The 'lost' middleweight generation (1987-1994)

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Jel, Nov 2, 2018.


Page 4 of 5
  1. Jpreisser

    Jpreisser Well-Known Member Full Member

    1,836
    1,403
    Jan 29, 2015
    The loaded list of names, combined with the many fights we missed, is one that makes a strong case for there being one champion in each class. You wouldn't have nearly this many misses if there were one man to target.
     
    Jpreisser, Nov 10, 2018
    Jpreisser, Nov 10, 2018
    #46
  2. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

    18,440
    9,578
    Jan 30, 2014
    Most talented crop of middleweights ever?
     
    mrkoolkevin, Jul 25, 2019
    mrkoolkevin, Jul 25, 2019
    #47
    Ballista and Jel like this.
  3. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

    52,824
    44,505
    Apr 27, 2005
    The 40's are insane as well.
     
    JohnThomas1, Jul 25, 2019
    JohnThomas1, Jul 25, 2019
    #48
    George Crowcroft and Jel like this.
  4. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

    7,832
    13,126
    Oct 20, 2017
    Here's a list (not completely exhaustive, by the way) of the most significant fights that took place during the '87-'94 era:

    1987:
    -Sumbu Kalambay v Herol Graham 1
    -Sumbu Kalambay v Iran Barkley
    -Thomas Hearns v Juan Roldan

    1988:
    -Iran Barkley v Thomas Hearns
    -Sumbu Kalambay v Mike McCallum 1
    -Michael Nunn v Frank Tate

    1989:
    -Michael Watson v Nigel Benn
    -Mike McCallum v Herol Graham
    -Michael Nunn v Sambu Kalambay
    -Roberto Duran v Iran Barkley
    -Michael Nunn v Iran Barkley

    1990:
    -Mike McCallum v Steve Collins
    -Mike McCallum v Michael Watson
    -Nigel Benn v Iran Barkley
    -Chris Eubank v Nigel Benn 1
    -Julian Jackson v Herol Graham

    1991:
    -Mike McCallum v Sambu Kalambay 2
    -James Toney v Michael Nunn
    -Chris Eubank v Michael Watson 1
    -James Toney v Reggie Johnson
    -James Toney v Mike McCallum 1

    1992:
    -James Toney v Mike McCallum 2
    -Reggie Johnson v Steve Collins
    -Sumbu Kalambay v Steve Collins
    -Sumbu Kalambay v Herol Graham 2

    1993:
    -John David Jackson v Reggie Johnson
    -Roy Jones v Bernard Hopkins 1
    -Gerald McClellan v Julian Jackson 1

    1994:
    -Gerald McClellan v Julian Jackson 2
    -Jorge Castro v Reggie Johnson 1
    -Jorge Castro v John David Jackson
    -Bernard Hopkins v Segundo Mercado 1

    Looking at that list, it doesn't feel like there were too many missed opportunities.
     
    Last edited: Nov 28, 2020
    Jel, Nov 28, 2020
    Jel, Nov 28, 2020
    #49
    Loudon and mark ant like this.
  5. mark ant

    mark ant Canelo was never athletic Full Member

    36,654
    16,562
    May 4, 2017
    Hagler would have dominated that era if he had been in his prime during that period.
     
    mark ant, Nov 28, 2020
    mark ant, Nov 28, 2020
    #50
    Gatekeeper and Unforgiven like this.
  6. mark ant

    mark ant Canelo was never athletic Full Member

    36,654
    16,562
    May 4, 2017
    Yes there was a world war etc.
     
    mark ant, Nov 28, 2020
    mark ant, Nov 28, 2020
    #51
  7. mark ant

    mark ant Canelo was never athletic Full Member

    36,654
    16,562
    May 4, 2017
    Benn was nowhere near Hagler`s level at 160, no way could Eubank and Watson have beaten Hagler, McCallum beat Watson.
     
    mark ant, Nov 28, 2020
    mark ant, Nov 28, 2020
    #52
    Unforgiven likes this.
  8. mark ant

    mark ant Canelo was never athletic Full Member

    36,654
    16,562
    May 4, 2017
    Hearns looked far quicker v Benitez than he did when he sparred with McCallum.
     
    mark ant, Nov 28, 2020
    mark ant, Nov 28, 2020
    #53
  9. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

    58,748
    21,578
    Nov 24, 2005
    A lot of good prospects who were hyped when Hagler left the game, but few of them lasted long.

