Could Max Baer Get A KO Over Berbick?

So if we take Holmes out of the picture would Berbick be one of your favourites to hold the lineal title in the inevitable merry-go-round that would have followed?

 

So if you set aside Holmes, were any of the top heavyweights of the 80s much more skilled than say Max Schmeling or Billy Conn?

 

Yes.

 

I don’t think there is that much difference between them as far as ability. Max likely hit harder. Berbick demonstrated better boxing skills (can’t believe I am saying it but there is film….). Both have some good wins, some bad losses. Both had a reality check against legit great champions. Berbick had 2 actually.
It could have been an entertaining scrap.
Pick’em for me. If it’s a stoppage Max wins. Decision I would lean towards Berbick. No way Berbick stops Baer.

 

The topic probably needs a thread in it's own right.

 

Many of them. Schmeling was a basic ***** boxer with a good right hand for the time. All the footage I see of Conn shows me a flailer. Plus, both were very small. David Bey would run that division.

 

Well he won the WBA title off a guy that was about as good as any of the WBA titleists and beat others that held it. He'd be a superb chance of taking his turn. It was actually a rampant Mike Tyson that took it off him too, not another short term holder. He's right in the thick of it.

 

Well I would have to strongly beg to differ here, and I think many would be sympathetic.

 

Yeah, many self-appointed "historians" of the sport. Show actual boxers footage of most the guys from back then and you'll get a chorus of laughter. Granted, I do believe the truth lies somewhere between two. Where on that spectrum is the question.

 

I wouldn’t trust Berbick against punchers, standing stock still, flat footed with a very basic defence and an average chin.

He was solid when a guy couldn’t gain his respect, where he could bully them and outwork them, as he did have a good workrate, but against punchers, he wasn’t well equipped.

 

I think Berbick gets a bit underrated due to his memorable loss to Tyson.

Berbick was actually a very solid operator not the most eye pleasing style and he was a bit crude but still effective.

He beat an undefeated Greg Page when Page was actually in shape aswell.

He beat an undefeated Pinklon Thomas who was undefeated for 7 years.

Finished off John Tates career.

Berbick was also the first challenger in Holmes’s title reign to go the distance with him. I believe Holmes was on a run of like 8 or 10 stoppages in a row in world title fights at that time ? Again this was also a Holmes who was in his absolute peak.

Berbick just had the misfortune of fighting two top 10 Heavyweights of all time who were at their absolute best in Tyson & Holmes.

Without them he would be amongst one of the better Heavyweights of that era.