2 Skilled southpaws. Nunn has a much better resume but imo Janibek is an atg talent who hasn't gotten the great fights yet. How do you see it playing out
Is this a joke? Nunn fought in an era with Roy Jones, James Toney and Sumbu Kalambay etc. Janibek is currently fighting in a division/era, against Adames, Lara, Eubank Jr and Sheeraz etc.
Nunn fought in the era post Marvin Hagler. So the division was splintered completely - much like it was post Canelo's rise to Super Middle. So credit to the OP - I think the division as it was then & now makes for a worthwhile comparison. Post the departure of Marvellous Marvin & Sugar Ray Leonard from the division, the guy who was hyped to take over was Michael Olajide. He was beaten by then undefeated Olympic gold medalist Frank Tate who was beaten by Nunn who was beaten by James Toney who was beaten by Roy. It took quite a while to get to Roy. Kalambay was a European fighter who crashed & burned the moment he set foot in the US. He was never a real player in the division other than in the eyes of Europeans. And by Europeans, I mean Western Europeans b/c the East hadn't opened up yet which was my original point that you haven't acknowledged. If we map the Middleweight division's history out from that time it reads like this: Olajide < Tate < Nunn < Toney < Roy. I would slot Janibek into the equation after Nunn but before James Toney. Nunn really wasn't that good. A mid-range guy for the era.
There is no comparison between today's division, to the one that Nunn fought in, from the late 80's-early 00's. Nunn really wasn't that good? Nunn was a great fighter. He just didn't have great longevity at the top, due being beaten by an excellent fighter, and from having suffered outside of the ring issues. Kalamabay was also a great fighter. Of course he was a real player in the division. He beat the great Mike McCallum. And look at who Mike beat. What is there to acknowledge? Everything has opened up right now. Yet the division is as weak as it's ever been. The top 5 fighters along with Janibek, are literally Lara, Eubank Jr, Adames and Sheeraz etc. Guys who wouldn't have sniffed the top 5-10 in many other eras. They're B level guys. You've said that Janibek wins. Yet your sole reasoning for this is that the division back then wasn't as open. Okay. Again, now it's open. Yet it's considerably weaker. So?? You haven't given a breakdown or anything. Janibek has beaten who exactly at MW? If you think that he'd have beaten Nunn, at least give a proper reason as to why.
I like Janibek quite a bit. But, has he even beaten a single person who would be a top 20 contender in the 90s? Until he proves quite a bit more, it would be insanity to pick him over Michael Nunn.
Whilst Janibek, through no fault of his own, hasn't beaten anyone of any note yet, his skills are top tier and undeniable and he is blessed with the Eurasian super power of eagle vision and snake precision, and when you couple that with Soviet stoicism, schooling, work ethic and bear power it's a very formidable package
At this point I favour Nunn. Janibek hasn't really shown us anything that makes me favour him over Nunn yet. He may, in due course. He's very good.
