In the power vacuum that occurred after Hearns left the junior-middleweight ranks, there were a number of claimants to various ABC organizations' belts in the 154-pound division. These names, and perhaps the odd other here and there, played out an exciting give-and-take series of bouts where the title seemed to change hands in almost every title fight. Of these fighters, whom do you think was the best? Rank them if you see fit...... For me: Mugabi Rosi Drayton Hilton Thomas Aquino
Yeah, I thought of adding him and also Curry, as they both had history against members of this list, but their pedigree was too good.
Guess you could also include Van Horn and Hines in the mix, if you wanted to. In terms of accomplishments, I think I'd give the edge to Rosi. In terms of talent, any one of them could beat the other on a given night. Lot of parity, there.
Drayton and Mugabi the most naturally talented of that lot for me. Drayton had a lot of the tools to be a very formidable boxer-puncher, but he had that disinterested sparring partner mentality through and through.sadly lacking drive or ambition, which made him very inconsistent. MUgabi as everyone knows a great natural puncher, but also imo an underestimated punch picker and counterpuncher.Good timing, even if it was in his own sloppy looking often telegraphed way.Unfortunately also a very lazy fighter with well documented pathetic training habits and brief prime in part because of it.Francis said he was one of the toughest fighters to train he ever had. Outside of the same 4-5 names that always get brought up at the weight for the era, the 2nd tier of 80s 154 was an entertaining solid crop of fighters.A lot of flaws, but a number of good and very dangerous attributes in there as well.A deeper overall better group than the 70s or any since. aquino was a gifted heavy handed offensive fighter as well, could throw an abundance of nice varied combinations, but also with little in the way of solid training habits.Kind of fighter who had more natural talent than Vargas, but threw it away. Add in teak tough pressure fighter Minchillo, big punching Said Skouma, inconsistent but tricky, quick Puerto Rican stylist Carlos Santos, good typical standup Steward fighter David Braxton, Hard **** Green, chubby ****** Ayala and Louis Acaries who was much like a lower workrate Winky Wright.
