Brown has the edge if it goes late, but would he last until late? I favor Cuevas to end Brown inside of 5.
What a great match-up. I find myself going back and forth on the outcome. The problem for Cuevas is that Brown had a really good set of whiskers until well into his 30's and he could counter really well. Simon packed plenty of power at welter. The problem for Simon is that Cuevas was a destroyer of men for 3 very active years. He wasn't just beating champs and top contenders, he was routinely filling hospital beds with them. I'm picking that 76-79 version of Cuevas to beat any version of Brown.
I still remember Pipino Cuevas fracturing Billy Backus's Orbital with one punch before the fight was over in round 2 on May 20 1978. Cuevas was very heavy handed. He had good concentration. Simon Brown was a very good fighter, but the only way he is going to defeat Pipino is to take him into the later rounds, that is not going to happen, Cuevas stops Brown by KO 5. Cuevas carries dynamite in his dukes.
Brown if he boxes and counter puncher's patiently could drag Pipino into deep waters. But Brown can't resist the urge to trade with Pipino. And nobody out hooks Pipino. Pipino ko mid rds.
