Jimmy Youngs Resume

I agree solid record and good quality opposition. Perhaps the most underrated HW of the 70's? In a weaker era than the one he fought in he would've picked up a belt for sure.

He was difficult to catch cleanly, had fine skills, a very good jab and was a very effective body puncher with respectable power. He also employed an effective strategy to make people fight his own fight. The mid 70's was when he was at his very best.

 

well i must be ali's biggest fan,but young beat him.

 

Young was robed against Ali.. he did enough to win..

I met him in England a few years ago.. 1989.. he was there with Tyrell Biggs to fight Gary Mason at the Albert Hall.. he was a real ladies man.. what a cool guy..

 

It was a very close fight sure, but IIRC I had it Ali winning by a single round.

Nothing was clearcut, though and it was a bit of a tricky conest to score. I could totally understand those who gave Young the nod. (it's a good while since I've seen that fight so my view could be different next time).

 

Young was both mismanaged and unlucky. He fought in a top era and did very well. Young record is deceptive. Perhaps the most deceptive of all heavyweights.

 

I am very impressed by Young's ability. He was thrown in with good fighters early in his career, for instance 60 fight vet Shavers in his 13th pro fight. He avenged that KO loss a year later in the eyes of many, although he got a draw.

During his prime he beat:

Lyle 2x
Prime (not peak) Foreman
Fading Ali (i think he beat him)
Shavers

And a close fight with Norton that may have gone both ways. I think that is a very impressive resume. He did not have a flashy style which probably accounts for his many wrongful decisions and lack of popularity, but i think he'd give a lot of heavies hell. In terms of ability, top25 for me.

 

Simply stated, Young could be puncher's or older fighters worst nightmare. I think a top 40 spot for Young is A-OK. While his record is ugly, his quality of opposition beaten is top notch.

 

Young was really only taken out a few times in his career. The first time was when he had all but 11 pro fights and facing a very dangerous Earnie Shavers, and the next time was several years later when he was past his prime against a peaking Gerry Cooney. Young over stayed his welcome in the sport by about 8 years, and would take many talented young fighters the distance, even picking up a good win or two along the way. I guess the real issue with Young was that he lacked good managment and was never able to put any real sting into his punches.

 

He also put together a decent win streak following his loss to Cooney, beating a few decent looking young prospects. I remember a fighter who he beat named Jeff Simms. Not paricularly a world beater per say, but certainly a very dangerous puncher who troubled a lot of good fighters.

 

He was only stopped on a cut vs. Cooney as well, correct?

 

According to what boxrec says, yes.

 

Yes. He was never down. He did quite well for the first three rounds (Cooney showed a jab, surprisingly), but suffered a cut..... a really bad one at the end of round 3 or the beginnig of the 4th. He bled like an animal and half a minute later his sight was useless. The last minute of the bout, all he could do was cover up as Cooney was pounding him, instead of using his defensive tricks and slick style. The referee stopped it, rightfully. But he showed a lot of heart and guts.

 

I liked Young.

Just a little more aggression against Ali he would have got the title.

Hard to beat a "Legend" when your forte' is defense.

 

You lot are brilliant with the rewriting of history

Yeah Young was underrated in the late 70s, but he got his overdue kuods in the early 80s, he does not need to be overrated with hindsight in 2008, IMO.