Rank the major players of the late 70s/early 80s light-heavyweight scene

I wouldn't really count the first Holyfield fight as anything but a high point for Qawi. Certainly not a black mark.

 

Hindsight yes, but pre fight, a world class eight year veteran should not be losing to a twelve fight novice....

It was an excellent fight, the best the Cruisers have ever seen, but Qawi was a warm favourite pre fight, and even with hindsight could of/should of won.

 

The big thing with Qawi was that the guy was never the house fighter. He always seemed to be taking on the house fighter except for the Martin and Davis defenses and he didn't look terrific in those. Real real tough job to have winning streaks under those conditions and the Qawi management should've never ever taken that Holyfield fight in Evander's backyard.

 

Gotta give Marvin Johnson credit for coming back at an "older age" to win a version of the Lightheavy title.

I remember when he basically started all over on USA Fights in his comeback bid.

 

1. Spinks
2. Qawi
3. Mustafa
4. Saad
5. Conteh
6. Johnson
7. Galindez
8. Lopez

The only ones I really feel confident about are Spinks and Qawi at 1 and 2, and Lopez at the bottom. The ones in between are tough to call, although we know that Saad and Mustafa already beat Johnson fighting at their peaks.

 

Kudos, I feel very dirty for not giving him proper credit. But not as dirty as Marvin!

 

This is how close to how I see it as well. Spinks is #1 and Qawi is #2. Qwai coudl be viewed as #3, but I like him #2 here.

Mustafa, Conneth, and Sadd are 3, 4, and 5 . I'm cool with any arrangement on with these three in spots 3-5.

Johnson would be a the tail end of the list. Lopez would be last. I never saw much of Galindez.

The late 70's to early 80's was a great era of light heavyweight boxing. The divison is pure crap these days.

 

This is based ONLY on H2H effectiveness IMO

Spinks-The Best
Qawi-Fantastic pressure fighter, hard to budge on his day
Conteh-Best all-rounder, runs Foster and Spinks hard on his very best day IMO
Galindez-Tough as hell, although I think Mustafa lost rather than Galindez beat him.
Saad-A good version of Gatti if that makes sense, fantastic skills of recovery, powerful and fluid.
Mustafa-Seemed gun-shy from what I can see. Great skill, not much will to win from what I've seen.
Johnson-I don't know what to make of Johnson. Stopped Galindez and beat Parlov but Spinks made easy work of him. Can someone enlighten me to whether the Galindez win was flukey etc etc Saad beat him, although I han't seen that fight yet.
Lopez-I feel his limitations were laid out in the Saad fights. Would fight all the way whilst he was there, but I see most of the 'best' stopping him.

 

good:good:good

 

I agree that Conteh is the most skilled as well, in the sense of being the most complete and possibly versatile. But Spinks is still the best and i think he would have beaten him.

 

Let me fix that for you-

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You would have to put Spinks at the top as he beat a prime or near prime Johnson, Mustafa and Qwai ... at light heavy he had excellent physical advantages, skills and huge power ... I personally think the biggest challange to himn would have been a prime Saad who was an exrtremely tough, damgerous warrior ...

more to come ...

 

you know what I mean. Except Saad could actually box well, like Gatti he elected to get embroiled in wars and could come back.

There's an uppercut of his on youtube, just the punch. Wow.

 

Galindez was at the end of his road when Johnson got to him, and it was still a damn good fight prior to the KO.

I actually perfer Lopez to Johnson. Galindez at #7 can't even be justified unless you just don't know **** about him.