I wanted to discuss a forgotten fighter from the 80's and WBA lightweight titlist, Livingstone Bramble. He is largely looked over or dismissed now because he held on far too long in the game (as most will) and people remember the no-hopers (and some real good fighters) who beat him at that stage, but it is interesting to note that in his heydey following the Mancini victories and the perhaps even more impressive thrashing of the slick Tyrone Crawley, he was listed in KO Magazine's monthly pound-for-pound rankings at a shocing #3, behind only Marvin Hagler and Donald Curry. He really was kind of big-time. What impressed me so mch at the time was that he proved he could handle a good brawler (Mancini) and the division's best boxer in Crawley. Few fighters could prove as equally adept at handling such differing styles. As time would prove, the one style he hadn't really seen yet was a pure puncher. I guess he decided it was time to remedy that when he faced Rosarion, and..........well, there ya go. Still, I think his short prime is unappreciated today. He was also one of the smoothest switch-hitters in the game, turning southpaw and back so fluidly you hardly noticed. What are your thoughts? Here's the first Mancini fight.......real good scrap. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUK6fpAI77g[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mhm4b9e0GbA&feature=relmfu[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN904066gb4&feature=relmfu[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SP81r_uNv5o&feature=relmfu[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4biqG6PCHdM&feature=relmfu[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COLNjK4IKtQ&feature=relmfu[/ame]
Bramble fell apart after being KTFO by Ed Rosario in 1986... Bramble never really recovered fully after that loss... Them ugly looking 25 to 30 losses now on his record tell the tale clearly... MR.BILL
Thanks for posting Bill, but I must disagree strongly. Those late-career losses tell the end of the story. Far more there than meets the eye.
Bramble only had a 3 fight prime... Two wins over Mancini and a TKO over master boxer who had zero power in Tyrone Crawley... After that, Bramble was smoked by Rosario.... Bramble became a win some, lose fighter by 1987.... WORD! MR.BILL
Rather debatable with Hector Camacho winning his title in 1985, but even then that was only a little over 2 years. And Bramble only really fought Mancini and Crawley and I think he fight a 10 round tune up there. He was good but a little overrated. Mancini was starting to get a little worn out. Bramble was strong and could switch off, but his fights previous to Mancini were not great. Tyrone Crawley was supposed to do better but he had no power at all in that fight in Reno. Then when Bramble fought Rosario he was exposed. His covering his face with his gloves did not work with a guy who punched hard and could hook around his gloves and outjab him. Rosario was a too notch fighter who was underrated and Bramble overrated. I remember Bramble was a 4-1 favorite to win. The day of the fight I remember thinking how is Bramble going to take the punch of Rosario. I knew Rosario could land with his style. Bramble was good but completely overrated as far as where they ranked him. At one point he was number 3 or 4 behind Hagler and Hearns and Holmes at one point. That is a little overrated.
