Pipo Cuevas v Carlos Palomino

He was more solid, better rounded fighter than Cuevas IMO. A reasonably talented defensive boxer like Randy Shields lost a 15 round decision to prime Cuevas, but flummoxed him aplenty...catching him easily enough and even rattling him a few times during their bout...and I swear to you, if Randy only had a punch...any kind of punch at all, I believe that he would have beaten Pipino...maybe even stopped him. The way both Cuevas and Palomino lost to Duran speaks of the relative qualities of both men IMO. Palomino lost, what...just about every round vs a hot Duran, who was just a year away from Montreal...but that lost was honorable compared to how a lesser version, a 1983 Duran destroyed Cuevas. You may find a way to argue about the merits of that "common opponent" comparison of the two men, but I think it's pretty accurate to say that Palomino, who was never stopped, wasn't a power punching front runner like Cuevas, was a more resourceful, patient fighter than Pipino, for my 0.02 cents worth.

 

Thanks for the reply! I agree that Palomino was more well-rounded but I still think it's a terrible matchup for him. From what I've seen, guys were able to land big punches on Palomino because he didn't have the best defensive reflexes, and that seems like a terrible liability against a hitter like Cuevas. Re: the comparisons--you don't buy that Cuevas had already been "ruined" by Hearns by the time he stepped into the ring with Duran? Also, he was coming off a 15-month layoff cold, after his upset loss to Roger Stafford. I thought that the Shields fight was very close but Cuevas won by wearing him down and finishing strong down the final stretch of the fight. I'd also read that he hurt his right hand in that fight, which may have helped Shields survive.

 

To tell you the truth KK, I think Duran would have whipped a pre-Hearns Cuevas as well. Maybe not as one sidedly as in their actual fight, but not that far from it either. I also think that both Mantequilla Napoles as well as SRL would have had a field day/highlight reel result(s) against him. Napoles would have destroyed him.

 

Didn't Palomino promote Miller Lite in some of those early days beer commercials with some athlete
showing up at your local tavern?

 

I think Pipino breaks Carlos down over the distance. Palomino would be outclassing him early on, but is worn down and stopped from accumulation of hammer- like punches.

 

Cuevas .He also fought the better comp.
I just think he gets to Carlos and levels him eventually.
Carlos never felt that kind of power.
And people have this thing where Duran would have walked through a pre Hearns Cuevas which is dumb- it only takes one punch when you hit like Cuevas to end a fight .

 

IDK. They were both diminished by the time they met in 83. Cuevas did land his big shots on Duran and to be honest Roberto didn't blink. I don't think Pipino forgot how to punch.
I remember Cuevas made a mistake at the press conference when he said something to the effect of " no true Mexican would ever quit!" Paraphrasing. Duran was already determined to get the title back but that statement from Cuevas seal his fate.

Back to the topic. Palomino would win a decision.

 

Pee-Po? Was this before you dried up, Mac?

Anyway, I've always maintained the King would show his class in this one, the match in which history NEEDED him to demonstrate it. 9x from 10 he beats Pee-Po, and in the other 10% of realities he's well up on the cards when he catches an unpinned grenade like a fly in the mouth.

 

This post is closest to how I see it. In addition to being the better boxer, Palomino was never stopped, mitigating Cuevas' puncher chance.

 

Yep. Pipino didn't have the tools to beat Duran even at 147. Durans class and skill would have been hell for Pipino in a somewhat similar way that it was when they did fight.

 

Cuevas was a greater fighter than Palomino and more iconic.

 

The latter statement's as true as the former is false.

 

Cuevas dominates

 

Cuevas in his prime broke bones and broke that speed bag. Carlos cant cope with that kind of power

 

This was a popular topic in the Box Mags back when. Too bad the WBA & WBC not only
h@ted each other, but totally hated each other.