John Conteh vs Harold Johnson

Conteh is probably still the best "pure" textbook boxer-puncher at 175 since Harold, but Johnson's superior dedication that allowed him to pick up far more experience over the course of a much longer career should allow him to pick up a close decision over 15.

 

Yes, Conteh is probably the better infighter of the two; he's certainly more viscous.Johnson never really seemed interested in taking fights in close too much.

 

I'll be taking Johnson ultimately, on points, i agree with RB and Mantequilla about the long-range/in close advantages, though its tight and close. A bit of a nice chess match to watch at times it could be, and fought at a good tempo enough for it to be exciting also. Like i say, i'll be taking Johnson really on the thought that thats who im ULTIMATELY thinking will do the outhustling where it will count on the cards. Close fight.

 

Johnson's defence ,gets him the win,though he could end up with egg lumps on his head from Conteh's nut,Conteh took no prisoners in close.

 

Raging Bull, Conteh is going to have to pay an awful price to come in on harold courtesy of johnsons great left jab,

 

I think its a fight Conteh can Win, not the Conteh of Hand Troubles and Managerial conflict, and even that one handed Conteh Jabbed Yaqui Lopez Silly, Considering the sheer Hell Yaqui Gave Rossman, Saad, and Galindez amongst others, it shows even a muted sleightly on the wane Conteh to be a very hard man to Outbox, but here we hare talking about the prime Ahumada, Bennett, Hutchins Conteh Of Course Harold on Cautious Boxing Ability is a league above those Guys, but has others have mentioned Conteh can turn Tigerish very Quickly,
And when he starts to get a little Frustrated then the rough Stuff starts, Harold had a wonderful Jab, But Conteh at his peak had sublime cobra'esque head movement, and did want for Stamina over the 15 round Distence, thanks to the old Task master George Francis...

I will probably be in the wildeness on this, but i think Sporstsman Harold may be Ambushed by a Conteh who looks Handsome and Classy, but can and did fight like a Dirty SOB when he felt like it, Bill Drover, Chris Finnegan, Lonnie Bennett, Len Hutchins Saad Muhammed amongst others were all on the receiving End of some Conteh Careless Headwork, i dont think Harold would be any exception, If the fights in London Conteh might get away with a bit more, in the US maybe he would be a bit more restrained from straying too obviously and repeatedly into that realm, but he will still be looking to inflict all sorts on Harold, and for me has the Speed to do it,

Gentleman Harold Gets Ambushed by a bristish Fighter who is prepared to not alway be sportsmanlike..that might be the difference, Conteh on Points, if he does not "Suddenly" Cut Harold up with some close range work with Harold against the ropes, which only reveals some careless Headwork on the slo-Mo replays, We have seem it before with John, in amongst those Fast and furious combination punches, the Forward Momentum causes a head Clash, - John never comes of Worse in these situations.

It Probably takes someone who can Whack and is fast with it, to Cause Conteh some Caution.

 

Hell of a post. I actually may go against the grain and agree.

 

Yes, good post. I remember years ago reading Chris Finnegan's autobiography. In it he referred to Conteh as "old onion head" because he reckoned Conteh must of soaked his head in vinegar.

 

Conteh was often wayward with the head ,but lets not forget ,when he fought Mate Parlov ,the East European was allowed to come into the ring with a plastic covering over his eyebrows ,and similarly Saad's corner used a banned substance akin to Monsel's solution to seal his cuts ,and were subsequently banned for it ,not that it helped Conteh at the time.Conteh was very good Johnson was better ,and I would pick a prime Eddie Muhammad to beat Conteh too,just to show that, whilst English I am not biased.

 

Why would picking Conteh over EMM make you biased Mcvey?.Neither man really did much more than the other and they both had a great deal of raw talent.Unless of course you were English and saying Gregory would get knocked out in the first round or something...now that would probably make you biased

That wouald be a great too imo, though i think Conteh was a more versatile fighter than Eddie, who waited too long for his counters even on his best nights....a bit too much james toney in him(though it would be the othe way round to be chronologically correct).That wouldn't have worked against fighters like Johnson or conteh.

 

The fight I allways wanted to see which sadly never happened was Conteh v Galindez.Mickey Duff ,England's top promoter and matchmaker of the time said that of all the men he was involved with Conteh had the most natural talent.

 

McVey - I think Conteh is one of those Fighters who we never saw what would of been there Best if they had remain dedicated a trouble free ! I remember watching Ray Leonard Finish off Pete Ranzany with a combination which was 5 consecutive left hooks, the common tators were WOWed at this, and wondered if anyone else had launched such a combination...i couldnt help yell at the screen "yes..Conteh Against Drover.." !!

I think with Eddie you never knew if he'd turn up with the right appetite for it, he was very rather Tame againt Galindez when he looked to have the natural ability to win, but great against Marv Johnson, of Course Conteh would not give Eddie the wide Menu of Targets that Johnson gave, i think it would have been a high class chessmatch but somewhere along the Way Conteh may put Eddie into his shell ? Home advantage would probably be an important factor in this one for sure.