Prime Kid Gavilan vs Ray Robinson

Gavilan wasn't too much more "green" than Robinson was in their fights. I'd say they were both around their Welterweight primes, at least in the rematch where Robinson beat him over 15 rather than 10. He proved himself the better man when both were pretty much at their best.

 

Gavilan vs Sugar Ray Leonard: how does everyone see that going. I can imagine the hard-fought exchanges and battle of wits at range now.

I find it hard in my head to see a clear winner mind. Thoughts?

 

I'd say that Gavilan was close to his best in the second fight and he lost it decisively. Yes, he had a couple of losses after that before winning the title, but he was arguably very, very unlucky to lose them all. When he became a champ, close decisions like that started going his way.

Young Gavilan fighting Ben Buker:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wax7PNOnomk[/ame]


However I believe Robinson always needed that one fight to adjust to Gavilan's style, so if they were to fight a similar 10 round bout compared to their first fight with Gavilan at the peak of his abilities, I'd say he has a great chance of scoring an upset. 15 rounds, both at their best and prepared for each other and I see Robinson taking it most of the time.

 

Early in Gavilan's career, he was more of an aggressive, infighting swarmer, as the video above shows. As his career progressed, he gradually shifted his style from an all-out attacker to a more versatile, defensive boxer. I don't know if/how that would impact a third fight with Robby though; although following Gavvy's win over Gil Turner (probably his defining performance) there was some interest in seeing that fight.

 

imo robinson would win 10/10 but the fights would all be hard.gavilan was a great fighter but a bit short of robinson's class at welter.

 

From what I've read,the 'Cuban Hawk' was in his prime when his fights with Sugar Ray occured. Gavilan was an excellent fighter,and only Robinson being on the scene stopped him from becoming welterweight champion earlier than he actually did.

 

i'd put gavilan on a par with luis rodriguez.they both lacked robbies punching power

 

Some thought Galivan won the first though

 

I've never come across anything in regards' to proper credit do to Robinson in regards to Early-Forties-Mid Forty's-Late Forties he's a tall slim welter fighting and destroying some very monster middles and the incredible ware and tear this takes on a welter.

We have for comparison Benny Kid Paret vs Gene Fulmer and Ray Leonard vs Marcus Geraldo, tough journeymen, after which Angelo Dundee makes clear-
No more middleweights!!

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I've never come across anything giving proper credit do to Robinson in regards to Early-Forties-Mid Forty's-Late Forties he's a tall slim welter fighting and destroying some very monster middles and the incredible ware and tear this takes on a welter.



We have for comparison Benny Kid Paret vs Gene Fulmer and Ray Leonard vs Marcus Geraldo, tough journeymen, after which Angelo Dundee makes clear-

No more middleweights!!










Evening Independent - Google News Archive - Jun 19, 1980
And that's the problem, they say. because hit. time Sugar Ray Leonard in with ... he bristles He has been knocked silly In May of against Marcos Geraldo Got ...
Welter title fight Leonard favored over Duran for... - Lodi News-Sentinel - Google News Archive
All 187 related - Related web pages

 

Ive heard a lot of rumours that both fight films exist on tape and theyre in Cuba. in fact one historian went over there to try find the fights but in vain, he did find anther kid gavilan film though (cant remember who it was against). it was also cited that these films are in the hands of a private collector (robinson and gavilan in the late 40s were hardly unknowns, sounds silly for the bouts not to be recorded, it would be like duran and leonard I not being filmed.)