    Michael Nunn and Sumbu Kalambay were the two left standing in 1989, and Nunn destroyed Kalambay in 1 round but fell off after that.

    There were some good fights around this time but i don't think the era was particularly strong.
     
    Unforgiven, Nov 28, 2020
    Unforgiven, Nov 28, 2020
    #54
  10. Saad54

    Saad54 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    10,832
    6,599
    Dec 10, 2014
    In the early to mid 80s s lot of the best 160 lb contenders did fight one another but unfortunately for them there was only one title to go after. But it kind of forced them to fight each other because they couldn't wait around for a title shot. Well Obel could because of his favorite son status with the Latin controlled WBA. And it was good because Hagler often (but not always) would face a guy who had to beat somebody hiigjhly rated to get a crack at him. So we still got to see a lot of good 160 lb. fights that didn't involve Hagler. They just weren't title fights.
     
    Last edited: Nov 28, 2020
    Saad54, Nov 28, 2020
    Saad54, Nov 28, 2020
    #55
    Eddie Ezzard and JohnThomas1 like this.
  11. Bujia

    Bujia Well-Known Member Full Member

    1,564
    2,392
    Jul 2, 2020
    Awesome post. Very informative for a fan like me who tends to blow off discussions involving politics and all the behind the scenes string pulling that goes on. It’s probably the one thing I truly, truly hate about the sport. Your last sentence perfectly illustrates why.
     
    Bujia, Nov 28, 2020
    Bujia, Nov 28, 2020
    #56
    Jel, The Slaps and George Crowcroft like this.
  12. Wvboxer

    Wvboxer Active Member Full Member

    562
    261
    Apr 20, 2013
    So many boxers I liked from this period. Frank Tate, Michael Nunn, Reggie Johnson, Nigel Benn, Mike McCallum. Really deep division. I thought Nunn would dominate a while. Really liked Reggie Johnson because he was such a slick guy. Roy Jones definitely could’ve dominated a while if he’d remained at middle.

    Always wondered what Hagler would’ve done if he’d beaten Leonard. It’s weird to think of him fighting someone like Michael Olajade or Barkley. He just feels like part of a different era.
     
    Wvboxer, Nov 28, 2020
    Wvboxer, Nov 28, 2020
    #57
    Jel likes this.
  13. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

    52,824
    44,505
    Apr 27, 2005
    Hagler would have 100% retired unless he fought a rematch. He almost retired prior.
     
    JohnThomas1, Nov 28, 2020
    JohnThomas1, Nov 28, 2020
    #58
    Jel and Wvboxer like this.
  14. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

    7,832
    13,126
    Oct 20, 2017
    Very good point, Saad. There were a lot of high-quality non-title fights in the 80s. Makes me realise that it wasn't a weak era, actually, and it emphasizes how good Hagler really was as many of the contenders would go life and death against each other and then Hagler would blow right threw the winner of those fights. He was just on another level.
     
    Jel, Nov 28, 2020
    Jel, Nov 28, 2020
    #59
  15. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

    7,832
    13,126
    Oct 20, 2017
    Agreed, JT. Hagler would have had zero left to prove and it was only the Leonard fight that made him carry on. Once that was done, so was he. As he showed by retiring even after he lost.
     
    Jel, Nov 28, 2020
    Jel, Nov 28, 2020
    #60
    George Crowcroft, JohnThomas1 and Wvboxer like this.
Page 4 of 5