Anyone know anything about him? Had quite a few fights to his name. Drew with Lyle, and Bonovena too. Also one of the first people to go the distance with Foreman. Anyone?
His awkward slickness gave Foreman fits during their first match. Foreman won clearly, but didn't look good doing so. He KO'd Peralta during their rematch. Typical tough Argentinian. Here in the U.S. we love Mexican boxers for their toughness and active styles, but Argentinians are underappreciated. They're equally tough but often have unorthodox styles that pose problems for U.S. and European fighters. I wish more bouts from Argentina would be carried on U.S. TV.
How, on the whole, is their style unorthodox, out of curiousity? Why do so many fighters come out of Argentinia? Is it one of those poverty stricken places that creates fighters?
In the early seventies I saw some highlights of his fights with several German heavyweights. Peralta beat them in a rather convincing way. @ Lex You are right. The Argentinian boxing scene might be quite interesting. Argentina gave the world some tough fighters (Firpo, Bonavena...).
Argentina goes through periods of some very great fighters,I heard Firpo,Bonavena were from partial Italian decent, Monzon spanish but Galindez(tough dude and Jorge Auhumada excellent fighters.There were many others Peralta was not really a natural heavy, but even as a blown up lightheavy he gave Big George trouble,Foreman could not put him down from what I remember,Ref stopped 2nd fight on the ropes but he made George miss and look awfull
I've always appreciated how Greg Peralta demonstrated that it was possible for one to be in his mid to late 30s, and under 200 pounds, yet still compete with a youthful Foreman or Lyle. The ancient refrain of "bigger, younger and stronger, therefore better" can always be thwarted by savvy and guile, and Peralta exemplified that, performing well right to the end of his career. (Handing Lyle the second blemish on his record for a curtain call.) He beat Pastrano in a nontitle fight in Miami, but Willie took the LH championship rematch on a cut. (I haven't seen it, but Pastrano had a nasty jab, and probably opened up Greg's eye with it.) If he'd managed to lift the title, he might have given Torres all kinds of hell.
The reason I say that Argentinian fighters often have unorthodox styles is because every country or region has trainers and boxing heros who influence styles. For example, Cuban amateur boxers are persuaded to adopt the southpaw stance, even if they're naturally right handed. It's proven to be key to their success.
Check his resume; something like 120 fights! I always thought if Ali wasn't banished he would have traveled to Luna Park circa 68-69 and given Peralta a crack at the title as he probably would have all but cleaned out the division by then...
