Early 80's fringe MW Contenders

Sister Sledge · Apr 7, 2016

@anubis.......,I thought Davison had the talent to be a champion, but he didn't seem to "want it" enough. He cwas lackluster in big fights.

Surprised no one mentioned Robbie Sims. He was a legit contender, though. Doug Dewitt and Sean Mannion were definitely fringe.

Saad54 · Apr 7, 2016

Anubis said: ↑

Promoters knew they had blown it by waiting too long after Scypion to give Frank his shot. They made what amends they could by granting him opportunities against Roldan and Mugabi which would have gotten him to Hagler immediately if he'd somehow won, but Fletcher was truly finished.

Scypion's losses to Hamsho and Hard Rock had been too widely viewed for anybody to take his chances seriously with MMH, and everybody knew Marv wasn't going to be the walking tank job for Sibson that Davison was. "Could Hagler knock Davison out?" was the question being asked in New England between Sibson-Davison and Hagler-Sibson, a question still debated today. Dwight was clearly the most durable MW contender MMH never defended against, and it seems apparent that Dwight could have knocked Tony out if he'd only tried, after the way Sibbo was halted by Marv and Don Lee. Hagler-Davison would have been MMH at his peak, better and more protracted competitive preparation for Hagler-Duran, and answered many questions about early 1980's MMH which Duran raised.

Was Dwight Davison a "fringe" contender? I think his loss to Epps and non effort against Sibson made him one. But he was about as physically powerful and durable as a 6'1" MW could be, not at all like the enervation prone Hearns.
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What you're missing regarding Fletcher is that he didn't even have to fight Scypion. Fletcher's title shot against Hagler was secured after Fletcher knocked out James Green. Fletcher's manager inexplicably took a fight with Scypion instead of waiting for Hagler/Sibson to run it's course. Then, Scypion got the shot at Hagler.

Maybe Marty Feldman (Fletcher's manager) got paid off by Mike Jones (Sypion's manager) a bunch of money to take the fight, because it makes no sense to risk a certain title shot to defend a regional title against a dangerous opponent.

Davison was more than a "fringe" contender.

He beat Scypion and Parker. His fight against Sibson was a WBC elimination fight between the #1 and #2 contenders.

The definition of "fringe" is someone who barely breaks the top 10 or hovers around it.

Curtis Lowe · Apr 7, 2016

Longhhorn71 said: ↑

Voltage: Great statement u made. That was what I meant by "fringe"...but I didn't properly state it.

James Kitchen was a great Texas amateur....and linebacker for the State football champion (?) nearby to Dallas. He was competitive in the Group we are talking about...but never really broke thru.

Great era for home TV fights.
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Kitchen played for McKinney. I watched him and the Strickland kid (Jay, i think) from Ft. Worth fight for the GG State title in Ft. Worth. Nothing but fists flying non-stop for 3 rounds.

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Early 80's fringe MW Contenders

Sister Sledge Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

Saad54 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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Early 80's fringe MW Contenders

Sister Sledge Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

Saad54 Boxing Junkie Full Member

Curtis Lowe Boxing Addict Full Member