Joey Maxim was being out boxed by Sugar Ray Robinson, in his ill fated June 25 1952 bout in his bid to rest the World Light heavyweight title from Joey, if it had not been for the intense heat that night, Robinson would have been crowned the new champion. Robinson lost by TKO 13, not able to answer the bell. Maxim holds a decision win over future World Heavweight Champion Floyd Patterson, on June 7 1954. Joey would lose two matches by decision to Eddie Machen, in 1957. Archie Moore defeated Maxim on two occasions in 1953 and 1954, by decision. Joey is a good boxer with a wealth of experience. Alvaro Yaqui Lopez had shots at the gold at different times in his career, and against a host of different title holders. He lost to John Conteh, on Oct 9 1976, in Copenhagen Denmark, in his bid to take Conteh's WBC Light heavyweight title, John won on points, fighting with one good hand. He failed in his battles against WBA Light Heavyweight champion, Victor Galindez, both in Italy, in 1977 and 1978, losing by decision. He was stopped by Matthew Saad Muhammad, on Jul 13 1980, in round 14, in his shot at the WBC Light Heavyweight Championship. Lopez would be the aggressor against Joey, making him fight backing up, he would work the body, keeping him on the ropes. Yaqui by unanimous decision in this contest, Lopez has good stamina.
Two very educated left hands here. I look at Maxim as kind of a one-gear fighter. Very steady but not the type who could take it up a notch. All the guys who did beat Yaqui in title fights had that extra gear. I favor Lopez by a close unanimous verdict or perhaps even a split decision.
I'll take Lopez. TBH dont know a whole lot about Maxim but I know what Lopez was capable of. Hard luck career at a very very exceptional time in history.
Maxim could win this, but Yaqui was a little more high energy, so he would probably edge Joey down the stretch.
