Is Antonio Cervantes the most underrated of the greats?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Xplosive, Jul 17, 2018.


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  1. Xplosive

    Xplosive Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I certainly feel he is.

    For some reason, Kid Pambele seems like the most forgotten, least talked about of all the time greats.

    There's FEW very junior welters in history who could beat the mid 70s Cervantes.
     
    Xplosive, Jul 17, 2018
    Xplosive, Jul 17, 2018
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  2. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

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    ATG for sure. I really enjoy watching him on YouTube
     
    robert ungurean, Jul 17, 2018
    robert ungurean, Jul 17, 2018
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  3. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    He was a great champion in a junior weight class during an era of dominant all-time great champions in established weight classes:

    Lightweight: Duran (72-79)
    Welterweight: Napoles (69-71; 71-75)
    Middleweight: Monzon (70-77)
    Light-heavyweight: Foster (68-74)
    Heavyweight: Ali (74-78; 78-79)

    In that company, it's easier to understand why he was overlooked.
     
    Jel, Jul 17, 2018
    Jel, Jul 17, 2018
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  4. richdanahuff

    richdanahuff Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    At his peak he was great IMO had he moved out of the no name 140 he would not be as overlooked....the division was then a no name division today and a temporary stop for fighters moving up in weight and tired of languishing at 135
     
    richdanahuff, Jul 17, 2018
    richdanahuff, Jul 17, 2018
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  5. Flash24

    Flash24 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    One of the best ever, but their was so much talent from Heavyweight to Flyweight , and quite a few are considered ATG's during that era, and he not being super flashy, in a Jr. Division, he gets overlooked more than he should because Cervantes was indeed an ATG. But boxing was so deep from 1960's thru the 1990's he gets lost in the shuffle . Its unfortunate.
     
    Flash24, Jul 17, 2018
    Flash24, Jul 17, 2018
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  6. Reinhardt

    Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    One wonders what he would have done with Pryor years earlier
     
    Reinhardt, Jul 17, 2018
    Reinhardt, Jul 17, 2018
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  7. PernellSweetPea

    PernellSweetPea Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    He was great. Had the misfortune to fight Pryor and Benitez.
     
    PernellSweetPea, Jul 17, 2018
    PernellSweetPea, Jul 17, 2018
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  8. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    Good question. I think he'd have beaten Pryor during his first reign (72-76) when he was at his peak.
     
    Jel, Jul 17, 2018
    Jel, Jul 17, 2018
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  9. Reinhardt

    Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I think I'm forced to agree, how about Antonio vs Chavez at 140 , primes? Cervantes could have busted him up
     
    Reinhardt, Jul 17, 2018
    Reinhardt, Jul 17, 2018
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  10. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    I think Cervantes could legitimately be the no. 1 jnr welter in history, although I'd probably pick Chavez for that.

    Head to head though, Cervantes had the tools to school Chavez but then I don't want to sell Chavez short either. A prime Cervantes v a prime Chavez would have been a great fight I think.
     
    Jel, Jul 17, 2018
    Jel, Jul 17, 2018
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  11. Reinhardt

    Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Now that's a PPV!!!
     
    Reinhardt, Jul 17, 2018
    Reinhardt, Jul 17, 2018
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  12. Rope-a-Dope

    Rope-a-Dope Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I wonder why he didn't move up to welterweight. After Napoles was done there in 75, there were people like Stracey and Espada as champion. Cervantes could have moved up then and probably been champion.
     
    Rope-a-Dope, Jul 17, 2018
    Rope-a-Dope, Jul 17, 2018
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  13. Xplosive

    Xplosive Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I love Pryor, but there's no doubt that had he faced the 73-75 Cervantes instead, it would have been a very different fight.

    Make no mistake, Pryor's speed and unorthodox angles would be a problem for any version of Cervantes, but it certainly wouldn't have been a walk over for The Hawk against a prime Kid Pambele.

    I'd make Pryor a SLIGHT favorite over a prime Cervantes, but the chances of Cervantes winning are very real.

    The Cervantes that beat DeJesus and destroyed Alfonso Frazer would have been HELL for Pryor.
     
    Xplosive, Jul 17, 2018
    Xplosive, Jul 17, 2018
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  14. Longhhorn71

    Longhhorn71 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    There are some good articles on Cervantes on the internet. Benitez refused to rematch Cervantes after winning a Split Decision over Cervantes in Wilfred's hometown of San Juan. That is why Benitez was stripped of his WBA Jr WW title in 1977.
     
    Last edited: Jul 17, 2018
    Longhhorn71, Jul 17, 2018
    Longhhorn71, Jul 17, 2018
    #14
  15. Xplosive

    Xplosive Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I thought Benitez beat Cervantes pretty damn clearly.
     
    Xplosive, Jul 17, 2018
    Xplosive, Jul 17, 2018
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