Most Beautiful Boxer to watch ever?

I'm sort of in the same boat with you on Pep. It reminded me of when I first saw Henry Armstrong, & I was like, "this is it?" But then you look at what they had accomplished, & 1+1 doesn't equal 2. lol

Pep does USE the entire ring though-his footage still has puzzles for me. I think the Pep I would LOVE to see was when he won back the title from Saddler.

Locche set those traps, where he sticks his damn head out. An open invitation, if you will. I know a few guys deep into PBF, & I showed them some Locche footage. These clowns could barely keep themselves from yelling at the TV. I've also heard he was a smoker-something about them Argentinians that are helter skelter.

Speaking of Argentinians, I also showed them clips of Monzon, & they started criticizing him as a slow stiff.

"But you guys like Pea, right?"

"Yeah."

"Well, like Pea, that stiff can fight off his backfoot!"

Some of my buddies need to collect some fights!

 

I'm 72 and have been a boxing fan all my life. I saw them all. Louis, Marciano, Robinson, Lamotta Etc. The most beautiful fighter I ever saw was a little bantemweight back in the 50's named Raul (Raton) Macias. He ended his career with a 41-2 record. Being a bantemweight he didn't get the attention he deserved. But I tell you, It's all these years later and there have been many great fighters, but for me Raul Macias was in a class by himself.

 

You and me both mate. I'd also love to see him at his absolute best pre-plane crash to really savour his greatness.

Amazing how against a guy like Cervantes he'd even dare to hold his hands behind his back and bend over towards Cervantes to invite a punch. The guy was some character, and it came out in his fights.

This is an important point here. There is a difference between 'looking' good and being good. Most of the times one equals the other, but not always. I can't say I've always been impressed with Monzon myself, but he was no doubt VERY effective, and hard to beat - and without question, one of the greatest of all time.

 

Its cool to hear from a guy that has actually been around the sport for that long. This forum will be happy to hear from you and your experience of boxing. We will be all ears.

 

For sure.

Welcome to the forum RosarioJ. :good

Can you tell us a little more about Raton Macias? Do you think he could beat some of the great bantam champs throughout the years like Jofre, Harada, Olivares and Zarate?

 

sweet pea
jc chaves
srr
rjj
srl
willie
loche
hearns
arquello
duran

 

Here's some nice footage I just put up of Whitaker against Harold Brazier. Pernell is a lot more flatfooted here than he was as a lightweight, but works the angles and the combos masterfully.

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Ultimately, it's definitely a sport of effectiveness.

I just thought Monzon & Locche were guys that "look" ridiculous, but they have a method to their madness that is so effective. Monzon doesn't look like a guy that can fight off the backfoot, but he COULD. Very odd-as very few could do it, even the gifted athletes.

As for Cervantes, he kept his cool in that bout against Locche. Again, be patient!

Pea has been mentioned several times on this thread, & I think he is definitely being appreciated MORE in the last few years (his attitude didn't help). He definitely had a "wow" factor, without even having an offensive round. I sort of imagine Pep being the same way-it's easy to dismiss guys strictly from available footage.

Key word being: available.

 

It's a pity peak SRR isn't on film, he'd be a lay down for me.

 

Willie Pep showed "flashes" of brilliance? I'm sitting here gnawing on my knuckles, SS!

Pep is universally acclaimed by guys in the know, who saw him, who were fighters themselves. Pep inspired awe in great fighters! And there is enough film in existence where we can see for ourselves what he was...

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There ain't enough in the film I've seen of him for me to say he looks better than Sweet Pea, but I definitely acknowledge what so many wise heads have said about him.

It's kinda ridiculous to expect Pep to look that great given the stage of his career when most of the fight footage was taken of him, and I just hope no one is lying to themselves with the belief that THAT Pep is more beautiful to watch than Whitaker, or plenty of other fighters for that matter.

 

Pipino Cuevas

Marvin Hagler

Tony Ayala Jr

Animal Fletcher


SwwetPea is okay but I never watched him much

SRL fought like a *****

 

Who's more beautiful than who is a subjective matter. I give more weight than perhaps I have been known to before to what's been said by insiders about guys like Loughren, Pep, and Holman Williams -even given the lack of tape. You state that given the deficient film, you go with Pea. From what I can say from watching what we have and drawing conclusions, Pep gets the nod from me. We don't have much of WW Robinson but he's the hands-down favorite for best WW ever. It's similar logic in my position.

I see Pea as less graceful than Pep but more complex and complicated if you will. Pea had a funny build -with his butt sticking out and those little boy arms. A great boxer and defensive savant he was, but "beautiful" he was not.

 

Finally seeing some sense

:good

 

I can't abide by the Ali suggestion. At his peaks, yes, he was beautiful, but more often when I think of him I think of clinching, holding behind the head, holding the ropes, covering up and taking a beating, the stalling tactics... I guess he just fought too long.