Pipino Cuevas 1977 version vs Milton McCrory 1984 version, 15 rounds at 147 lbs.

Milt is no Hearns. Cuevas ruins him within 4 rounds.

 

Donald Curry caught Milton McCory with one of the most accurate, and quickest left hooks on film. The punch was a thing of beauty, it floored McCory , and the fight was basically over at this point though McCory did get on his feet , only to meet a straight right hand that damn near killed him.
Of course Cuevas was no Curry as far as speed and accuracy is concerned. Against McCory, he wouldn't need to be.
McCory fought tall and stiff. His head was basically the same level at all times, that would cost him dearly Against a puncher like Cuevas.
Cuevas may have been the hardest punching welterweight in history. Yes even harder than Thomas Hearns, Ray Robinson, or Felix Trinidad to name a few.
Cuevas broke bones when he hit opponents.
What he lacked in overall boxing skills he made up with devastating power and aggression. And before he faced Hearns, a very sturdy chin.
I see the fight like this.
McCory would come out behind his jab, and keep his distance. He'd probably win the 1st 3-4 rds. Until Cuevas began to cut off the ring( Which he did very well)
His body attack would slow McCory, and it would be only a matter of time one of those left hooks would find its way to McCorys chin.
The fight would be over when it did land.
Ko for Cuevas between 5 -10 rds.

 

I have nothing to add here. Came to basically post the same scenario.

Pipino’s hook was a wrecking ball. McCrory would be able to avoid it for only so long. Then the wrecking ball takes down the whole building.

One of those boxing kind of urban myth things you’d hear about from time to time was guys who had broken the buckle on a speed bag. George Foreman did it. I think maybe Earnie Shavers too.

Pipino did it. He’s the only non-heavyweight I ever heard that about. Like you said (and it’s documented) — Cuevas broke bones with his power.

 

I wasn’t sure at first who to go with but after reading your post I’m officially onboard with team Cuevas.

 

Perfectly said! I always like Milton, they tried to groom into another Hearns. Was a good fighter, great fights with Colin Jones who was a spiteful puncher but could be outboxed.

Did well to comeback from the Curry loss with some solid wins (beat future WBO champ Doug Dewitt easily) and in the early rounds was giving recently crowned light-middle champ Mike McCallum problems in the early rounds before being worned down and stopped in 10 which finished him at the top.

The power generated by Cuevas is quite remarkeable, shame that he´s only remembered for the Hearns and Duran losses.

His title winning effort over Angel Espada must be one of the most devasting ko´s I´ve seen (Curry-McCrory comes close) in Welterweight history.

 

Fantasy matchups are by their nature hypothetical so we can never be 100% certain of our predictions because they will never be realised. But this is one I can be as confident as I can possibly be about the outcome. There is no way MvCrory could last 12, let alone 15 rounds, with Cuevas.

As @Flash24 said in his excellent post, McCrory fought in a very upright stance and Cuevas wouldn’t need that long to find him. Once Cuevas got in range and started landing, McCrory would fold from the power of one of the most devastating punchers in welterweight history. I don’t see it going past 6 rounds and could conceivably be over a lot quicker than that.

 

The referee in the Espada fight deserved a long suspension. He had no mercy for a helpless fighter.

 

Could be interesting McCrory did go 24 rounds with another big punching Welterweight in Colin Jones.

But I feel like Cuevas hits a bit harder and Jones is more aggressive, and would eventually catch McCrory and stop him in the 2nd half of the fight.

 

I'd have loved to have seen Pipino land his hook on Tommy and watch Hearns do a dance, sadly he couldn't get near him.

 

Good post, J