The ESB British Forum Encyclopedia

I'll try and get some more done on my lunch break today.

 

:thumbsup

That'd be a good Encyclopedia topic. The 175 division of the 70s/Early 80s. Full of amazing fights and fighters.

Might do a topic on Smokin' Bert Cooper! Saw he had another fight recently :-( Getting a SD over the 400lb monstrosity Gabe Brown atsch

 

Still didn't do nuttin

Yep, I'll do summat like that about the 60's Bantams I think :good

 

This is basically just Fleaman procrastinating with some good posts in between

 

Where do you work Flea?

 

Southampton docks mate. Office lackey:deal

 

Hey, I've got everything done asked of me thus far, bar LMR

 

Nice avatar flea, is that your bird?

 

**** me I wish

That's Mihiro Taniguchi. Jap model/porn star (digitised rubbish from what I can gather, she don't show no gash La) although I've had birds over in Thailand that ain't far from her level to be fair.

Although I do have a bit of a soft spot for this chick; sexy Jap chicks rule! (by the way, that girl is about 30, she don't look it, eh?)

Anyways, Luis Manuel Rodriguez...........

 

Good thread!

I'll read through it all this weekend and will post something about someone soon!

 

Great write ups on Olivares and Harada by the way lads.

 

Name: Luis Manuel Rodriguez

Height:: 5 ft. 8 in.
Birth: 1937-06-17
Death: 1996-07-08

Boxing record
Total fights 121
Wins 107 (49)
Losses 13 (3)

This content is protected

Like Harry Greb, Boxrec might just have saved Luis Manuel Rodriguez's reputation. Looking through his resume can be a real shock to those unaqainted with his work.

A Cuban who could use an upright and awkward style, could be fluid or, most impressively drop in uppercuts on the inside with startling precision, Rodriguez was always bouncing around on his toes, making him a very hard target to place for his opponents. LMR was truly an ATG all-rounder. With his long arms he could throw awkward punches that were hard to gauge. Fighting a wide range of quality contenders from Welterweight to Middleweight, he held the World Welterweight Championship, beating ATG P4Per Emile Griffith over 15 rounds, and his career at the top was ended with a loss to the legendary Nino Benevenuti via crushing knockout, in a fight contested over 15 for the unified Middleweight championship.

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

A natural Welterweight/light-middle, two of Rodriguez's most impressive wins come up at 160; against two extremely dangerous competitors in Bennie Briscoe and Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter, the latter who had decimated Emile Griffith inside a round.

And then on to Emile Griffith; losing two-out-of-three 15 rounders for THE World Welterweight title (and one ten rounder earlier on) LMR is judged by many to have been on the end of some shocking decisions. Those who I have spoken to on the subject have judged the official decisions as very, very controversial, and the consensus is that Rodriguez got the better of their four fight series.

Their first fight (rodriguez in white shorts)

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze8h53EOsss&feature=related[/ame]

Their fourth fight. Rodriguez in white.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5tXYmFtAg0[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZjWq6PBEsE&feature=related[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDSqUfUNuoQ&feature=related[/ame]

But still, Griffith was no slouch, an ATG of the highest order himself. Another great Welterweight that Rodriguez went tit-for-tat with was great Welterweight Curtis Cokes.

1st fight

2nd fight

Future World Champ' Benny Paret (who was tragically killed by Griffith) was soundly beaten by LMR in two ten-rounders, as was former champion, and hard-puncher, Virgil Akins. Feared 50s Welterweight policeman Joe Miceli, veteran former title challenger Chico Vejar, contendder Isaac Logart, and the experienced Lightweight/Welterweight contender Johnny Gonsalves were amongst his best Welterweight scalps.

In between the two weights, Rodriguez stopped future Carlos Monzon challenger (and perenniel contender) Denny Moyer late, when Moyer was coming off two straight points losses to light-middleweight champion Benevenuti.

There are numerous wins over serious contenders at Middleweight, including Yama Bahama, tough and talented Wilbert 'Skeeter' McClure (x2), Holly Mims, Bennie Briscoe (by decision...in Philidelphia!), quality defensive fighter George Benton, Tony Mundine, Vicente Rondon (future Light Heavyweight belt holder),Tom Bethea and Joey Giambra. Coupled with his dazzling ability, Rodriguez cemented himself as one of the greatest Welters of all time. He was an equally competent middleweight as well, and ranked in the top ten of that division by The Ring for many years.

vs very good Middleweight Joey Giambra

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H3O8akdmF0[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-09O13RrDJo&feature=related[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXqUrNyi3S0&feature=related[/ame]

vs. toughly matched talented 1960 Olympic Gold Medalist Wilbur McClure

1st fight

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onxxgNT7n2s[/ame]

2nd fight

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHhck1_emqI[/ame]

There is no doubt in my mind that Luis Manuel Rodriguez is probably the most under appreciated P4P Legend of all time. I've literally only posted the names from his resume that I'm sure about, there are loads of other fighters on there that I've seen named notable wins as well, to the untrained eye, his ring record and achievements stand out as spectacular. To someone more knowldgable than myself, he's probably even more intimidating.

 

Eh, she weren't far off it:deal

Why d'ya wanna' know where I work anyway?

 

Of course she was buddy blurp

Just asking...