Marcel Cerdan v Sumbu Kalambay

Interesting. Neither dealt with an opponent who could pass for comparison. Kalambay's best work came against diffusing technicians whereas Cerdan made his name via pummelling more aggressive types.

Stylewise there's another contrast. Both had brilliant though different footwork. Sumbu circled like there was an invisible barrier around each corner. Marcel imitated a wolf.

There's too much savvy here for either man to dominate. My hunch is that the Frenchman is going to make this into a scrap which favours his work. A steady left will scuff his low head as it bores in, but the hands were always to attention, he slipped well and fired back in springboard fashion, throwing in number.

A less refined slugger would be easier for Kalambay to contain. After attacking Marcel would tuck up again, try a few feints, plot another barrage. This topsy-turvy method of analysis and pressure would make it harder to Kalambay to identify a rhythm.

There will be none of the head-snapping in the Zale fight and Cerdan's mug will require ice, but in the exchanges that decide rounds Marcel will unleash those pin-point combinations that force Sumbu to be a little more concerned with his defences than he'd like to be.

A competitive UD over fifteen for Marcel.

 

Cerdan is badly overrated.

Footage of him isn't so mind blowing that I'd pick him to beat Kalambay.

Wouldn't be a Dewitt or Barkley-esque domination of course, but Kalambay would dictate the pace and show Cerdan the difference between old, shopworn veterans and a genius in his prime.

If it was Kalambay Vs Thil we'd be talkin'.

 

Kalambay. Cerdan is monumentally overrated based his popularity and weak opposition. Kalambay fought better fighters and did better against them. Not to mention he was a natural MW which Cerdan wasnt.

 

Kalambay would beat Cerdan quite clearly IMO.

 

havent seen much of Cerdan but from what i have seen he didnt impressed me, Kalambay on the other hand looks like one of the best MW technicians i have ever seen. i might be underrated Cerdan but IMO Kalambay would school him.

 

Would anyone like to offer a little technical breakdown?

Sumbu could defeat the Frenchman, but weigh this:

It’s arguable that Cerdan was never defeated on merit.

It’s agreed that he was cooling down during the most successful period of his career.

He edged out and floored Georgie Abrams who then gave a prime Sugar Ray Robinson hell.

When Marcel lost his title Red Smith reported that “it is difficult to believe LaMotta would have a chance with a two-handed Cerdan.”

There is going to be no schooling against a precision slugger, the likes of which Sumbu never encountered.

 

This is an excellent reply. To those who think Cerdan doesn't look good on film, I disagree. For a slugger he has a high guard and good movement skills.

 

Marcel Cerdan looks brilliant on film.
Not sure what some of you guys are watching ... or smoking.

 

A mismatch.

A better question for topic: could Cerdan last the distance with Kalambay.

 

Fact is if you look at Abrams against Apostoli, you can see that he does similar things to Kalambay but is nowhere near as fleet of foot or quick of hand.

This is why I think Kalambay will outpoint Cerdan, although the Frenchman will certainly make a fight of it.

 

I agree with this

 

It's hard to put together a decent breakdown cause there's no footage of Cerdan's against good prime operators. We do know the best ones he faced were in worse shape than he was and took everything he had and than some.

True but it's also true that his most significant victories were against real damaged goods (excluding Jake of course).

He might have, but have you seen his face after the fight? He looks like 5h17, man. It was a close fight. Also while Georgie's performance against Robbie was no short of impressive, it's also true he was 12 pounds heavier. Against an operator like Abrams that's a lot.

I wouldn't count Jake out. Motivated he was a different animal.

Schooling is a step too far I agree, specially considering the gaps to fill, the second part of that sentence though, goes both ways.

 

Yeah, but to Georgie's defense, speed is the first thing to go, and long layoffs can do wicked 5h17 to your timing, something that was mentioned about post-war Abrams.