Late 80's to mid 90s Golden Era of Middleweights

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by TIGEREDGE, Jul 27, 2011.


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  1. TIGEREDGE

    TIGEREDGE Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Has there ever been an era (at any weight) in modern times with so much quality ?

    Mike McCalum
    Julian Jackson
    Jones Jnr
    Hopkins
    Kalumbay
    Mike Nunn
    Nigel Benn
    Jones Jnr
    Eubank
    McClellan
    James Toney
    Michael Watson
    Reggie Johnson
     
    TIGEREDGE, Jul 27, 2011
    TIGEREDGE, Jul 27, 2011
    #1
  2. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Some will claim the 40's, but I think the post-Hagler pre-Hopkins era probably is the best. Perhaps the best for any weight class. The 70's for HWs doesn't even come close IMO.
     
    Bokaj, Jul 27, 2011
    Bokaj, Jul 27, 2011
    #2
  3. TIGEREDGE

    TIGEREDGE Boxing Addict Full Member

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    There was only 3-4 great fighters there. the rest were good fighters but not great/potentially great

    The Early lat 70's - 80s welterweights provide a strong a strong argument but not as much depth:

    Leonard
    Benitez
    Hearns
    Duran
    Curry
    STalrling
    Cuevas
    Palomino

    The Fab 4 were better tahn any middle during that era im0
     
    TIGEREDGE, Jul 27, 2011
    TIGEREDGE, Jul 27, 2011
    #3
  4. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Yeah, that's one hell of a line-up... Especially the top 6. I wouldn't say that Benitez necissarily was greater than Kalambay, Toney or McCallum. I'd probably have Curry ahead of him for one thing. Leonard, Duran, Hearns and Curry are all frighteningly good.
     
    Bokaj, Jul 27, 2011
    Bokaj, Jul 27, 2011
    #4
  5. bodhi

    bodhi Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    If they all would have fought each other it would have been. However, they very rarely did.
     
    bodhi, Jul 27, 2011
    bodhi, Jul 27, 2011
    #5
  6. TIGEREDGE

    TIGEREDGE Boxing Addict Full Member

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    we still look back on it with great fondness. we still got many greeat fights.
     
    TIGEREDGE, Jul 27, 2011
    TIGEREDGE, Jul 27, 2011
    #6
  7. frankenfrank

    frankenfrank Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    And Merqui Sosa , Henry Wharton , Sanderline Williams , Thulani Malinga , Robbie Sims , Iran Barklet , Thomas Tate , Frank Tate , Steve Little , Jorge Fernando Castro ,,,
     
    frankenfrank, Jul 27, 2011
    frankenfrank, Jul 27, 2011
    #7
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  8. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Barkley fought a good amount of them: Nunn, Kalambay, Toney, Benn and Hearns just off the top of my head.
     
    Bokaj, Jul 27, 2011
    Bokaj, Jul 27, 2011
    #8
  9. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Yeah, "very rarely" seems harsh. We got Nunn vs Kalambay, Barkley and Toney, Benn vs Watson, Eubank, Barkley and McClellan, McCallum vs Graham, Watson, Collins, Kalambay x 2, Toney x 2, Jackson vs Graham and McClellan etc. That's not bad.
     
    Bokaj, Jul 27, 2011
    Bokaj, Jul 27, 2011
    #9
  10. atberry

    atberry Boxing Junkie banned Full Member

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    You forgot Herol Graham, Lamar Parks and Mike Olajide.
     
    atberry, Jul 27, 2011
    atberry, Jul 27, 2011
    #10
  11. atberry

    atberry Boxing Junkie banned Full Member

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    Wharton and Malinga were super-middle, and Steve Little??
     
    atberry, Jul 27, 2011
    atberry, Jul 27, 2011
    #11
  12. atberry

    atberry Boxing Junkie banned Full Member

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    It really was stacked at that time but also in the mid-80s with the likes of Don Lee, John Mugabi and Lindell Holmes viciously punching guys off their feet. Barkley coming through, etc. Tate. Roldan.
     
    atberry, Jul 27, 2011
    atberry, Jul 27, 2011
    #12
  13. Sangria

    Sangria You bleed like Mylee Full Member

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    You also had solid contenders like Tony Thornton, Gilbert Baptist and Doug DeWitt.

    Yes, the golden era of Middleweights even though a ton of mega-fights never panned out.
     
    Sangria, Jul 27, 2011
    Sangria, Jul 27, 2011
    #13
  14. MAG1965

    MAG1965 Loyal Member banned

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    problem is they were not together at the same time. There are some good matchups there. McCallum/Hopkins. Nunn vs. Benn.
     
    MAG1965, Jul 27, 2011
    MAG1965, Jul 27, 2011
    #14
  15. atberry

    atberry Boxing Junkie banned Full Member

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    Hopkins was sort of unknown then.

    Obviously Benn-Nunn was talked about heavily in '88.

    Eubank or Toney against Julian Jackson.

    Reggie Johnson-Jones Jr in '92.

    Or McClellan-Jones Jr in '94.

    Nunn-Watson was talked about in early '91, to happen outdoors, provided he beat Collins.

    Benn or Nunn against Leonard, Hearns or Duran.

    Graham had already signed to fight Barkley for the vacant world title when Kalambay upset him in his 'warm-up' fight.
     
    atberry, Jul 27, 2011
    atberry, Jul 27, 2011
    #15
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