Not sure if anyone has ever seen this previously. Was broadcast on television at one time, and I'm making sure it's available again. I'm about 99.8% sure all of this footage is available elsewhere already been I not arranged together with anything like a narrative structure like it is here. Pretty cool, I enjoyed it. I remember years ago when you couldn't go a few days without hearing Kid Gavilan's name thrown around on this forum. "Most under appreciated fighter of all time" is a term I used to hear in conjunction with him back in the day, constantly. Did something change? This content is protected
I think he passes the eye test. His speed, energy and toughness. Assume they have his KO of Gil Turner on there. Gil Turner was a somebody. Sort of a Philly legend not an easy guy to beat.
Gavilan did not fight like a Cuban.....at least not like a modern day Cuban. He stood and traded, not running around like some Cubans today that shall remain nameless.
h2h he is a hand full for anyone at 147. One of Robinson's best challengers to his welterweight crown and considering the timing of the fights, might actually be the best opponent he ever faced.
I think I used to have this on VHS, it was part of a 60 tape collection called Boxers if I remember rightly. An old boy at Doncaster market used to sell them every Saturday and I used to blow all my money on them. Bought the Gavilan one when I was 16 and was awestruck by him. Truly fantastic fighter, arguably the second greatest welter in history with a great CV that included several top wins at middleweight too.
Thanks for a great video about an absolutely great fighter Russell. I remember from back in the early 70s when I was a kid just how much Ali loved n respected Gavilan as a fighter. He was one of the absolute greatest welters ever and up there with Kid Chocolate, Luis Rodriguez and Jose Napoles as an absolute Cuban legend. Cheers Matey.
You can definitely see the Gavilan and Rodriguez influences in Ali's style, though they were both wicked body punchers whereas Ali wasn't. He was more like Pastrano and Dupas in that sense, who he also emulated. Gavilan wasn't truly heavy-handed as his ko ratio shows, but he was a very spiteful, piercing puncher. Lovely slashing, chopping technique to his shots in conjunction with the speed and combinations.
He is a bit like Ray Leonard in that they could switch up styles on the fly. Lot of speed both hand and foot. Tough chin and I believe he climbed off the canvas to beat Carmen Basilio in his hometown of Syracuse. Check the box he was the total package. I think his energy and style suited Television at that stage. I think Chuck Davey probably agrees with me.
