The Ultimate Hot And Cold Fighters?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Russell, Aug 15, 2008.


Page 1 of 5
  1. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

    43,650
    13,048
    Apr 1, 2007
    Who's performances went the farthest both ways, for good and bad?

    Was was capable of the worst and the very best?

    Roberto Duran's a great example of this, if not one of the best. But massive weight gain, drugs, and general disinterest will do that to you.

    And on a very related note, Kirland Laing.
     
    Russell, Aug 15, 2008
    Russell, Aug 15, 2008
    #1
  2. Stonehands89

    Stonehands89 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    10,774
    312
    Dec 12, 2005
    Duran's inconsistency started after his 70th fight. He was at one point 68-1, let's not forget that. I think it a bit unfair to emphasize his inconsistency without at least qualifying it. Few modern fighters go beyond 50 fights total and even fewer had a career that spanned 5 decades.
     
    Stonehands89, Aug 15, 2008
    Stonehands89, Aug 15, 2008
    #2
  3. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

    43,650
    13,048
    Apr 1, 2007
    Yes, but look at Duran's longevity. The big picture, and the success he enjoyed even in his late 30's and into his 40's.

    It's very obvious he wouldn't of suffered like he did even after his 70th fight if his weight and drugs didn't take a certain edge away from him at times.
     
    Russell, Aug 15, 2008
    Russell, Aug 15, 2008
    #3
  4. Stonehands89

    Stonehands89 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    10,774
    312
    Dec 12, 2005
    How many fighters do you know who competed at the world class level into their 40s? I can think of three right away -Robinson, Moore, and Duran.

    Duran's edge was dependent on his passion. He was a passion fighter. Watch him when he was a youth -he could barely contain that energy. But see, energy burns out with age. Only sporadically could he get inspired enough to give great performances after a quarter of a century in combat.... You can count his inspired performances after Barkley on one hand. Camacho I. That's about it. The other wins were because Duran could fight without training, half-asleep, and based on memory alone.
     
    Stonehands89, Aug 15, 2008
    Stonehands89, Aug 15, 2008
    #4
  5. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

    43,650
    13,048
    Apr 1, 2007
    Yes, but wouldn't the passion be there if he hadn't just cut 50 pounds in a short period of time to face Leonard a second time?

    If he wasn't cruising through the star studded 80's on coke and booze?

    Kirland Lainge never would have happened if neither existed.
     
    Russell, Aug 15, 2008
    Russell, Aug 15, 2008
    #5
  6. Stonehands89

    Stonehands89 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    10,774
    312
    Dec 12, 2005
    Duran was a partier but he wasn't a drug addict. There are no private scandals about the man.

    But if he was Hopkins-like in his health fanaticism and cold devotion to boxing, he'd have been either greater than he was, or a different fighter altogether and therefore something less. Duran was a passion fighter -take away his personality and you take away his passion.
     
    Stonehands89, Aug 15, 2008
    Stonehands89, Aug 15, 2008
    #6
  7. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

    43,650
    13,048
    Apr 1, 2007
    I've heard it said a dozen times over he was into coke as a lot of fighters were during the 80's.
     
    Russell, Aug 15, 2008
    Russell, Aug 15, 2008
    #7
  8. Stonehands89

    Stonehands89 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    10,774
    312
    Dec 12, 2005
    Who knows -you may be right. I have not heard or read that... his problem was boozing and gluttony. Not really drugs as far as I know.
     
    Stonehands89, Aug 15, 2008
    Stonehands89, Aug 15, 2008
    #8
  9. laxpdx

    laxpdx Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,921
    77
    Oct 1, 2006
    Yes, post-Montreal Duran is a good example of this.
     
    laxpdx, Aug 15, 2008
    laxpdx, Aug 15, 2008
    #9
  10. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

    52,828
    44,523
    Apr 27, 2005
    On a lesser scale all the 80's heavies Dokes, Page, Witherspoon, Berbick etc. Even Holmes got lazy and unispired in supposedly easier defenses.
     
    JohnThomas1, Aug 15, 2008
    JohnThomas1, Aug 15, 2008
    #10
  11. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

    43,650
    13,048
    Apr 1, 2007
    Strangly, Holmes also often brought out the very best in those sometimes cold 80's heavyweights.
     
    Russell, Aug 15, 2008
    Russell, Aug 15, 2008
    #11
  12. Samurai

    Samurai I lost an avatar bet Full Member

    3,634
    4
    Mar 30, 2008
    Zab Judah

    Nate Campbell
     
    Samurai, Aug 15, 2008
    Samurai, Aug 15, 2008
    #12
  13. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

    52,828
    44,523
    Apr 27, 2005
    VERY true. His arrogance and treatment of them sure fired a lot of them. He brought quite a lot of intensity and hostility out of some and when push came to shove Holmes dug deep with the greatest of them. Holmes incredible determination and will to win got him home in many a match he could have fallen in. His rally vs Witherspoon being a pristine example.
     
    JohnThomas1, Aug 15, 2008
    JohnThomas1, Aug 15, 2008
    #13
  14. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

    43,650
    13,048
    Apr 1, 2007
    Extremely well said, John Thomas.

    No one seemed to like Holme's back then then, not even the fighters.

    But then again, he was a long standing champion and dominated the division fr a long time. So on top of being an ******* everyone wanted his scalp and title. :lol:

    People fault him for his performances vs. Carl William's, Renaldo Snipes, Tim Witherspoon... And they at the same moment ignore that those fighters if for only one night usually brought their very best against Holmes.
     
    Russell, Aug 15, 2008
    Russell, Aug 15, 2008
    #14
  15. Samurai

    Samurai I lost an avatar bet Full Member

    3,634
    4
    Mar 30, 2008
    Tony Tubbs
     
    Samurai, Aug 15, 2008
    Samurai, Aug 15, 2008
    #15
Page 1 of 5