Alan Minter...how good was he?

He did fight the ill fated Angelo Jacopucci, Germano Valsecchi and Gratien Tonna in Italy though didn't he. Griffith in Monaco and Frank Reiche in Germany. Don't forget Antuofermo and Hamsho in the states.

 

Yeah, didn't you know Al, only Americans are supposed to have home advantage every time out?

 

Yes,
But in 33 of his first 37 fights, he stayed in the local confines of home.
Up to that time, he wasn't considered the 'risk-taking' world ranked
middleweight contender.
He had to travel to Italy, to fight Germano Valsecchi for the European
Middleweight Title (2/4/77), which he won by KO.

Three trips to Germany to fight (2) so-so fighters and Frank Rieche.
That didn't get him many 'frequent flyer miles'.

 

Al, I was in Ye Crack in Rice Street on Saturday. There was a fair bit of stuff with your dad on it (I know your Da features in many pubs in town, but there seemed more here). Did he drink there?

 

Yes, that was his local. He lived right over the road, straight out of his into the crack and vice versa. I'll have to get in there for a drink when I'm next over they said they're going to put a plaque up for him and some photo's.

 

Just stating a fact, I'd say he travelled away a lot, specially on the continent where it is hard to win a points decision. He's did well abroad. British fighters didn't fight in the states that much in them days, less title fights and what have you.

 

Are you Italian by the way?

 

Would have liked to see Alan Minter in Madison Square Garden, maybe
versus Bennie Briscoe or Cyclone Hart, or Rodrigo Valdez.

Only time here up to that point, was on the Ali-Spinks undercard,
when he fought late-replacement Puerto-Rican Junior Middleweight, Sandy Torres.
I think Alan was the British Middleweight Champion.

George Cooper, a middleweight from California wanted a piece of Alan. Never got it.

 

I would of liked to of seen it as well. Promotions are different these days. A whole bill being televised world wide on ppv. It works both ways though. It would of been nice to see Briscoe Minter at the Albert hall. Briscoes record away from home wasn't exactly great, that home advantage makes a big difference, take it from me.

 

No doubt, a little 'home-cooking- goes along way.
Think Alan would have won convincingly over Bennie, at any location.
Bennie was slowing down then, lost the big-punch.

Eugene 'Cyclone' Hart, now that would have been a crazy fight.
Bombs flying everywhere.

 

you just reminded me, i've always wondered about the antuofermo hart fight. Just had a look on youtube and it's there. I'll have to have a look at that one. How about Hart vs Nigel Benn.

 

Yes, I missed that one even though I remember it.

 

The Sandy Torres fight was the first time Alan came to American soil.
George Cooper wanted him to come back to fight him in California, after the
Las Vegas visit.
Cooper was the California Middleweight Champion, and I think was ranked #15,
in the World Rankings at the time.

 

Can't really comment on that. I suppose it all depends on what sort of money they were offering. just looked at Cooper's record, I see he got beat by Edgar Wallace just after the Minter Torres fight, maybe that put paid to it. I was following Minter's career at the time, I don't remember any talk of them fighting. How do you rate Cooper, how do you think a fight between the 2 would of panned out, it would of been a good scalp for Cooper if he could of pulled it off at that time. I would imagine Minter's next fight after Torres in Italy would of been a good payday.