In 1988, British Common Wealth champ Horace Notice retired at age 31 with a 16-0 record... Meanwhile, across the sea former olympic Bronze medalist Willie Dewitt was ending his career, holding the Canadian title and had a record of like 20-1 or something... Who would have won this had they met before year end 1988?
From what I remember of him I think Notice would have got the job done against DeWit. Notice was a solid workman. I'm not sure he was a level above De Wit but I would pick him to win. Maybe it is because whenever I think of De Wit I remember how Cooper destroyed him. Notice seemed to have something left in the tank in many of his fights too.
Here is notice fighting Hughroy Curry... [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITXTnGhmFa0[/ame] Only thing I could find on Dewit was his olympic fight with Tillman. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS3gI9T_5uA[/ame] Can't really judge Dewit fairly as a pro, given that all I've seen is amateur footage.. Based on what I've heard of these guys and what little I can see, it doesn't seem like either were destined to be world class challengers. Both appeared to be aggressive though and stylistically it might have been an entertaining fight between two continental title holders, who were both prospects at the same time and who's careers ended literally in the same month and same year...
I had the misfortune of seeing Notice, I am taking Dewitt. Hell Doug is better than pick-em against 'orrible Horace!
As i recall Horace was more suited to Cruiser and Willie would of had something of a weight advantage, Horace however was perhaps more athletic and versatile perhaps he could have matadored Dewitt, In the UK i might favour Horace to sping what would perhaps (Pre Cooper) be deemed un upset. in Canada Dewitt would surely be favoured.
Horace Notice did appear to be in pretty good shape and fairly mobile from what I watched in the clips of the Hughroy Currie fight.. Looked like he had a bit of potential and from what I'm told, he came out of the same Terry Lawless stable that Frank Bruno and Gary Mason trained at. Apparently he sparred with those guys as well from time to time.. Not sure why he retired with so few fights, but I think I heard someone mention a few years back that it had something to do with a torn retina injury, but that's just heresay. Don't have the facts. He was also around 31-32 years old while still having the record of a prospect, so time was not exactly on his side.
Dewitt as an amateur first KO'd Henry Tillman and then lost a decision in the final to Tillman, I think all the hype effected Willie and he was poorly mismanaged and trained in the pro's.....I was really impressed with him prior to the Olympics where he and fellow Canadian Shawn O'Sullivan were put under the microscope....I think the way both men were moved and trained in the pro's is probably the worst I have seen. Nick Weill also falls into that group of wasted or destroyed talent.
