Michael Watson vs Sumbu Kalambay At MW

I voted Kalambay on points. While I like Watson, Kalambay was slicker and faster. Not as strong as Watson, but fit, skilled and fleet footed enough not to succumb to Watson's pressure. And if Watson tries to box with him in the centre of the ring it's Sumbu's fight all the way.

Neither was a devastating puncher, so little chance of one punch making the difference.

 

At his very best Kalambay virtually shuts him out.

 

Kalambay rather easily. He was a cut above Watson as an overall technician, and would have won a relatively wide UD.

 

I like Watson to nail him with his stiff overarm short right shot that accounted for so many KDs/KOs/TKOs (amateur & pro), he didn't try to time it like McCallum- he just let it go (& couldn't miss McCallum with it!).. Kalambay thrived on hesitation of a fighter trying to find range & distance (ala MM first fight) to get his counters in while on his bike. Watson showed tremendous ability to cut the ring size down (while letting shots go) against a faster-footed fighter in Eubank in their 2nd fight, and we know the ear-muffs would block a lot of Sumbu's counter output.. if you think DeWitt, Sims, Barkley, Graham were all very left-sided/left-handed boxers; Doug was all double/treble jabs/hooks, Barkley was all counter left hooks, Sims and Herol (and Ayub for that matter, and Nunn even) natural leftys.. Watson was very right hand based and SK never saw much of that..

 

Not to mention Michael would dwarf Sumbu, it would almost be unfair

 

Great, great post.

 

Kalambay wide UD I can't see beyond McCallum completely dominating Watson after losing to Kalambay. You can talk about styles but Kalambay is a level above right here.

 

McCallum beat Kalambay clearly a year after his big Watson fight. He was a more polished fighter then..

 

For example the improvement in McCallum's feinting ability between the two Kalambay fights was very very vast

 

He was also dwarfed by Collins, didn't stop him schooling him though did it, and that was when he was well past it.

 

Kalambay too good defensively and would sweep the second half of the fight en route to a clear UD

 

These fighters are on two different levels of skill and ability. Watson was "good", but Kalambay was "great."

 

Collins couldn't break an egg at the time, and it was razor close..

 

Kalambay was great!!?? He was very good but nowhere nr a great. Watson looked like a future great for sure