Sean defeated Kenty in a 15 round scorcher while Hilmer was afflicted with walking pneumonia for the Bubblegum Bomber's best win. Aside from that, there's relatively little to suggest O'Grady was a genuine world class competitor. He was clearly losing in retreat to Watt before Jim started bleeding, and was still behind on the cards (although rallying) when the fatal butt occurred. Boza Edwards had recently steamrolled Verderosa, but a heavier and slowed Heat similarly retired Sean after taking his best shots. Gonzalo Montellano pushed O'Grady to a 12 round SD in Omaha. Ranzany took a ten round UD. Harry beat some excellent opponents in Joe Manley, Robin Blake, then in back to back to back title win stoppages over Choo Choo Brown, White Lightning Brown and Terrance Alli. What Arroyo did from January 1984 to January 1985 surpasses any streak Sean produced in his career. Facing off, I think Sean would be retreating and Harry stalking, similar to how Watt-O'Grady would have gone had no blood been spilled. This one does get to the final bell, and the comfortable UD in favor of Arroyo would only be disputed by Pat O'Grady. Arroyo was something of a late bloomer who made his professional debut just prior to turning 23. He was a mature 27 while champion. Seven of his 11 defeats came after he turned 30. O'Grady was already well on the skids at 23 when Ranzany beat him. He largely relied on his chin to keep him in action and competitive, but his ability to take it to the chin and body let him down when he stepped up against Little Red, Ganigan and Verderosa. Watching 34 year old Claude Noel fracture the jaw and beat the snot out of young and hyped Mexico City upstart Rodolfo "Gato" Gonzalez, I do not think Sean would have successfully defended the WBA LW crown against the brash Trinidad and Tobago veteran. (This Gonzalez did not measure up to the "El Gato" who held the WBC LW title during the early 1970s. He should have chosen a differentiating nickname, like the two Browns.)
No matter how you look at it......some pretty good LW's around back then duking it out. Sat. afternoon on CBS Sports Spectacular was a lot of fun.
I go with O' Grady. I think O'Grady is underrated due to him burning out so fast. I believe he was 15 yrs old when he turned pro.
He had decent power, mobility, good height and reach, all the punches in the book, and some intelligence. (He was an aspiring physician at one time, and worked as a color commentator for ESPN even before challenging Watt, so his career behind the microphone now dates back over three decades.) Defensively though, he left a lot to be desired, and I think his punch resistance was dubious. Sean's inexperience despite his multitude of bouts was much in evidence throughout his challenge of Watt (who could only have been dethroned by a great challenger like Arguello), and that inexperience cost him dearly. Really, O'Grady had one peak performance, and the significance of that win over Kenty is somewhat shrouded by the illness Hilmer was laboring under.
