Emile Griffith vs Carmine Basilio at 160 lbs, both prime.

Oooh! This is a solid matchup. This would be a really close fight but I'll go with Griffith by SD as he seems to be the more well-rounded fighter in terms of speed and power. But Basilio's pressure fighting and iron chin would give Griffith migraines all night.

 

Tough, real tough fight to predict.
Although on first sight one might slightly lean to Griffith, Basilio surreal toughness would make him to keep coming at Emile, increasing his chances of winning as the fight approaches to the late rounds.
50/50 fight.
Great matchup by the way!

 

I am not sure at what weight Griffith was in his prime, but IMO Basilio was past it at 160. As a matter of fact, he never weighed a full 160 for a fight in his life. He weighed only 153 when he won the middleweight title from Robinson. I think his prime was as a welterweight. He was never as effective after he lost the middleweight title. He may have been mentally tired of making 147, but I think he was a better conditioned fighter when he trained down to that weight even at the end of his welterweight reign. It's hard to argue that he was less effective in his last fight as a welterweight. He knocked out Johnny Saxton in two rounds after having had to the full 15 against him in their two prior fights.

Of course, fighting Robinson was where the money was. But fighting for the middleweight title didn't make Carmen a better fighter. After defeating Robinson in their first fight, he never won another fight against a middleweight. Carmen's only wins were against welterweights who beefed up a bit just to fight him. As a matter of fact, when I look at Boxrec, Basilio only defeated one true middleweight in his entire career, and that was Robinson. Maybe you can do another thread with both fighters at 147?

 

Very good matchup, Richard. I m gonna go with Griffith by decision, close one at that.
And calls for a rematch!

 

Not sure how many of you guys know this, they had a very taught and frigid meet at a convention a few years ago, apparently Griffith gave a firmer than needed handshake, and held Carmens hand for a little to long, to which Basilio took offence, and told Emille in no uncertain terms never to do that again, otherwise there will be consequences, sounds like something the craggy, no nonsense, Basilio would say.
Mmmm, as to who would win in their respective primes, I am with the Kid, the fight augers better at 147, not an easy go to, sometimes my admiration for Basilio clouds my judgement, that said,..... was going to point to a Basilio win, but have a nagging feeling Emile would be that much buiser, and therefore outwork Carmen for a UD over 15, I might revisit this another time, and make a case for the onion farmer, who knows.
stay safe guys.

 

Shame to hear them falling out like that in older age Mike, two great fighters, and judging by the book I've just read about Emile, seems he was a nice guy.

 

Griffith should outbox him for a UD ... and Yes , Griffith was a well established MW as well. no doubt about that

 

Griffith fought his entire career at MW for the most part as well .. Didn't he debut at MW ? Belt holder with defenses as well at MW.. At MW Griffith resume was really tough .....
Monzon x 2
Briscoe x 2
D tiger x 2
Benvenuti x 3
Archer x 2
Minter
Auetofermo
Licatta
Mundine
Boggs
Jorge Fernandez x 3

Plenty of big/ and or strong middles in there

 

He was pretty much a welterweight from 1958 through 1965 with some non-title excursions into the next higher weight division as most non-heavyweight champions did during that era. His last fight in 1965 was a successful welterweight title defense against Manuel Gonzales on December 10. It was after that fight that he concentrated on the middleweights. So his time as a middleweight extended from 1966 until his retirement in 1977. At least that's the way I break down his career focus.

He weighed 157 for his first fight, but then trimmed down to the 140s.