The Palomino who took John H Stracey's title in 1976 against the Honeyghan who ripped Don Curry apart ten years later ? I say Palomino in a very competitive distance fight.
Carlos was not one flashy style, but he had a whole lot of substance, Lloyd on the other hand could be flashy, and was perhaps more of a sprinter to Carlos's solid stayer. Dave boy Green and Armando Muniz gave Carlos very competitive evenings indeed, by applying relentless pressure, Carlos showed his steel and came through in the end, Lloyd could apply pressure like in the mugging of Curry, but was more inclined to box and launch gorilla raids, the Vaca rematch aside, Lloyds peak performances were the quicker affairs with Rosi, Bumphus, Wells, but one could find detriments with these opponents which Carlos is not Tainted with, Carlos can punch, has great stamina, and a great chin, and lets not forget he could box also, pegging Benitez over the first 12 rounds, until Carlos's own customary late charge gave Beniitez the opportunities to counter-punch over the last three rounds, pegging Benitez for so long speaks volumes for Carlos's boxin ability, an earlier draw with slick and quick Hedgemon Lewis confirms this quality. Lloyd could struggle if engaged in a encounter with a fit class opponent as he did with Maurice Blocker, and of course later Mr. Starling. but if we are talking about both guys in their initial title winning encounters, and not as the later, more experianced champions then it is a poser, as i tend to think that Carlos improved as champion, whereas Lloyd did not seem to, Bumphus and Wells simply flattered him. I think the question of distance could be crucial, Lloyd might well be able to race into a lead angainst the slower starting Carlos and just hang on for the decision over 12 rounds, Over 15 rounds i feel a lot more confident in picking stayer Carlos to overhaul sprinter Lloyd and perhaps gain a late stoppage. As well as the distence, the venue could prove crucial also - at Wembley, London and Lloyd may feed off the crowd to hang on, in the US, if Lloyd starts getting Frustrated and Carlos, with Avid fans cheering, starts applying the pressure, perhaps a tad earlier then usual........ this could be a fistic tortoise and hare matchup !
Palomino would have slowly and steadily ground down Honeyghan to a halt by the 13th..a tko for Palomino.
honeyghan after beating curry changed his style to a more come forward crowd pleasing fighter, the honeyghan after the curry fight would of for me lost to palomino via a late tko in a 15 round fight.the honeyghan of the curry fight or even the mittee and shufford fights would of stood a better chance against palomino
Honeyghan would take an early lead, but by the mid to late rounds Palomino would grind him down and brutally finish him off late Palomino ko 12.
