Flamengo's Top 25 Aboriginal Fighters...

Been scouring through the old 82-87 'The Square Ring" looking for the details.. I am 99% sure he won the SM/W. In saying that, I just found the detail in a recod book of Aust. Title fights by John Richards.. Thanks for the corrction. Gimme a buzz when ya got a minute.. got some GOOOOOOOOD News.

 

No Commonwealth title.. He did fight Monty Betham in 76 and lost via KO11.. I can only find one referance to him winning the SM/W Crown too..

 

6. Robert 'Bomber' Peden.

This might ruffle a few feathers, but this bloke is a definate Top 10 in any argument. With an Amatuer record of 145 bouts (130 wins) that included National Fly, Bantam and Featherweight Championships, he stands on the same podium as the likes of Joey Donovan and Jeff Dynevor. Really only out classes both by a margin -the marginal difference is due to two Olympic Games representations, Commonwealth Gold (as did Dyenevor) and World titles in Helsinki. As the only Australian to win the Kings Cup Trophy for Best Boxer, the margin widens. As a Professional, Peden also remained to fulfill a distinquished Professional career that gradually built a promising record. Fighting out of the USA, Peden's first serious encounter was against Carlos Rios for the NABF SF/W Title. Rios, a veteran of 50+ bouts was fortunate to last through the opening rounds as Peden blasted away at will to body and head. Losing no more than two rounds, the American system made an arse of itself with a Split Decision at the final bell. Peden was deservedly awarded the fight, but the expression in hearing 'Split Decision' is priceless. Something of a party animal that lasted through his amatuer career into the paid ranks, Peden quickly dropped the NABF Crown in a lopsided loss to John Brown. Rebounding immediately at the Featherweight limit to claim another NABF crown saw Peden march forward towards World honours. A couple of defences and a meet with Juan Manual Marquez saw Peden drop the Feather title, only to bounce back again. This time the more comfortable SF/W division for a third NABF belt. In defence against Nate Campbell, perhaps one of the more memorable fight finishes involving any Australian in the last half of a century, Peden looked cut in half by a body shot from the floor. Campbell smelling victory and an IBF Title tilt became careless and walked into a crushing hook. Stubborn and cocky (An American??? Who'd have thought??) Campbell dropped his hands in protest of the punches effect, only to cop a sleeping pill from the same angle. Fight over. This victory set up a dream match for Peden vs Campbell II in Melbourne. Peden looked rattled early but cut Campbell to pieces and took home the prized belt. Holding onto the belt for 7 months and losing to the brilliant Marco Antonio Barrera was no fun. Pedens training went far from well, and that showed in the ring. From a young age until the World title victory Robbie Peden encapsulated the careers of many great fighters into his own.... and we may get to see him cut Nate Campbell to pieces one more time later this year.

Best assett. Boxing ability. Toughness. Class.
Worst assett.

Best win. Carlos Rios. Nate Campbell
Best loss. Juan Ma. Marco A Barrera.

 

Rather than bore everyone with an anti-climactic countdown, I'll post the 5- 1 blokes in a single post. Their careers are pretty well known by most, so I wont write much.

 

5. Hector Thompson.

A bloody gem with concussive body shots as the trade mark.
His story will be revisited in May edition of Fist magazine.. buy a copy and take a look.

Best assett. Great body shots. Chin. Strength.
Worst assett. Cuts. injuries.

Best win. Lauchie Ausitin. Jeff Malcolm. Manny Santos
Best loss. roberto Duran. Antonio Cervantez



4. Tony Mundine.

Mundine is always criticized as having a glass jaw.. Well his record suggests otherwise. A shock loss to Kahu Mahanga and the opening round defeat by Louis Rodriquez tarnished his reputation for a long while. As Aussie M/W. LH/W, C/W and H/W Champ, as well as Commonwealth M/W and LH/W belts gives Mundine one of the Nations most decorated Professional records of acheivement. No interim alphabet dribble in this fantastic career to be spoken of 96 bouts, 80 wins and 65KO's.

Best assett. natural boxing ability.
Worst assett. Caved in.

Best win. Emile Griffith. Bunny Sterling. Denny Moyer.
Best loss. Benny Briscoe. Carlos Monzon.



3 Ron Richards.

Richards was never much more than the standard M/W throughout his career, yet plastering the likes of Gus Lesnecich so convincingly leaves the impression that Richards was the master at LH/W by comparison to Sands. Always troubled by a larger fighter such as Ambrose Palmer, Richards still held his own against Archie Moore over 12 rounds. Moore still shuddered at the mention of the Richards name whilst in his last years of life.. "He hit me soooo damn hard" said Moore of Richards shaking his head. Never getting the World title shot he refused to chase, he still managed to accomplish as much as Tony Mundine and did it twice on most occassion.

Best assett. Counter punching genius, Toughness.
Worst assett. Geographical.

Best win. Gus Lesnevich. Alabama Kid. Carmen Bath
Best Loss. Archie Moore

 

Hmmm... obvious who 1 and 2 are.. but, what order????

 

Bloody oath Contendo.. even though he say's you're a wanker.. lol.

He's overlooked a fair bit due to him being USA based whilst on the way up, yet if the major bouts he had saw him leaving Australia for the sake of each single one, he'd have had a following on par with Tszyu.

Been trying to get his fights on DVD with Leon.. only have Nate Campbell I & II, Guterriez, Rios and Barrera

 

Do you think Darrel Hiles is ok at 2????