Conteh vs Qawi?

Conteh on Points by staying on the outside and outjabbing him

 

Qawi obviously ended up with the better career, but if we're taking each man at their very best I think I'd go with Conteh here. Conteh was one of the few guys who, on his day, could be just as nasty and almost sadistic as Qawi when things got a bit rough in there, but was also capable of getting right up on his toes and jabbing beautifully.

It probably wouldn't quite match it for sustained intensity or quality (how many fights can?), but I could imagine this maybe playing out similarly to Holyfield-Qawi I, with Qawi being the busier and maybe landing the more damaging single punches, but Conteh doing just enough clean boxing, throwing enough combinations and being just about strong enough up close to win the decision from the judges. Let's not forget that Conteh himself was really a Cruiserweight by modern parlance (albeit the division didn't exist at the time) in his early professional days, who trimmed himself down to 175 lb.

 

Once again, Conteh is getting a lil overrated in H2H matchups.

It's pretty wacky that people think he would have beaten Roy Jones and Qawi.

He was too hittable for Qawi, and he lacked the devastating power of Spinks to make Qawi gunshy. Qawi would force a war, and Conteh would not win in a war.

I suspect Conteh would start off in the lead with his jab, but he steadily gets busted up but Qawi's slick and educated counters. The Camden Buzzsaw starts rolling over him circa 9, and Conteh would stopped sometime after 10.

 

When we think about post war British World Champions, Conteh is right up there with Joe Calzaghe. He could box beautifully, had marvellous shot selection and, as stated previously, could mix it up and fight as dirty as you like.
Quawi was a tremendous pressure Fighter, a fast, hard hitting counter puncher who if he could get in range, would sit on an opponent all night.
Some of the posters on here, through no fault of their own, didn't see the peak, two handed Conteh and so have formed an opinion of him as a pure left handed stylist but before his right hand went he was a brilliant two fisted box-fighter.
I can imagine Conteh drawing Quawi forward on to his double jab, the first punch a short armed stopper, the second a jolting, full on straight left. He would then spin and slide off forcing Quawi to gather himself and start trying to cut the ring off all over again. As the fight wears on, Conteh could feint the jab and let his right go straight through the middle as Quawi opens up to throw. John's right was a hammer so it's as well Quawi has a concrete chin.
Quawi's successes will be when he slips into range and lets his hands go. He will definitely win rounds but Conteh was highly adept at tying his man up and turning him. Have a look at the Jorge Ahumada fight when he won the Title.
I've got Conteh Boxing at distance and coasting the last two rounds to take a competitive decision.

 

Did'nt John Conteh break his hand in the title defense against Alvaro Yaqui Lopez title defense?

 

No Richard, he’d already broke it before then.
He was still having huge problems with it.
He fought that fight virtually one handed.

 

Thanks my friend for the info.

 

In my opinion this is a great post. Nicely put, Saad

 

Got that right my man!

 

I just don’t see the quality of resume for Conteh to pull this off. I know the Brits love him but where’s the substance?

He beat an Ahumada who got a right-place, right-time draw with an aging and past it Bob Foster. Beat Chris Finnegan, a more domestic/Euro talent, a couple of times. Nice decision over Yaqui. But that’s about it on the winning side of the ledger.

Conteh gave Saad a good fight (once out of two); Qawi destroyed MSM. Twice.

Qawi beat Johnny Davis (twice), Eddie Davis, James Scott (in Rahway prison), Mike Rossman, Jerry Martin ... and then had a second career at cruiserweight.

Nah, Qawi is a cut above Conteh. i get the guy is pleasing to the eye, but don’t understand the H2H love affair so many seem to have with a guy who was essentially a flash in the pan.

 

I was a bit sharper five years ago. Lol.

 

Conteh was no flash in the pan. He was too inactive once he won the title, though.

Even past his prime, he pushed an absolute prime Saad to the brink. That version of Saad was better then the depleted version Qawi faced. I agree Btaxton wins, but don't think some of your points are accurate or need context.

 

I rate the win over Yaqui — who hardly threw a punch for the first third or half of the fight — as his only real quality win. Conteh never beat a world champ.

To me he was a flash-in-the-pan. Style was pleasing to the eye but not a lot to rate him as a threat to more proven champs. Saad made a living falling behind and surging back to win ... Conteh boxed well until MSM put his foot on the gas and then the difference in class showed.

 

Matthew Saad Muhammad vs John Conteh was a very competitive fight on Aug 18 1979, until Saad scored the knockdown.

 

Agreed, can't see Conteh in a 15 round rumble with the Camden buzzsaw come out ahead