Sumbu Kalambay's winning streak from 1987-1989

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by mr. magoo, Dec 24, 2014.


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  1. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    First of all Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to the board. Its been a great year on the forum.

    I just want to talk about Sumbu Kalambay for a minute as I feel he is sometimes over looked in the grand scheme of things. From May of 1987 to November of 1988, Sumbu Kalambay put together a nice streak of wins including Herol Graham, Iran Barkley, Mike McCallum, Robbie Sims, and Doug DeWitt all in an 18 month period. This streak was ended in the spring of 1989 with a devastating KO loss to Michael Nunn, but looking back at that fight, its no wonder to me why Kalambay was viewed as a formidable opponent going into that bout. What do you guys think of Kalambay?
     
    mr. magoo, Dec 24, 2014
    mr. magoo, Dec 24, 2014
    #1
  2. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Makes me wonder how he could possibly have lost to Duane Thomas.
     
    salsanchezfan, Dec 24, 2014
    salsanchezfan, Dec 24, 2014
    #2
  3. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    Kalambay's winning streak there speaks for itself. Certainly his upset win(s) over Graham and (I think) McCallum were brilliant perhaps great.

    Michael Nunn's KO of Kalambay is actually more overlooked/underrated/dismissed than anything Kalambay did, among the "hipsters" on this forum anyway.
     
    Unforgiven, Dec 24, 2014
    Unforgiven, Dec 24, 2014
    #3
  4. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    who knows?
     
    mr. magoo, Dec 24, 2014
    mr. magoo, Dec 24, 2014
    #4
  5. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    The Nunn fight was the very first time that I had ever seen Kalambay in action. From what the HBO commentary was saying about him, I was anticipating a good fight. That left hook was about as picture perfect as any I've ever seen. It ranked right up there with the left hook that Walcoott Ko'd Charles with in my opinion. Mind boggling how Nunn wasn't exactly a huge banger and yet he handed Kalambay his only stoppage in 64 fights and with only one punch.
     
    mr. magoo, Dec 24, 2014
    mr. magoo, Dec 24, 2014
    #5
  6. Bobthepen

    Bobthepen Active Member Full Member

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    Kalambay was always a slow starter though. Watch him fight McCallum (another notorious slow starter), and there's barely a punch thrown in the opening two rounds.
    There was always speculation that the likes of Benn had a chance as he rushed in like a bull early.
    Whilst I always repsected Kalambay, I never enjoyed watching him fight. A slippery stick and move specialist. He reminded me of a middleweight Chris John.
     
    Bobthepen, Dec 24, 2014
    Bobthepen, Dec 24, 2014
    #6
  7. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Fantastic fighter. The Nunn KO is just one of the things that happens. He was still a bit cold and Nunn caught him with the punch of his career. That's boxing.
     
    Bokaj, Dec 24, 2014
    Bokaj, Dec 24, 2014
    #7
  8. BEATDOWNZ

    BEATDOWNZ Boxing Addict banned Full Member

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    In for more info. Good thread so far guys! ;-)
     
    BEATDOWNZ, Dec 24, 2014
    BEATDOWNZ, Dec 24, 2014
    #8
  9. Saad54

    Saad54 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    He also had a bad loss to the faded Ayub Kalule in 1984 or 85. He improved quiet a bit between the Thomas and Kalule losses and the Graham win. The victory over McCallum is highly impressive given McCallum's overall body of work.
     
    Saad54, Dec 24, 2014
    Saad54, Dec 24, 2014
    #9
  10. Bulldog24

    Bulldog24 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Immensely skilled, hard to nail and tough to avoid his counters.
     
    Bulldog24, Dec 24, 2014
    Bulldog24, Dec 24, 2014
    #10
  11. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    He didn't impress, no, but I think he should have been given the nod over Kalule.
     
    Bokaj, Dec 25, 2014
    Bokaj, Dec 25, 2014
    #11
  12. Bulldog24

    Bulldog24 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Kalule was a Very good fighter! Gave peak Leonard fits
     
    Bulldog24, Dec 25, 2014
    Bulldog24, Dec 25, 2014
    #12
  13. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล

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    A bad loss? Have you even watched that fight?
     
    Flea Man, Dec 25, 2014
    Flea Man, Dec 25, 2014
    #13
  14. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    Yes, it happens.
    And Michael Nunn needs to get all the credit for making it happen.
     
    Unforgiven, Dec 25, 2014
    Unforgiven, Dec 25, 2014
    #14
  15. the_bigunit

    the_bigunit Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Kalambay was incredible. Especially when he shut out Mike McCallum. And Nunn just took him out in under 2 minutes. Nuts.
     
    the_bigunit, Dec 25, 2014
    the_bigunit, Dec 25, 2014
    #15
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