The version of Emile Griffith that outpointed Dick Tiger for the undisputed middleweight title fights the Iran Barkley of the first Tommy Hearns bout. 15 rounds, of course...as all title fights, both real and imaginary should be. What's your call?
Absolutely dpw....that version of Griffith in particular would have outclassed Barkley. ...other lesser versions would have won as well...less emphatically though.
EG after the Paret fight lost the instinct to punish and finish opponents. But Barkley who was a big strong brawler would be outboxed by the smaller, quicker EG. EG on points.
I see it as been similar to the kalmbay - barkley fight. Barkley as usual tries to club his way in but EG would out point him whilst getting enough punches in to cause Iran s face to swell like a melon.
Even the EG of '72 through '76 would have outpointed Barkley...he would have been just another points loser in one of those bouts Griffith seemed to excel and simultaneously bore people to death in (not me however). EG was a surprising clinical boxer when he was having a good night. He had a beautiful, points scoring right lead and plenty of ring smarts. He knew how to pace himself so well in those many 15 rounders he fought...and 10/12 rounders were no problem for him,..i.e., he had no stamina issues and was content to win every bout on points.
