All out war at 126. Does Villasana have a good chance to stop McGuigan similar to how he did against Paul Hodkinson?
Really tough to pick a winner here. The only way Villasana gets a stoppage is by cuts IMO. Marcos was hard as nails
McGuigan over 12 rounds could do it on points. Villasana is impossible to stop but he can be outhusled. Barry had long arms and if he boxed like he did against Laporte or Pedroza he might make it to the finish line. If he stands toe to toe like Hodkinson did in their 1st bout then he gets busted and stopped.
McGuigan always fares so badly here in these hypotheticals. Probably due to his lack of longevity and quick fall off the cliff. As mentioned, if the McGuigan we saw against Laporte and Pedroza shows up, I think he takes it. No KO of course, you don’t knock out Villasana.
Villasana is a very tough determined man a quality operator who mixed with the elite well but was clearly a level below. McGuigan sadly is now someone greatly diminished in retirement on forums from how good he actually was during his peak. I don't think Barry was a Hodkinson or McMillan or Robinson. He was superior class. His 2 losses to Cruz and McDonnel now see him dismissed as a bleeder or someone who would collapse down the stretch when put to the test. I tend to disagree In the Cruz fight....the ludicrousy and mismanagement that put him in a desert in the midday sun with no ice in his corner aside......McGuigan was fighting successfully at a frenetic pace even in the 13 and 14th rounds......he fell apart in the 15 but showed true grit lasting the distance. On his worst day in the worst circumstances he only lost in the end on the last knockdown in the last 30 seconds. Mcdonnell...with the greatest respect he met a 29 year old McGuigan who despite 3 succesive wins over fringe contenders was only fighting for money who had no real desire or motivation. McGuigans peak was ended by the trauma in Vegas than his fathers cancer battle. He also lost a child at this time.Add to that Barney Eastwoods acrimonious mismanagement. I see the peak McGuigan beating Villasana over 15 or 12 quite clearly
