Does Michael Moorer get the respect he deserves in classic matchup debates?

Leslie fought very, very well that night and I was impressed with him. I think Moorer's very lackluster experience level at that point didn't help matters and yes he could get lazy, no doubt. But I also think that he didn't necessarily think he was being lazy. But rather, what some very great fighters like Lennox Lewis would do. Get so comfortable and feel so in control that they give rounds away without realizing they're being outworked. I don't equate that to mental weakness so much, or at least not in the character department.

 

I dunno, he often needed numerous kicks up the arse to get going.

 

Moorer was an excellent LH, but his style was not the best suited for heavyweight. He liked to stand flat footed and block and counter in close. He just didnt have a good enough chin or defense to hang with the big boys, but overall he had very good skills. Ive always said he had a very good hook off his right jab, and thats a very difficult combo to throw with effectiveness.

 

nO DOUBT mOORER WAS GOOD (OOPS CAPS)

But to beat Liston? Schmeling? Walcott? Not on their respective best nights, no.

 

I think it was more extreme with Moorer though. He got complacent in almost all of his fights, most notably the Foreman loss. Of course the wild rumours about his (lack of) dedication in training seem to go hand in hand with how I view Moorer. He could get lazy in there, unfocused, take his eyes off the prize, he couldn't afford that against a great opponent.

I still haven't heard from you why exactly do you think Moorer would beat Sonny Liston?

 

He was beating George too easy. He should have known like Morrison that he needed to stay sharp the entire fight with his shaky chin, but that was Moorer, he always fought stupid. I watched him training a lot, he was arrogant and beat up his sparring partners. If they engaged him he would turn it into a war.
Atlas was telling him for three rounds straight that he needed to move the other way because George was trying to set him up for the righthand. Thats simple common sense stuff in boxing, and Moorer was too foolish to realize it.

 

Yeah but why would he beat Liston, Schmeling and Walcott?

And do you think he'd beat Floyd Patterson? Coz I don't.

 

Was Liston outboxed against any of those men? I had old Liston winning almost every round against Martin until he got caught, had him winning by a comfortable lead against Machen and an inexperienced Liston had his jaw broken against Marshall, a loss he avenged in two rematches.

Moorer may bring his A-game but will he stick to his A-game with a force like Liston in front of him? This is no old Big George we're talking about.

 

I can't see Moorer beating any of he guys mentioned here. He was good but not that good.
He would be faster than Liston but that's the only advantage he has. He would have a hard time to get by Liston's jab. If he brings his A-game he might trouble Liston a bit but would be knocked out in the middle rounds. And he wouldn't be ahead on the cards.
Schmeling would fabricae the openings he needs o knock him out. He would feint him, se traps and land his right more often than he did on Louis. Moorer wouldn't be able to outbox Schmeling and if he tries to knock him out he would get knocked out himself.
Walcott at his best wouldn't have any trouble with Moorer. He has the skill and power to dominate Moorer.

 

If anything the revisionist history on Moorer as a LHW has made him more overrated than anything. He was never a special fighter even at that weight, just made to look a lot better than he was against his decidedly poor opposition. Even then his punching power was the only thing that got him through on seperate occasions. Probably a better boxer as a HW, but up there his lesser punching power, lacking durability and mentality just couldn't consistently cut it. He ranks well below the elites of either weight class, IMO.

 

Oh yes, him picking himself up off the canvas 5 or 6 times against Holyfield shortly after major surgery... No heart.

The Cooper fight shows as much passion, balls and heart as you'll ever from a fighter.