We hear lot about how Burley might have beaten Robinson ,or that Ray ducked him.How do you think Burley would do against Monzon,Hagler,Jones and Hopkins?
This is very hard , Burley did great against MWs and even LHWs , but this is pitting him against the GREATEST MWs ever. His best wins were at 160 , this is because he found it so hard to get fights at his natural weight, which wa 147. I dont know if he can beat these guys , he may have a chance, but he may have a real chance against the modern great welters. He may pose the most threat to Jones, Burley's style was awkward yet technicaly spot on, Jones can baffle orthodox fighters with his speed, but Burley's style was different than most, his reach was amazing for his size, and the way he pivoted and used angles could beffudle fighters who atacked him. Dont know if he can beat Jones though
This is very tough. Burley/Monzon- After viewing some of the earlier Monzon fights, where Carlos was more active. I'll go with Monzon...But just barely... Burley would be a difficult style because he would (IMO) be able defensively for the most part, to take Monzon's left jab away...Not allowing Monzon to totally dictate the pace of the bout, as he usually does against everyone...BUT Monzon with his height and physical strength, and boxing IQ, more than provides a difficult opponent for anyone weighing 160 lbs...With one judge voting it a draw...Monzon by MD...Monzon would press the action more, because he would have to...and although he looked awkward at times, he was very accurate with his punches. He was a consistant winner... Burley/Hagler- sometime back I did a hypothetical on Robinson and Hagler...Even after considering Robinson's difficulties with Hagler's southpaw stance...I chose Robinson to be the winner, mainly in part in Hagler's style...Hagler looked brilliant against Hamsho, Sibson, Obelmejas, and Scypion...(I am a big Hagler fan as well)...but what strikes me about Marvin is that he is so robotic with his approach...watch the tape, every movement is one step at a time...a faster opponent in Duran exposed Hagler in a way...Hagler did not look nearly as fast against the smaller fighter...Duran provided a tough challenge but was unable to win...Burley would be very problematic for Hagler as well...In the later rounds, Hagler comes on strong and is barely able to earn a draw (cop out, I know...) Burley/Jones- Jones is the most physically gifted fighter I've ever seen...At 160 lbs, it's hard for me to envision anyone he would not provide a hard fight against...In a interesting contest, Jones' speed and his own unconventional approach outpoints Burley... Jones by UD Burley/Hopkins- Hopkins is one of the finest defensive practictioners in the middleweights that I've seen...he has the ability to take an opponent's best weapons away...a very strategic and tactical fighter, in his adjustments before and during a fight. In Burley, he would be facing an unconventional fighter that bares some similarities to his foil, Roy Jones Jr. Burley does not possess Jones' amazing speed, but he is very adept defensively as well...In another close distance fight...Burley by MD Burley is 1-2-1 after facing the greats. IMO All of these match-ups are so close...I look forward to reading other opinions.
I hope I get more responses ,and I hope they are as thorough and objective as yours and Teetos,thanks for your excellent post.
Burley's prime was at WW. He would've lost to all of the above at MW in my opinion. The Hopkins fight could probably go either way.
I agree Burley was probably best at welter ,but since he was forced to fight above his weight ,I was curious to how the forum saw things going with the modern top 160lbs boys.
archie moore had been a pro for about 9 years and had a win over cocoa kid and other black murdersrow members, i dont see how you can write himm off as 'green'.
His win over Cocoa Kid actually came after his loss to Burley. Either way, Moore's best was not at MW. I also said a fight with Hopkins is about 50/50, I didn't write Burley off.
Burley beats all WWs (including Basilio, Armstrong, Hearns, Griffith, Duran, and Leonard). Burley does not beat Robinson or Gavilan. Burley vs. the MWs: Hagler takes a hotly contested decision. Close. Split. Burley could faint you with his eyes, feet, shoulders, and even "his eyebrows" according to his greatest victim and fan, Archie Moore. His style may give a workman like Hagler fits... I'm really torn on this one. Hagler's skill level and strength makes me favor him right now although the style of Burley doesn't make me confident. Monzon by decision. Perhaps unanimous. Monzon tames him and exploits the stylistic vulnerabilities. Burley leans back and away. He 'breaks rules'. Moore found it magical how he always could evade shots and stay balanced, but Monzon would zero in not with speed but with placement. His length would be a big advantage here. Monzon also fought well at long range. Robinson by SD. Jones gets knocked out. Mid-rounds. Jones was a fellow stylist whose style was reminiscent of Burley's. But Burley had sounder fundamentals girding it up while Jones almost scorned the same. The power behind Burley's shots would shock Jones. Jones, once he realized what kind of power Burley had would simply not take the risks necessary to command the fight. Burley's disposition was based on that quiet, Depression-era humility that was especially apparant in black Christians of the time. Jones was his opposite: loud and all-bravado. The reason why Archie Moore got such a sustained beating was because Burley hated braggarts. He despised that kind of personality. Burley, according to a contemporary sports writer, could be almost indifferent in some fights... but he was "dynamite" if he didn't like you. If he didn't like Moore because of Moore's cockiness, he would have hated Roy Jones' everloving guts. If Roy was smart, he would refrain from entering the ring with a microphone attacked to his mouth rapping about himself. Burley's punching was like a machine-gun, according to Moore. And I don't think that Roy would have the skill to outbox Burley as Charles and Bivins did, and he would not have the dimensions to solve the style. Jones fights one way. A reminder of what I mean here: Jones is difficult and innovative, but he is not a strategist. Innovation during a round is not grand strategy. Either Burley and Jones have a shoot out, which Jones cracks under, or Jones plays it cautiously, and Burley hunts him down.
Monzon is Burley's worst nightmare IMO. Hagler would have outpunched him with the right fight plan but would have been vulnerable if he had the wrong one. Jones v Burley is fascinating at MW...maybe Burley is a favourite, Jones is pretty green at MW...but at LHW, it's a TKO for Jones...Hopkins gets beaten, on points, in a dull affair. That's about all I got. Burley is not a MW.
At 160, I would favor Jones. Better mobility, quickness, and at MW, at least good in the power department. Anything above, Jones by stoppage.
