Renaldo Snipes- What if he came along a little later?

He wouldn't do any better. He was limted. His unorthodox approach troubled some good fighters, but he was not elite.

All heavyweight champs in the '80's post Holmes would probably beat him. Some, like Page, Witherspoon did. He beat Coetzee, but it was a bad decision. His best shot may have been running from a guy like James Smith and possible winning a decision. If he got a rematch with Berbick, for the title, he most likely loses.

 

Snipes was as good as Hasim Rahman and John Ruiz.

 

Rahman is underrated in this forum. Put him and Snipes in with the same people and I'd bet Rahman comes out with more wins.

 

If he lost against Evanglista, he doesn't fair much better.

 

This.

Rahman at his best was a serious challenge for anybody. I think Rahman would paddle Mr Snipes' backside.

Also, Coetzee / Snipes was daylight robbery. IIRC Snipes looked like he'd been mugged by a gang after that one ... no way he won it.

 

He was a tough guy, but also one who I think was born for fringe.

 

My knee-jerk response to the original question is "He'd be blasted out early by Tyson." In the nineties and early 00's he'd be about where he was in the '80's: a lower top-10 contender. With so many belts available it's possible he'd be able to snag one.

But Snipes deserves credit for always coming to a fight in shape and ready to go.

Now... what happened in the Evangelista fight!?!?

 

He was solid.

If he came around 20 yrs ago he may have done a bit better but I don't see him ever beating a champion - unless he fought someone really medicore, like maybe Ruiz.

 

I was about to say the same thing. Snipes and Rahman were pretty much the same guy.

Holmes just got up. Lewis didn't.

And Holmes didn't get up all that well. He stood up and fell forward into the ropes/corner. If he had been in the center of the ring when he got floored, Holmes would've gotten up and fallen flat on his face again ... and the ref might have stopped it there.

It would've been one of those wacky one-punch, two knockdown deals.

 

After the Berbick win or Frank draw, I can't remember which, Snipes went on a three or four bout losing streak.

It could be all the tough fights burned him out, also, I think I remember reading he had some managerial problems. I wouldn't be surprised if problems with Don King were present, as well. King matched his top heavyweights against each other without caring who won, with the ever present conflict of interest of his son, Carl often managing BOTH fighers in a given King heavyweight fight. It seemed to negatively affect Snipes and others, like Page, Tubbs, Witherspon, etc.

Anyway after the Evangelista embarrassment, Snipes also lost to Cruiserweight Ricky Parkey. At this point, Snipes disappeared from the scene for awhile.

He came back in '86 in New York City fighting frequently at the Felt Forum. He won a few fights, then gave Tyrell Biggs a very tough fight, losing a fairly close decision.

He seemed to rededicate around that time.

 

He was nowhere near Ruiz' league. Ruiz was our most cerebral champion, a true master whose recognition will sadly arrive generations later.

 

Ruiz benefited from poor era/good matchmaking

I really think Snipes would have a shot to beat him.

 

Heresy.

Ruiz was a thoroughbred. Give me an Army of Ruiz's and I would conquer shore to shore.

 

I always saw Snipes as awkward and amateurish. He had the big right hand (what an idiot Holmes was) but he launched it from the cheap seats; I would think anyone with any class would see it coming a mile away.
In short, I was never that impressed at all.