He was quite good and his record speaks for itself. Wins over the likes of Emile Griffith, Bobo Olson, Joey Archer, Jimmy Ellis, Rocky Rivero along with many competitive bout against the eras best distinguish him from being just a brother of Gene Fullmer's. He was a legitimate middleweight contender himself. Unlike his brother, he was not a physically strong mauler but a traditional boxer working off a jab, with a couple of spoiling tricks of his own. A headache to fight because like his brother he could take a punch. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFkjdSAYVSs[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4nRY569EC8[/ame]
He decked Nino Benvenuti in the 7th with a neat right hand, only to get outboxed down the stretch..he was a good fighter, as has been said, quite different stylistically from his brother Gene..he just lacked that "something extra" to be something special.
Ive never thought much of Don. He was exactly how he was portrayed in the press at the time: The less talented brother of Gene. He wasnt as strong as Gene, didnt hit as hard, and couldnt box as well (not that either could box or punch very well to begin with). Being that he fought just as ugly, sometimes as dirty, and won at least a few questionable fights like his brother you can say there is a reason why he did and does live in Gene's shadow. Gene Fullmer can be painful to watch with his ugly style, willingness to win ugly, and dirty tactics. When you consider Don to be a lesser light than Gene but possessed of the same basic qualities well, to each his own i guess but id rather watch paint dry.
