John Conteh and Victor Galindez

Both were great fighters in my honest opinion, even if Conteh partied his full potential away. Galindez had the more consistent career, and thus should be rated ahead of Conteh based on longevity. I thought both were very versatile fighters, among the best in that regard of the era. Galindez being able to switch it up from aggressive swarmer to reserved counter-puncher, Conteh from cool, calm, and collected boxing master to banger with a mean streak. I'd say Conteh was the slightly more skilled fighter, though.

 

wasnt conteh/monzon ment to happen?

 

Sweet Pea is on the money here, Galindez should be rated higher and was somewhat of a dominant force (to some degree in my opinion), but a fight between the two would have been nice. Conteh less consistent, everyone knows of his lifestyle. What Pea said about their styles is spot on also.

When Galindez is in counterpuncher mode though, one must be very patient, the man will simply wait allday.

 

I also go with Conteh as thr better fighter.
I would also like to add that Galindez got more than his share of close decisions go his way.

 

That's bound to happen when you face the type of competition he did consistently. Ask Emile Griffith.

 

Galindez-Monzon would have made lot more sense.

 

Not really, I remember that I read from somewhere that the two were very good friends and wouldn't fight each other, but I could be wrong.

 

Sweet pea your very high on Conteh i havent seen alot of him this is another fighter your getting me to watch more of.

Gomez and now Conteh

any fights i must see?

 

Galindez was probably considered "better," but only because he was more active and consistent. Conteh was thought to have the talent to be just as good, but injuries and inactivity forced him to relinquish his title and prevented him from reaching his full potetntial.

 

Galindez was certainly the more active and thus had a higher profile as he wasn't plagued with the hand problems of Conteh. I've gone back and forth on the subject of who would have won, and I beieve that a peak, healthy fisted Conteh would have won a close decision, but it's my guess that Victor would have had to avenge the loss with the scorn and displeasure of his countrymen weighing heavily on him, so I envision another 15 rounder, this time with Galindez squeaking it out. This would have called for a rubber match, ala Griffith-Benvenuti, and I believe the serie's only knockdown would have tipped the narrowest of decisions in favor of a bloody Galindez in a fight held, of course in Buenos Aires.

 

Victor did scrape victories over Lopez Gregaory and Kates, and whilst Conteh could match these guys for pure boxing ability, Conteh also had a venomous attitude that these guys didnt quite match, I cant help but feel that Conteh would get off to a bright boxing start, but as we enter the middle of the Fight and Galindez tries to up the ante, he finds Conteh, this classy looking operator.....has a very ugly heart ! Conteh will become absolutly spiteful, and i do fear that Conteh will employ his other trait - careless Headwork - amongst the classy Combo's , to cut Victor up, I think Conteh wins on late cuts stoppage, with the Galindez camp, like many other, left bitterly complaining about Conteh rough-house tatics. A younger, fit two handed Conteh, against a Galibndez usually looking to conserve energy for late fight bursts, will pick up too much early fight damage i suspect.

 

His fights with Chris Finnegan, Yaqui Lopez, Tom Bogs, Lonnie Bennett, and Jorge Ahumada are essential viewing, as well as the first Muhammad fight, though it was his last top notch performance.

edit: The first Finnegan fight, the Bogs fight, and both of the Muhammad fights are up on Youtube, by the way (only the first of which is useful to gauge Conteh's abilities, as he was pretty much shot by the rematch). Also, his title fight with Len Hutchins is up as well, another very good performance.

 

Some good fights on youtube. Conteh as a prospect outboxing the very tough and game Chris Finnegan. Also a way past his best one handed Conteh giving Saad Muhamed hell for 15 rounds is worth watching.
Conteh imo is the most gifted British fighter of the post war period.

 

I've commented many times on this one. My late bud and I wasted many nights (late 74 thru late 75) talking up a Conteh/Galindez scrap. The boxing bodies just weren't going to let it happen. We both agreed that either fighter could win this one with several different endings possible.
I think a lot of folks on board here remember Victor as more of the battle scarred warrior from the late 70's and John after multi-right hand breaks and inactivity. They were both at their peaks in, say, the summer of 75.
I don't think Monzon could have done much with either of them and that's no knock on the King. IMO he just wouldn't have that strength advantage at Lt. Heavy anymore.
A great fight that never happened.

Hats off to Jorge Ahumada as well, a great fighter who could have been a champ in other eras...