What was his story? I haven't seen many of his fights at all but have heard him called a great talent. I remember looking at some old Sports Illustrated issues years ago & seemed to be highly regarded in the early 80's. His record seems fairly disappointing though with loses to solid but not always exceptional pros. Was his issue the weight problem that plagued so many fighters back then? What are his best performances? From what I've seen of him he seems like a big guy who fought like many Ali inspired 80's fighters. Hands low, looking to box.
Coulda woulda kind of guy. He had the size and talent, but he blew a bit hot and cold to be somebody special.
Greg fits in well with what today would be considered vital assets. He had size, speed, durability and power. But back then, he just looked like he was a fighter with Speed, Size, power and durability who was carrying too much weight. A guy like him with a bit more pace and bit less flab was taken a lot more seriously but if you watch him against Scott Ledoux and Evangelista it's clear to see he had real talent. He was about as good as Rid**** Bowe. Potentially at least. Unlike Bowe, Greg fought more live guys on the way up and blew a couple of fights that really could gave launched him. Berbick and WiTherspoon. To be fair, I could see Bowe lose those fights too. The thing is Greg also fought a hell of a lot of fights and went through periods where he got into the ring and he really was too disillusioned to fight. Sometimes a championship temperament is required. And Greg did not have that.
Excellent fighter who just couldn't seem to put it together and stay in shape, at least that is my opinion. At his best, fast, great jab, excellent power, excellent size for the time. Good chin, he ate some bombs from Coetzee while beating him, as well as some hard shots from Witherspoon, in his prime and was nowhere close to going down. Just sometimes didn't seem to give a damn, and he was helluva chub sometimes, I remember seeing him fight Witherspoon for vacant title, and he came it at 239.5 lbs, and it showed, his moobs were jiggling with every step he took. Funny because that was about the most overweight I had seen a fighter ever come into a significant fight, until I saw James Broad at about 260 lbs of pure suet against ... Witherspoon, must have been something about Tim's natural 'smoothness' or lack of muscle tone that inspired the others to be fat, too? I digress. Greg Page could have been great, he had all the tools. Clearly avoided by Holmes, and when this got too frustrating, he seemed to decide he had no more f**ks to give and became a bit of a Zeppelin. For my money, Page a better boxer, Bowe a better infighter, both had excellent chins and jabs. At their best, I would say it is a toss up most nights, and that the chance of them both getting into the ring in shape, at the same time, is roughly equal to the chance of winning the lottery.
Since it hasn't been mentioned, his career ended with him nearly dying against Dale Crowe. He survived, but in a limited capacity after that. He was in the sort of condition prior to that fight where you wonder how he passed the medical exam. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Fine post, and he was discussed pretty recently. choklab mentioned "championship temperment" and on this one he is spot on. Page fell short mentally in the long haul. Look at the champ of the time, Larry Holmes, and we see enormous determination, dedication and grit. Page needed a lot more of this. You need to overcome adversity and if you get the victim mentality you need to use it as a motivation, not a reason to slacken off. Another thing was that he did not cultivate his tools when in his prime years. Larry Holmes said this before Page was even his mandatory. He said he needed to get into shape, get down off his toes, get his hands up and "culivate his tools" from memory. Page was an enormous talent. He had a great jab, ridiculous handspeed for his size and was one of the bigger hitters in the division which is often lost due to the way he fought. He also had a great cin at his best. His right hand was said by some to be the equal of Coetzee's and both his chin and power are on full display in their fight. Unfortunately the considerable assets never truly came together. If he found that bit extra motivation and had a decent guy guiding him he could have been a fine Heavyweight.
Would the Coetzee fight be representative of Page at his best? By the time I was watching boxing regularly, Page was known as a sparring partner for Tyson. First fight I saw him in was a loss to Orlin Norris.
Not really, but it did show him determined and trading. Tho overweight he actually trained well for this fight. It showcases his chin and power. Ceotzee's right hand pole axed many guys, Page took it very very well. I liked his match with Snipes in an eliminator to face Holmes. Beat an awkward guy with great ease. Fights with Ward, Monroe, Evangelista and LeDoux showcase some of the raw ability and talent. LeDoux after the bout said he hit harder than Foreman, which while not really that palatable certainly shows he packed a mighty whallop. Would have been nice to see him use his power a lot more effectively.
Even at Greg's best he isn't beating Evander Holyfield, and Bowe even at his worst isnt' losing to David Bey.
I can remember James Tillis had him in bad trouble before he turned it around a gave Tillis the worst knockout of his career, pretty impressive to say Tyson couldn't put Tillis away.