Eddie Gregory vs. John Conteh

One of the ultimate "depends on the night" matchups. Both men were notorious for not taking their training as seriously as they could, and had a tendancy to show up flat for fights because of it. Conteh especially at that stage. If Conteh showed up in the form he took on Saad Muhammad in vs the Mustafa of, say, the Galindez fight, I think we're looking at a highly technical box-off. I'm hesitant to pick Conteh if only because he no longer had the punching power he did in the early 70's. Very brittle hands at this stage. But then Mustafa usually was not one to take the initiative even when he was on, although he did box somewhat aggressively every so often. The Mwale fight is a good example. If Mustafa was on that form, I'd favor him to take the decision in a similar manner to the Saad Muhammad fight, although perhaps a bit wider, as he'd fare better in the boxing exchanges early with his silky smoothness (although Conteh most definitely wasn't out-classing Saad as is so often said regarding the early goings of their fight). I wouldn't rule out a stoppage at that stage of Conteh's career, either.

Now, prime for prime, Conteh with two good hands, on his A game, we got a different story.

 

not a stoppsge, no

 

you've seen Gregory's fight against MSM?

 

No one could STOP Eddie!
My late friend Mike and I prayed for a Victor/John unification fight 35 years ago! They were the class of the division. Unfortuntely, many posters see the "broken bones" John and the "battle worn" Victor of 76-78 as their real selves.
Not so...
Eddie did fight Victor and displayed his oft passive bulls**t.
If Eddie does his 'sleep walk' thing that he so often displayed, then John very well could have copped a UD pVp...
I still think Eddie, w/o his head case issues, was clearly superior to Michael Spinks and, potentially, one of the greatest pound fer pound pugilists of ALL time.
Let this debate continue.........

 

He is meaning Conteh vs MSM.

I have seen just a few fights of both guys here, and for all the talk of Eddie Mustapha Muhammed being super talented, I personally don't see that.

I think Conteh is clearly superior, but saying that Conteh is one of the best Light-Heavyweights I have ever seen.

 

watch Eddie's fight with Jesse Burnett if you haven't Greg.I think that's his best performance myself.

 

I'll keep my eyes peeled for it.

I have seen the Marvin Johnson fight, I'm sure some have mentioned that as one of his best nights. I didn't think he was that special.

I'm quite high on Conteh at the moment, just watched his domination of Schmidtke.

 

Battle of wasted talent. Both tremendously talented techncians at thier bests. If Eddie is at his VERY best.... I think he wins. Anything less, and Conteh outfights him. Either way, if they both bring thier A games its a close fight.

 

No, I didn't mean it that way, although I would favor Conteh. The reason being when he had two good hands and a more youthful, dedicated spirit he was not adversed to taking the fight to that next level. As poster AREA53 says: Conteh just had that venom. Methinks Mustafa would simply get out-hustled once Conteh starts switching up tactics, boring in head first, and working him on the inside. Mustafa did have that equalizing power, though, and was a tremendous body puncher. But then young Conteh gets quite underrated as a puncher because of his latter career style adjustments. Both men are well capable of hurting the other.

What this comes down to is two men of equal ability where one just wants it more and will do anything necessary to get the win. That's what sets Conteh apart. I'd wager on a close but clear decision win.

 

Gregory is one you have to develop an eye for. I didn't think much of his style the first time I watched him, either. Now he's one of my favorites at the weight.

 

I'll definitely keep my eye out for him then.

 

Eddie Gregory waited around in the ring too much.
John Conteh liked to pose too much.

Sounds like one helluva boring fight.