon the legendary titans who inevitably dethrone them and rule for years. So, this is a tribute to the guys who achieved their dreams. The regular joes, without superb talent, whose hard work, craft, and discipline took them to the mountain top, however briefly. Who deserved their names to be mentioned with more respect than they are. I'm going to list the first three that come to my mind not named Marvin Hart. Join me. Maurice Blocker- A man with some real underrated skills, a fine dedication to his craft, and the ability to cause superior fighters some problems. He's famous for facing off against dangerous opposition, and giving his all every time. His memory is of his defeats to Simon Brown, Terry Norris, and Felix Trinidad, but respect must be shown to his desire and his willingness to meet these killers, in short sequence. He wasn't the best, but he wanted to be, and he fought the best he could. He beat Marlon Starling, which was not an easy thing to do by any means, and pulled the same trick against a very dangerous and underrated Glenwood Brown. At his best, had many tools that compensated for his few weaknesses. A worthy champion. Carlos Baldomir- The modern day Buster Douglas. A gym rat whose tireless discipline, even through his struggles making the welterweight limit, and dedication to the sport eventually paid off in spades, as he pulled the biggest upset in years when he triumphed over Zab Judah to take the welterweight crown. His career got off to an inauspicious start, but he rallied, and went on a win streak that cannot be discredited-Winning so many fights in a row is one of the hardest things to do in boxing. Carlos was a road warrior, and he always gave whatever he got: He fought a tough, physical battle with Joshua Clottey, and his toughness, professionalism, and conditioning are what kept him in the fight. He brought the fight to Jose Luis Cruz all night long in a draw many felt he deserved to win. And he showed up game and teek tough against Judah, putting on immense pressure, showing heart in the face of adversity, as he outmanned and outgritted the premier welterweight in the sport, hurt him, ran him ragged, and took his titles in a resounding, memorable performace. His fight with Gatti, his one defense, was more a well-deserved showcase- He fought a smaller fighter from a position of privilege(Champion) for once, and got to show the world that yes, he was more than a chin and a gas tank, but has skill and pop. He was sharp and excellent against Gatti, who was coming off of a win against a fighter who had a similar style, and showed that he was indeed a competent, accomplished professional. He has never attained those heights again, but Baldomir, even at advanced age, was always willing to get into the ring with younger, talented opposition, and make them fight. Carlos Baldomir, post-champion, was never an easy night. Buster Douglas- The Cinderella champion. The living example that when you show up motivated, in shape, and prepared to use all the skills at your disposal, you can accomplish great things. Douglas was a skillful, talented fighter trained in an old school style, with the ability to box and fight. He never wanted to be a boxer; He fought out of loyalty to his father and fascination with the sport, and given these facts, the level of skill he attained is truly admirable. He showed the intestinal fortitude of a true professional when he faced off against the monster Mike Tyson, and he showed the character of a hero when he lost his beloved mother; Instead of allowing himself to fear, he let the challenge at hand motivate him, and instead of succumbing to grief, he let his mother's memory, trust, and faith in him empower him and fortify his competence. The Douglas who showed up against Tyson trained like a champion, acted like a champion, thought like a champion, and fought like a champion, and the result was one of the great masterpieces in modern history. Rarely has a champion so dominant been dethroned so soundly. Douglas put such skill on display many rank it an all time great performance. His motivation to work hard for the sport broke after that, and he was dispatched from it, but in his darkest hour, sick and slovenly, he found fire, lost hundreds of pounds, and returned to the ring mere years after a near death experience to go on an impressive win streak. Truly, a fine talent, and admirable individual, and a capable professional.
That would have been an absolute war. Baldomir was the only welterweight at the top level that was as big as Margarito was. Antonio was the superior technician with the more refined technique, but both were extremely hittable, Baldomir was game, big, knew how to throw his strong frame around, and in that period around the Gatti fight, was seriously not going to be denied. I'd pick Margarito, but I think it's a fight that would be so much more difficult for him than would have been expected by the media that it would have hurt his stock. Btw, if anybody calls a world champion a C fighter in this thread, I'm gonna snap. I no longer have time for that idiocy.
Charlie Magri; Magri hopped on the WBC lineal flyweight train when the title was in a transitional era From Canto onwards the belt changed hands regularly. When taken out of the Park-Oguma rivalry by Antonio Avelar's iron fists, it changed from one man to another in successive title fights. Avelar, Prudencio Cardona, Freddy Castillo, Eleoncio Mercedes. And for a fight, Charlie Magri. A touted amateur with a big punch and no head movement, this broad shouldered British midget came through Khan-esque setbacks when being moved towards a title (stopped by Mexican journeyman type) to claim the title in a great fight with Domincan Olympian Mercedes, on cuts. Then Magri lost to Filipino journeyman contender Frank Cedeno. Blasted by lanky Japanese bully Koji Kobayashi. Wasted by Mexican hardcase Gabriel Bernal. Then Sot Chitalada adds some stability at last, but with a pretty scatty reign. Crazy time for 'transitional champs'.
Some 10,000 more fighters in boxing have a losing record than have a winning one, who are registered professionally, I've been told. If you have a winning record, you aren't a bum. If you won a damn belt, you are in the top .1% of fighters to have ever fought, are a world class athlete, and had damn fine skills. Thank you for your tribute. Mendy was the goods, he didn't have a ton of natural ability or physical potency, but he stretched every bit of what he had.
I'm just getting frustrated. Calling champions C-level fighters, bums...it defaces our sport. How do we expect to be taken seriously when we imply that our accomplished practioners aren't skillful or worthy of praise for those considerable accomplishments? Is Eli Manning a bum? Two time championship quarterback, but prone to have some BAD seasons. Nope. He's incredibly respected. Most football fans acknowledge that, as a two-time superbowl winning QB with many clutch throws made in those playoff runs, he's earned respect and accolades, and deserves to be considered very high-class. Guess what? Winning a belt in boxing is HARDER. You have no team covering your ass. No help. Just you. Just years of work. No college backing you in your developmental years. No money. Just you. It's the hardest damn thing in sports.
Yet no mention of his title win (not a vacant title) over the brilliant amateur and dangerous puncher Orzubek Nazarov, or that Mendy beat him into blindness and retirement!EDIT: Sorry you did, but as a mere footnote :bart
Borkorsor Betulio Gonzalez Walter McGowan Salvatore Burruni Flyweight has had some really formidable fighters that for various reasons didnt end up holding the belt for long.
Come on, boys. Let's have some more. We'll learn and talk about some guys we don't get too very often, and just maybe someday, one of em will google themselves and it'll make their day.
You seen Magri Vs Mercedes? I highly recommend it. Daisuke Naito is a recent flyweight, a very awkward crab-style Japanese stylist Got absolutely wasted in his first shot at long reigning champion (not then) Pongsaklek Wonjongkam. I think he lost and drew before finally turning the trick on Wonjongkam on the cards. He was well liked, and it was nice to see. He lost it, in a close (and sorta' debatable) decision to universally derided (well, memed about) Koki Kameda. Who in turn lost to Wonjongkam. So Naito never had to relinquish the title to his rival and Pong' picked it back up nonetheless. It was like a little vacuum opened up for Naito's opportunity to achieve his dream and not lose much face before everything returned to normal again. Fittingly he pretty much dropped off after that, an over the weight fight or two then retired. But I always liked him, limited but likeable, and awkward. And he can call himself the lineal flyweight champion.