Joe Mesi should get some more credit

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Martini643, Sep 3, 2009.


Page 1 of 2
  1. Martini643

    Martini643 Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,457
    1
    Aug 31, 2004
    I recently rewatched a bunch of Mesi's notable fights and I gotta say this guy was pretty good for the current state of heavyweights.


    He brutally KO'd Williamson in the 1st round
    He clearly won the Barrett fight, he was knocked down but he wasn't that hurt.

    He was beating the hell out of Jirov ( a gold medalist and great inside fighter no matter what original weight class he started in)

    Plus Mesi started boxing late in life around 21 or so. I don't think he would have beat the Klitschko's but its hard to come up with a number of current heavyweights who have easily beat him.


    By the way, does anyone know if hes officially retired?
     
    Martini643, Sep 3, 2009
    Martini643, Sep 3, 2009
    #1
  2. Jai C

    Jai C Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,746
    0
    Apr 13, 2009
    :huhWhy? Is he having financial problems? Seriously, he did pack quite a punch.
     
    Jai C, Sep 3, 2009
    Jai C, Sep 3, 2009
    #2
  3. Thom

    Thom Boxing Addict Full Member

    5,621
    21
    Jun 25, 2006
    Yeah, he was clearly the best of the crop of young American HWs from a few years ago before he was injured, but that's not really saying much.
     
    Thom, Sep 3, 2009
    Thom, Sep 3, 2009
    #3
  4. bulakenyo

    bulakenyo Am I a boxing fan yet? Full Member

    8,356
    20
    Jun 2, 2006
    Havent seen the Jirov fight in a long time, but I remember Jirov was doing the better work there, even though he was naturally smaller.

    I think Mesi had some blood vessel damage in the head and he couldnt be medically cleared to fight anymore.
     
    bulakenyo, Sep 3, 2009
    bulakenyo, Sep 3, 2009
    #4
  5. Zakman

    Zakman ESB's Chinchecker Full Member

    31,865
    3,115
    Apr 16, 2005
    His record was pretty padded until he fought Barrett and Jirov and got exposed. Williamson?? His chin was utter china. How many times was he laid out COLD? Mesi was okay, but way overhyped.
     
    Zakman, Sep 3, 2009
    Zakman, Sep 3, 2009
    #5
  6. Martini643

    Martini643 Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,457
    1
    Aug 31, 2004

    Mesi won the first 8 rounds easily, he was hit behind the head in the 9th and went down 3 times. that was an illegal blow by the way that probably caused his injury. If it werent for that, he would have won an easy decision or possibly a stoppage
     
    Martini643, Sep 3, 2009
    Martini643, Sep 3, 2009
    #6
  7. ripcity

    ripcity Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    20,449
    51
    Dec 5, 2006
    I always thought he was pretty good. I think if it wern't for the brain injury he would have at least picked up a world tittle.
     
    ripcity, Sep 3, 2009
    ripcity, Sep 3, 2009
    #7
  8. Dark Sider

    Dark Sider Well-Known Member Full Member

    1,887
    0
    Apr 12, 2008
    He was good. Sad about the brain injury, but the fact that he never came back proves he never had the heart to win a title, no matter how bad the champion he faced.
     
    Dark Sider, Sep 3, 2009
    Dark Sider, Sep 3, 2009
    #8
  9. ripcity

    ripcity Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    20,449
    51
    Dec 5, 2006
    Not fighting with a brain injury = no hart? :-(
     
    ripcity, Sep 3, 2009
    ripcity, Sep 3, 2009
    #9
  10. Russkie

    Russkie Active Member Full Member

    926
    0
    Dec 30, 2007
    He did start a come back!! He was in and out of court for a couple of years trying to get re-licensed and then I think he had to find a jurisdiction that would over-look the medical history. Then he had a few fights but the come back seems to have stalled a couple of years ago. I'm assuming the layoff plus his age did him in - not lack of heart

     
    Russkie, Sep 3, 2009
    Russkie, Sep 3, 2009
    #10
  11. WhataRock

    WhataRock Loyal Member Full Member

    35,030
    18,305
    Jul 29, 2004
    I really liked Joe...but he was only really so-so. A solid prospect/contender that likely would have never amounted to much anyway.
     
    WhataRock, Sep 3, 2009
    WhataRock, Sep 3, 2009
    #11
  12. bulakenyo

    bulakenyo Am I a boxing fan yet? Full Member

    8,356
    20
    Jun 2, 2006
    I thought the same, back then.

    Nice guy. Rocky Marciano-esque/great white hope feel.

    Good power. Great hometown support.

    But probably not destined to be an ATG or superstar.
     
    bulakenyo, Sep 3, 2009
    bulakenyo, Sep 3, 2009
    #12
  13. Farmboxer

    Farmboxer VIP Member Full Member

    86,106
    4,096
    Jul 19, 2004
    Mesi was a good fighter at his best.
     
    Farmboxer, Sep 3, 2009
    Farmboxer, Sep 3, 2009
    #13
  14. Martini643

    Martini643 Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,457
    1
    Aug 31, 2004
    I still think he could have picked up a belt against either Ruiz, Brewster, Briggs, Ibragimov, etc. If only the brain injury never happened, we may have seen some excitement in the heavyweight division. Lets be honest, the truth is a white AMERICAN heavyweight would bring in ratings
     
    Martini643, Sep 4, 2009
    Martini643, Sep 4, 2009
    #14
  15. Dark Sider

    Dark Sider Well-Known Member Full Member

    1,887
    0
    Apr 12, 2008
    You mean a white champ like the Klits? A white champ like Iggy or Valuev? Or a white American champ who would need to be protected at every turn and given every advantage possible just to keep him alive against B- opposition like Jirov?

    He had heart but he only had a TWO YEAR LAYOFF from 2004-2006: http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?cat=boxer&human_id=16554

    Cameback and scored seven wins-- so why did he refuse to seek a big money fight or try for a belt? Was it his dabbling in politics?

    Fighters fight, and many other HW's have come back older or from longer layoffs to attempt to win a title. Props for staying "undefeated", but if Mesi quit due to a two year layoff, why would he be championship caliber without a layoff?
     
    Dark Sider, Sep 4, 2009
    Dark Sider, Sep 4, 2009
    #15
Page 1 of 2