Modern Fighters That Remind You Of Great Fighters From The Past

Bivol has a very classic European style and is kind of a mix of a couple of guys too me. He controls distance and has excellent footwork like Ottke did and he also is much more offensive and at times looks like Kessler too me.

Issac Cruz is a bowling ball of hate that likes to work with a pace and pressure that reminds me if Pryor. Not saying he is anywhere near as good but stylewise he has similarities.

M'billi looks like a poor man's Jeff Lacy. Not as powerful with the left hook but he is built similar and fights with a similar style.

Shakur reminds me of Nunn. Tons of natural ability but does a lot of things wrong.

Benavidez reminds me of Chico Corrales. They are different sizes but both big for their divisions but they don't use that size in a conventional way. Both like to work up close and throw volume on the inside or mid range. Not a ton of jabs even though they almost always have or had the reach advantage.

 

Dubois' clubbing hooks had a young Foreman or even Tysonesque vibe at the weekend. Not arm punches, proper bodyweight behind them. The end of the third I think it was with AJ collapsing on the ropes in particular had Tyson vibes

 

Beterbiev is technically better than Marciano and fights like a boxer-puncher, not a slugger.

 

I think Inoue could hang in any era

 

Man, I never considered Shakur being reminiscent of Nunn, but I like the comparison. I think he could also be compared to Reggie Johnson in terms of style too.

Bivol being reminiscent of Kessler fits for me too, especially on offense. I think in a similar vein, Kovalev looks like he was a more complete (although not necessarily better) version of Dariusz Michalczewski.

 

Dmitry Bivol = Winky Wright

Both utilise the high guard style both have very good jabs both often go the distance in their fights.

 

One of my favorite things about Bivol is his use of the long guard. Not many modern guys use the long guard but it is definitely apart of Bivol's game. He used it all night long against Canelo and also in the Smith fight.

I fully expect him to keep Beterbiev outside with the long guard and to use angles and the high guard if Beterbiev gets inside. I won a ton of money on the Canelo fight and I can see Bivol deploying a similar strategy next week. Like Winky, Bivol has exceptional defensive skills that might not be as flashy and Beterbiev's power but it's every but as important.

 

Reggie is definitely a good call. Shakur is going to be fun to watch grow as a fighter. The kid is the goods.

 

Kenny Keene reminds me of Rocky Marciano

 

Most comparisons said don't seem to fit to me lol

 

I know he’s retired but Julio Cesar Chavez reminded me a lot of fighters that came decades before him. Fought actively even between title fights and was always disciplined

 

- Zhanibek Alimkhanuly - Vassiliy Jirov
- Dmitry Bivol - Zsolt Erdei.
- Caleb Plant - Clarence "Bones" Adams.
- Junto Nakatani - Tim Austin

 

Inoue—>GGG
Fulton—>Ray Robinson
Tank Davis—>Mike Tyson (more versatile and not married to aggression though)
Okolie—>Akinwande

 

This may sound like I'm kidding and I have neither the intellect nor powers of articulation to explain it but Crawford does truly remind me of the non-Pete-like Larry Holmes.