He seems to be constantly painted as a one-dimensional puncher, which he did become, only after going the way of so many other punchers that fall in love with their power. However, I think people need to watch a lot more of a prime Brown to get the full picture. The guy had some serious skills at his best. I was strongly reminded of Mike McCallum while I was going through some of his older fights today. Albeit a harder hitting, if a bit less technically varied version. Make no mistake, his technical chops were not bad at all, though. He had a strong jab that he could snake through a guard (he used a nice little slip of the head against Trice at times upon throwing the jab as well), excellent body punching accuracy, and was a strong counter-puncher himself. He also fought extremely well in the pocket, often using very little footwork, planting himself, and using a shoulder roll defense to slip and pick off opponent's shots while banging away with his own. I think people need to start coming around to Mr. Brown. He's grossly overlooked these days. Watch the man at the height of his powers: [yt]gt8uLuCUP-8[/yt] [yt]L3gN69TFTOk[/yt]
Mantequilla has been saying that for quite a while...I have to agree on review of his earlier title fights, he really had the makings of a fine boxer-puncher. He was probably just made to look a little one-dimensional by some of skilled opponents he faced. I mean Norris, Buddy and Hopkins are often going to make it appear that way.
He was completely and totally washed up by the time he took on Hopkins, and had already deteriorated quite a bit by the time of the Norris fights at 154. The only fight that could be considered in his prime among those would've been the McGirt fight, and even then I think he'd started to develop more of the one-paced, power punching style he'd later go on to assume full time. The mid to late 80's were his best years as a technical boxer-puncher. As an aside, I'd love to see the Starling fight during that period. I wish someone would upload it. Any insights that could be given on that one would be well appreciated.
Brown is a ridicously underrated fighter. The man was 40-2 at one time, two losses in almost 13 years, both against world class operators... One a very close decision against a dangerous spoiled in Starling. Don't know why him moving up in weight and knocking Norris ****ing silly with a jab then knocking him out isn't thought more highly of.
Of course he has, he shares Brown's nickname. :good But seriously: yeah, Brown was a pretty good champion for some time, and is underrated. It was surprising to see him get owned like he did by McGirt, but McGirt fought a helluva fight, and I felt by then Brown looked like he was showing some wear and tear from all his tough battles. His own upset of Norris was one of the most awesome wins by any fighter in the '90s. :yep You only have to look at an aging Brown sucker Norris in with head movement and counter to see that he has at least some decent skills.
Brown was very good. He fiirst fight with Tyrone Trice is the stuff legands are made of. He wasn't a master technician, and Starling exposed him, but he was a very good boxer-puncher who would have given any fighter a tough night. By the time he moved up to 154, he was not at his best. His kayo loss to Vincent Pettway was a brutal fight that took a lot out of both fights. Pettway laid Brown out in the sixth round, and while Simon lay on the canvas, he was still throwing punches in his sleep.
Starling exposed him? By all accounts it was a very close fight, that being against a young, unproven at the top level version of Brown. I don't see how that would constitute being exposed. Brown, IMO, was a very good technician at his best, not merely decent as so many seem to insinuate, even in this thread.
I saw this thread and was going to say exatly that: His best days were mid to late 80's. He did have a good win dismantling Maurice Blocker shortly before the McGirt fight. He's one of those guys that seemed to drop off quickly..............I saw the Starling fight. Unfortunately I don't have it. I felt at the time that Brown was definitely being thrown to the wolves but it was a close and highly tactical fight as I recall.
p.s. The Trice fights are great fights and WayneBedre just put up a very clean version of Brown - Trice I
****... I actually have Brown's '85 decision loss to Starling on tape....... Brown was still green, but showing potential..... Starling was too skilled for Brown in 1985...... MR.BILL
It showed that he could be outboxed. In his losses to the best fighters, he was outboxed. He was a very good boxer-puncher. Technician, no. Brown was one of my favorite fighters to watch because he had a pleasing style, and loved to slug it out. He never backed down, and this fact allowed him to be outboxed.
I don't know if he was declining at that time. He just mowed down Blocker, who was no slouch himself. I think he just ran into a guy who fought smarter than he did.
No disrespect to Brown, whom I rate highly, and think he would beat guys like Margarito, Quartey, Clottey, and maybe prime Cotto.
Absolutely no maybe about it. Regarding the Starling fight, Brown was a tad green, but not far from his prime really: he showed abundant energy and great resilience in that fight, after getting somewhat schooled in the first half. Starling had a style though that he'd probably always struggle with. A little too tight defensively which didn't allow Mantequilla to clearly land his bombs. He had his moments but I thought Starling took it rather clearly: Marlon Starling vs. Simon Brown: 116-113 Starling Brown: 2,8,9 and 12. Starling: 1,3,4,5,6,10 and 11. Round 7 even. I should say that I think even by the time of the Buddy fight, he was somewhat struggling to make weight and became a little 'stiff' as a result. That and as has already been stated, he fell in love with his power and probably felt that McGirt, been only half his size, would have also succumbed to his shots. I think even the best Brown would probably struggle with Buddy, but there's no way a top form Brown gets schooled so one-sidedly and decisively by McGirt. If it goes to the cards Buddy always wins clearly, but Brown would have a chance of landing the game-changer.