KO's Top 12 Junior Middleweights of the 80's.

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by JohnThomas1, Jan 4, 2019.


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  1. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    Printed mid 89.

    1. Mike McCallum
    2. Thomas Hearns
    3. Roberto Duran
    4. Davey Moore
    5. Ayub Kalule
    6. Wilfredo Benitez
    7. Tony Ayala
    8. Buster Drayton
    9. Duane Thomas
    10. John Mugabi
    11. Julian Jackson
    12. Carlos Santos
     
    JohnThomas1, Jan 4, 2019
    JohnThomas1, Jan 4, 2019
    #1
  2. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    Room for comments on this one that's for sure. Hearns would have been number #1 for me without a doubt. A solid win over a prime ATG in Benitez (who had only ever lost to SRL and beat Duran comfortably at the weight) and a total decimation of the rejuvenated Duran in one of the greatest knockouts ever. These two are #3 and #6 on this list and Benitez is probably a bit hard done by there.
     
    JohnThomas1, Jan 4, 2019
    JohnThomas1, Jan 4, 2019
    #2
  3. The Undefeated Lachbuster

    The Undefeated Lachbuster On the Italian agenda Full Member

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    If they raised Jackson to the top 5 then I'd agree much more
     
    The Undefeated Lachbuster, Jan 4, 2019
    The Undefeated Lachbuster, Jan 4, 2019
    #3
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  4. Xplosive

    Xplosive Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Jackson is criminally low, and should be top 5.

    First of all, what in the Hell did that waste of life Ayala ever do to warrant ranking above Jackson?

    Furthermore, how is Drayton above Jackson when Julian iced Drayton... in the 80s.
     
    Xplosive, Jan 4, 2019
    Xplosive, Jan 4, 2019
    #4
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  5. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    I think the list was printed right after Jackson beat Drayton and hadn’t done anything else.
     
    NoNeck, Jan 4, 2019
    NoNeck, Jan 4, 2019
    #5
  6. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    Yes. Norris would not have been taken into account either. Having said that Drayton must have got immense mileage out of beating Davey Moore and Santos as there is a lot of negatives there.

    I would agree Drayton is substantially too high on the list.
     
    JohnThomas1, Jan 4, 2019
    JohnThomas1, Jan 4, 2019
    #6
  7. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    I see Drayton beat their #9 Duane Thomas when he was still coming up too. The numbers game would have given him a bit of leeway there too.
     
    JohnThomas1, Jan 4, 2019
    JohnThomas1, Jan 4, 2019
    #7
  8. PernellSweetPea

    PernellSweetPea Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    PernellSweetPea, Jan 4, 2019
    PernellSweetPea, Jan 4, 2019
    #8
  9. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    The top 2 are the right names but in the wrong order - Hearns should be number 1.

    Love Duran but no. 3 is too high. Benitez and Jackson should be no. 3 and 4, then Duran, Moore and Kalule. After that it's much of a muchness, although Leonard should probably sneak in there somewhere if only for the win over Kalule.
     
    Jel, Jan 5, 2019
    Jel, Jan 5, 2019
    #9
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  10. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    Just check the dates on Jackson. When it went to press his victory over Norris was yet to occur tho Terry hadn't done much at all himself at that point. Actually if we check dates and weights Jackson didn't get that much done at 154. A good loss to McCallum, a ko over In Chul Baek who at that point hadn't overly proven himself, and a stoppage of Drayton. His whupping of Norris was made to look better well later.

    Jackson is actually hard to put very high much to my surprise.
     
    JohnThomas1, Jan 5, 2019
    JohnThomas1, Jan 5, 2019
    #10
  11. Bulldog24

    Bulldog24 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    No Leonard!?

    Jackson hadn't yet scored his Drayton, De Jesus and Norris kayo's when list was made.
     
    Bulldog24, Jan 5, 2019
    Bulldog24, Jan 5, 2019
    #11
  12. Bulldog24

    Bulldog24 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I might have Herol Graham instead of Santos
     
    Bulldog24, Jan 5, 2019
    Bulldog24, Jan 5, 2019
    #12
  13. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    He axed Drayton in mid 88 and i suspect De Jesus is included tho i don't think that one would get him much mileage.
     
    JohnThomas1, Jan 5, 2019
    JohnThomas1, Jan 5, 2019
    #13
  14. Saad54

    Saad54 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Putting Kalule above Benitez is a joke pick. Hope and Kalule should be around the same spot, yet Hope isn't even listed while Kalule is too high at number 5.

    Kalule seems to be rewarded for losses to Leonard, Moore and McCallum.

    He beat nobody of note.

    I'd put Leonard in the top 12 just for beating Kalule, even though Kalule is overrated on this list.

    They probably counted the Moore and Hilton losses against Benitez when he was clearly fading, but in winning a title over Hope and schooling Duran, beating Santos, then going 15 with Hearns, I think that is enough to put him no lower than number 5, and as high as number 3 on this list

    I agree with others that Drayton is too high.

    He did beat a fading Moore but then lost to Hilton and Jackson.

    Thomas beat Mugabi but was a freak ending, and then immediately lost to Rossi. He also lost to Aquino, who also beat a fading Moore.

    Thomas is too high on this list.

    You could argue that Curry, Rossi and Hilton, who aren't even on this list,should be above Thomas.
     
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2019
    Saad54, Jan 6, 2019
    Saad54, Jan 6, 2019
    #14
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  15. Reinhardt

    Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Good order, though I think Mugabi would have torched 6 and 7. I think Hearns was in his prime at 154 pounds
     
    Reinhardt, Jan 7, 2019
    Reinhardt, Jan 7, 2019
    #15
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