Maurice Hope

For being so slow and plodding, Hope seemed to have really good timing. Watching him against Benitez, he's throwing punches quite on point, and is pretty good with both his lead and rear hand- Threw nice, slick, small combinations on Wilfredo without much issue. A good southpaw from an era where guys typically didn't know how to properly fight as one.

 

I think I only ever saw him against Mattioli (pretty sure it was the rematch) and Benitez.

He fought well enough against Wilfred but it also seemed an uphill battle with him losing ground as it progressed. Benitez figured him out and then took him out.

Certainly a game fighter and to stop Vito Antuofermo not by cuts is an accomplishment even Marvin Hagler cannot claim, so fair play to him and all due credit for that.

 

Yes it was,I was there,terrific fight!

 

Fine southpaw and good technician. A very good rather than great fighter. I met him a few months ago when he was signing copies of his book. I talked to him about the Benitez fight and he said that after that fine start,he just got tired.

A very nice guy too.

 

Hope-Baker is an entertaining scrap. At this stage, Mike had only been stopped three times, all due to injuries, but this time he was decked by a bomb of a left, directly leading to the end.

For Hope's previous title winning bout over Mattioli, he took just 15 seconds to bash Rocky to the floor with a succession of five right cross bombs. Mattioli was not winning that bout, even with two good arms. Rocky's one armed effort was gallant and courageous, but he wasn't winning in San Remo after getting decked like that to start regardless. (A large US audience viewed this Howard Cosell announced broadcast on ABC. They returned for Hope-Mattioli II, also announced by Cosell.)

In May 1977, Maurice drew for the WBC LMW Title by challenging Dagge IN BERLIN. That's self explanatory. Hope should've held that title for the next four years.

Yes, I think he was the best in the world at 154 from Antuofermo in October 1976 until the time he was dethroned by Benitez. That means I'm putting him over all WBA/Ring/Lineal counterparts, including Kalule. (Okay, you can now let the Hope-Kalule debate begin.)


A case might be made that as soon as Hope was knocked out by Benitez that Tony Ayala's team should've made a move to try being Hope's next opponent if Maurice was going to continue. Torito had the left hook to the body which could give a southpaw like Hope issues. Baker went the eight round limit with Ayala, Jr. just a year and two bouts after Hope-Baker. Ayala went the ten round distance for the first time in August 1981.

Go for Hope, and go to Wembley to do it. Maurice was retired there in March 1982 via SD to Minchillo (a guy well known to Americans via his UD loss to Duran broadcast on CBS by Tim Ryan and Gil Clancy). Hope and his team might've expected an easy win against a relatively inexperienced American prospect, albeit a heavily hyped prodigy. Instead, I think a knockout win over post Benitez Hope could've fast tracked Torito into a title shot at Tadashi Mihara before Bronx Davey Moore gets to Mihara. Then, Torito might be able to pull off a defense against southpaw Kalule with those hooks downstairs before he has to deal with the superior Moore. (I think this is the hypothetical limit of how high Ayala, Jr. could've gone, although if he keeps himself together, he gets additional title shots and stays in the championship picture for a while.)

 

I always liked southpaws so I liked Hope. I'm not surprised he tired in the Benitez fight. Wilfred was doing some pretty fair body punching, which must have taken it's toll on the older man. Also, I think Hope was about to be married or had recently married and was preparing for a honeymoon. Maybe he was a tad distracted in his training regimen. Anyway, there was an interesting documentary about Sugar Ray Leonard where Ray visits Hope in England and the 2 families sit down to a nice dinner where Maurice counsels Ray on whether to come back from his detached retina. Ray also visits Dave "Boy" Green on the trip and they re-enact Ray's KO of Boy. Good stuff.

 

Hi Buddy.
Very nuanced and wholly accurate exposay on a very good fighter, any poster not versed in Hopes career and achievements,could do worse than drop into your excellent breakdown, thanks.
Have spoken to the man on several occasions over the decades, and you would be pushed to find a nicer, polite, boxer as hard as you tried, as I have said on many times, most if not all the boxers I have met ( I am not going there @Noel857 ) have been gentlemen, and
Hope was no exception, humble in the extreme,and played down his achievements, didn't have a bad word to say about anybody , in fact heaped huge praise on Sterling. who gave him a bad beating, and this, Stracey was at the meeting, and told me, Hope was a very strong and formidable boxer, hard to deter when in battle, based on the spars he had with Maurice.
Once again thanks for your post, like to hear more from you, you know your boxing.
stay safe buddy, chat soon.
Mike.

 

I have know idea to whom you are referring to @Mike Cannon

 

He boxed as an amateur at Repton if I recall correctly?