Jeff Fenech Discussion Thread

To be fair, Payakaroon was not at his best in that fight due to troubles making the 122 pound weight limit. Another example of an extremely experienced Thai combatant making the switch to boxing and peaking/dropping off very early as a result. That said, I don't think he'd have ever beaten Jeff. As talented as he was, he didn't have the focus to cope with Jeff's all out assault over the long haul.

As for Fenech in general, one of the best brutish, swarming style fighters of the last 30 years. It's difficult to envision anyone getting the better of him in that type of battle. Just too much strength and aggression, combined with an indomitable will and consistent workrate. Not a big puncher, but a wear you down type in the LaMotta mold (with differences in the way they approached pressuring) as far as punching power is concerned. Excellent physical specimen, a guy who'd have fared just as well at any stage of his career because of his generally one-paced style. I think he'd have been at his best at Bantamweight due to the physical advantages he held at those weights.

And yes, he deserved the verdict against Nelson in their first fight, clearly. 8 to 4 on my card last I scored it (long time ago, mind you).

 

Not much. Azumah, as physically gifted a fighter as he was, just didn't seem to be able to deal with Fenech in his conventional manner. Even in the rematch he was being mostly out-muscled, he had just adapted better and took on more of an organized counter-punching role, which eventually lead to him catching an open Fenech and finishing him off.

 

I always had the utmost respect for Fenech as a fighter. You cant ask for a more entertaining style. Imagine if he was born with a big punch!!

 

I think Fenech still had a pretty good punch but his hand problems sort of dictated how his style formed.

He would be somewhere inside the best 100 fighters Ive seen, though his resume doesnt quite hold up to most of the other guys there.
When its all averaged out, depending on what you like more, he should squeeze somewhere in there I reckon.

He would upset a lot of people's favorites of this era, though he has no where near the profile. I think he would give prime Izzy a serious whupping, Im also very confident he edges Morales and I reckon he is a 50-50 shot with Barerra, though because of styles I do I actually ever so slightly lean towards Fenech...I also think he mugs the younger, less developed version of Pac at 122. Of course its all debatable though.

In regards to the rematch with Nelson...I dont think that was the same version of Fenech that got robbed in Las Vegas. Though physically he had the potential to be.
Mentally I think he was hurt and disillusioned, though that should have just fired him up more. The anecdotal evidence Ive heard over the years of his slightly laxer attitude to training of this fight does speak pretty loud to me. It wasnt one single incident , like an injury or an illness, rather an accumulation of things because Fenech couldnt stay away from the hype of the event. A late night here, to many drinks at a VIP event there, skipping a training session or stopping one early. Certainly no excuse, especially seeing its all his fault, but if Azumah gets his pass then Jeff should get a little bit of a one aswell.
Azumah looked a bit better and changed his tactics somewhat, and his defensive approach...but to me Fenech didnt look as good..He looked fit and strong, fighting in his usual aggressive way but his distancing and upper body movement just wasnt quite the same.
There were some sequences in the first Nelson fight where he has Azumah missing 3 or 4 punches in a row then jumping right back on top of him.

Jeff had pretty good skills actually...a somewhat overlooked part of his game. Technically he was pretty solid, I liked the way he turned his punches over and was able to throw good looking, solid shots from so close.

 

Put Fenech against the top 10 ever at Bantam, Junior Feather and Feather and he would certainly claim his share of scalps.

 

Truthfully? I wouldn't have the faintest Russ lol

 

Agree with everything underlined.

I think Fenech has the best chance of beating Gomez at 122. Whilst his style was somewhat hampered by his hand problems, he was still formidable as he moved up IMO. Not sure of the circumstances surrounding Nelson before the first fight, but I felt Fenechs performance was fantastic. As good an achievment as Harada's 'loss' against Famechon IMO.

Certainly one of the more formidable H2H forces under 126 IMO.

 

How do you see him against Khaokor Galaxy at bantam?

 

******* :rofl

Give me time to think Al :good

 

Hate to shoot ya thread to pieces Russel.

Samart was induced to weakness via urine tablets in order to lose weight in the week leading up to the fight. He was said to be a STONE overweight in the week prior to being stripped of his title. He'd been partying and living a semi- Playboy existece whilst training in Oz.

I do not doubt the sources this news came from. All were involved with Samart in Oz and they should know. No need to excuse a foreigner 20 years later.