Greg Page or John Tate - Potential

Tate simply didn't have the whiskers to last long at the top, which was clearly his downfall. His "defining moment," frankly, is getting knocked out by Mike Weaver.

Page was more durable, managed to stay at the top longer, and was the more talented fighter overall. If he had any dedication to the sport, he might have been the best of the "Lost Generation" HWs.

 

John Tate had good forward movement, but was absolutely clueless on the backfoot. He also had below average punching power for a man his height and weight. Poor chin rounds out what I would describe as a mediocre heavyweight at best.

Greg Page had the far better potential and I think it partially showed in his accomplishments, especially earlier on in his career.

 

:good

 

Tate gets a bad rap these days. I saw, back in the day, a truly remarkable fighter whose jaw was dented by a one punch KO and never recovered. It's happened before and will again. Great jaws and simply ruined in one fight (Cuevas against Hearns, Curry against McCallum, O'Grady against Ganigan, Fenech against Nelson II, etc.) For a 240 lb. man, Tate was very nimble on his feet, kept a tigiht defense, had great stamina and survived against the big bangers of the day such as Coetzee, Knoetze, Bobick, Mercado and Weaver for 14.5 rounds. Also, was the only man to blast out the rock jawed Raul Gorosito, I believe. Unfortunately, his career always seems to be defined after the Weaver fight. One left hook and it was over.

Scartissue

 

Tate never had the chin, period ....

I'm not sure what Page was lacking but despite the huge amateur build up something was not there ... the fire, the dedication, the physical strength ... starting with the way Trevor Berbick kicked his ass, ending his undefeated streak he never lived up to his hype ... when that happens it is usually because the fight was never that great to begin with ...

 

Perhaps you can elighten me on just when his chin failed pre-Weaver? Or are we going to go back to his amateur days against superman Stevenson? Tate's chin was sound, but was never the same again after Weaver's 1 punch KO in the 15th.

Scartissue

 

I think that Page had the more natural talent. Tate does get a bad rap for his Weaver fight, but I still think Page was better,

 

When Stevenson flattened him in the Olympics ... after the loss to Weaver he got crushed by the relatively light hitting Berbick .. Tate was no 20 year journeyman with tons of wear and tear whose chin chipped away over time ... he simply never had a great one and it is a shame because he was a very good fighter ... they said at the time of his loss to Weaver that on that night for 14 and 2/3rd's rounds Tate was the best heavyweight in the world ..

 

I agree with most of what you said. Except for he never had a chin. I believe he had a sound chin, but was never the same again after that one punch by Weaver. It has happened before. One punch can scramble something in the old noggin and you're done. I mentioned previously Cuevas against Hearns, O'Grady against Ganigan, Curry against McCallum and Fenech against Nelson in their second fight. I would also mention Bramble against Rosario and Berg against Canzoneri in their second fight. Something went out of these guys from, not a prolonged beating, but a one punch KO (OK, Fenech's went a bit longer but was virtually finished from his first knockdown). Remember, Tate, in his brief career before the Weaver fight, withstood Coetzee's bionic right for 15 rounds and outboxed him. He withstood a furious assault from Knoetzee for 8 rounds and counter-punched him to death. He also tore up noted bangers Bobick and Mercado without any of them denting his chin. I'm not saying he had an Ali like chin but it was sound. And like the aforementioned fighters, it was gone after the one devastating KO.

Scartissue

 

I think Page had more potential. Tate had a weak chin. I think he reached whatever potential he had. Page is another story, he had quick hands, good foot movement and a good chin. He was just never commited to physical conditioning... He always struggled with weight, he never got that handled in his career. he had some good pop in his shots too. He was an alphabet title holder for a bit. In shape, he picks up where Holmes left of(or beats an old Holmes) and has a nice little run for himself. Until Tyson of course...

 

Interesting points ... the ability to take punishment is an odd thing and it does fall into catagories ... putting the Olympics aside since Telofilo could KO anyone he hit, Tate fell pretty quickly as he really was young and without wear .. the best thing is he soon retired and did not take too many of those beatings ...

 

Greg probably accomplished more at the professional (and amateur) level. As it has been mentioned previously, John's downfall was that chin, and never recovering from the Weaver loss. Greg's was probably, that in the first place, his heart wasn't into the sport like it should have been.It has been said that he was a very good basketball player, and that was his first love as a sport.Probably, his father pushed him into being a fighter, and subconsciouly, Greg probably rebelled by not training as hard and not being into his most important fights. I always felt there was more to what was seen at his loss to Berbick, he was outmuscled and outhustled, but the thumb has some degree to blame for that.For defining moments, I think for Tate, Duane Bobick could be one, for Page, Marty Monroe was his best fight.Greg did have the most potential of the two of them, and I wish there was tape of the two Tate-Page fights from the amateurs.