Barbados Joe Walcott v Thomas Hearns @147

One poster on this site who sparred using MMA mitts suggested that the low guard might have been a function of the fact that a blow from a 4oz mitt would simply damage the wrist after a few clean shots.

 

This fight could go either way Walcott was meant to be an extremely hard hitter and durable also great at slipping punches and getting on the inside. Walcott certainly had the power to take Hearns out (Langford said Walcott was the toughest fighter he faced.) On the other hand Tommy could use his reach superior boxing ability and hand speed to win a comfortable decision or late stoppage. 50/50.

 

Walcott weathered the power of Choynsky who likely hit significantly harder than Hearns ,but Choynsky had the curse of a lot of big punchers ,he didnt take it too well,if Tommy boxes he wins on points over 15 ,if he slugs Walcott has a live chance of breaking his ribs,I think Hearns boxes.

 

That doesn't seem to apply much in actual MMA with the top fighters, their stance is normally as a boxer's is, so I wouldn't put too much into what any poster here said, considering it's proven otherwise.

 

Then I'd show bias to stoneage boxers mate.:good

 

He's been hanging out with Amsterdam.:good

 

So why do MMA fighters not fight this way? Why do boxers using bare fists still destroy a wing-chun fighter using the same style as an old school boxer? Holding your hands up isn't simply for defense, but for offense as well, for positioning when throwing a punch, etc.

I'm not talking a low guard like someone like Robinson used, with his slightly lower guard(as well as his body) in order to protect against body shots. I'm talking about when someone like Jimmy Wilde, Fitz, etc would hold their arms parallel to their backs and their arms to their sides, below their waists. It's as if they were daring the opponent to hit them in the solar plexus.

I mean that, as they were not in good positioning for punches due to their stance, they punched from the stance they implied, and that was from around the hip area.

 

I think he'd KTFO Cotto, but I also think Cotto gets in some good shots that have little to no effect before he's starched, as Robinson's defence still isn't up to par. Just too powerful for Cotto, not sure on speed yet, but a left hook and Cotto's out.

 

Your heightened appreciation of fighters like Robinson and Gavilan(if you've taken the time out to watch him)also suggests this.:good

 

Never was one of his strong suits, unless he was using movement to box like against LaMotta, but then that was a big stylistic edge for him against a fighter of LaMotta's style.

Robinson was one of those fighters whom the phrase "the best defense is a good offense" applied to a lot. A great offense in his case.

 

Yeah, but I'm still analysing them and have only a half verdict. Robinson and Gavilian are in a much better light now, but I still find them very vulnerable to some types, especially some of the masters in the 80's.

They both have enough strengths now to be top fighters in the Welter division to make up for flaws, thus why I picked both over Joy Boy.

And by the way, as a MW I don't think very highly of Robinson, save for durability. May pick him over Jermain Taylor though, out of spite, in a H2H match up.

 

Most footage of Robinson you've seen is likely at MW, as there is very little of him at WW. As it is, I'd pick someone like Monzon to beat him.

 

Well, La Motta doesn't impress me at all, never has. Despite having a great chin, a guy like Marvin Hagler would have destroyed him pretty quickly, same thing for Monzon and even Hopkins, even if he can take the shots, the ass whipping that he's going to recieve in the first 5 alone from these superior fighters(types that didn't exist in his time) is going to be enough to stop it.

So it doesn't impress me for Robinson on anything other than competing with a naturally bigger guy who could take a tremendous shot.

In a way, La Motta ranks there in skills maybe slightly above a Librado Andrade, but without the crushing power and freakish reach, which H2H puts him down a big notch. His jab is one of the worst I've ever seen, La Motta that is.

So I'm solely judging Robinson's H2H ability at Welter and probably Light Middle and on that note I favour Leonard, Benitez, Hearns & Duran over him any day of the week at the weight.

But the current division isn't full of guys like that, so he's right there or better, I'm still deciding.