Great amateur,turned pro late,did well at Euro level.How would he have done at world level eg Tiger,Giardello,Fullmer,Downes,Pender etc.
At that stage he'd have got mauled by Tiger. Papp's reflexes were already starting to go at that point (think he was well into his 30s when he had to retire) and he was using his dynamic offensive skill to get the better of tear up's when as an amateur he was able to limit the damage he took when getting off his whirlwind bursts of punching. Always hittable though, and such a spunky fighter that Dick Tiger would've always been a horrid matchup for him. And as I say, at that stage Papp's feet were leaden, so his balls and diminished sharpness would see Tiger wreck him, in what is an absolute blast as long as it lasts. Hand injuries as well by this stage. I should remember this as I wrote summat on him a while back but that was many :smoke ago
Thanks Fleaman.Believe he turned a bit late.I remember him on the BBC beating good men like Aldridge and Mick Leahy.Also Harry Scott.Maybe not world class but not easy,witness the latter against Carter,Leahy vs Archer.I agree,Tiger at his best was a proper beast.
Oh yes,certainly.Maybe if he'd turned earlier he'd have done even better,but Hungary was under the Soviet umbrella then.I think he was one of the first to be allowed to box pro.As it was,can you imagine him with Terry Downes.Wouldnt like to have picked a winner there.
Always wished 16 yr old Lazlo into the front door of Stillmans gym and into the hands of the masters.
Great wish S. Every single day there was a boxing seminar at Stillman's gym, and Lazlo Papp at 16 might have been better than Cerdan under the tuetalage of a Whitey Bimstein, Ray Arcel or Charley Goldman...
When Papp was forced to retire by the government he was the #1 rated MW and was supposed to get a title shot, Giardello was the Champion at that time in 1964.
At the risk of driving some of you up the wall, I'm re-posting a Papp incident: Boxing teams in a gym have distinct personalities, some gregarious, some focused on the work, but Eastern Euros are like a police state, suspicious 'n tight-lipped. So, one day at Wild Card a new Eastern Euro heavy came to train 'n I watched him spar. His coach gave me a big wave 'n smile --totally outta character. I kept lookin' around, sure it was meant for someone else. He pointed at me to the other members of his team, 'n they were all smiles and waving. Think Charles Bronsons turned to Roberto Benignis. After the sparring session, the coach rushed over 'n gave me a bear hug, "Laszlo!" He'd mistaken me for Laszlo Papp, the great four-time Hungarian Olympic Champion. Soon as he learned I wasn't, the Iron Curtain slammed shut
I think instead of being a great amateur Papp would have been a great pro. This for me is one of boxing's eternal 'what ifs'
