Thoughts on Michael Nunn?

He was never considered pound for pound #1 IMO. Tyson then Chavez held that title in his peak era IMO.

But that said, he emerged (suprinsingly IMO, as I was a Olijade and then Tate fan) as the heir apparent to Hagler and in 88/early 89 was brilliant. But the Barkley fight was the start of his decline, and the Starling fight was disappointing.

At the time the Toney defeat was a big upset, but Nunn was not fighter he once was and seing him here in England against Little was just plain sad. The drugs have now completely messed his life up.

He should of been more than the footnote he has become, but a lot of that is his own fault, he was hard enough to like when he was clean!

 

Reminds me a little of Donald Curry in that neither ended up being what we thought or hoped but both for a time were brilliant fighters. Nunns stock went down a bit with the Barkley fight but he did indeed get the W over a tough fighter. He was a bit unlucky on that he didn't get a fight vs Hearns, SRL, Hagler or McCallum so we could get a better perspective of his ability at peak. Apparently drugs took their toll from what i see claimed a lot. At his best he would trouble plenty of ATG middleweights, at least while he lasted.

 

Nunn was never a very exciting fighter to watch, and I remember Larry Merchant making the same criticism many years ago. He was however, a vey good boxer from most aspects, and could even bang when he had to. His first round KO over Sumbu Kalambay was a legacy making fight. After this bout, both Thomas Hearns and Ray Leonard pretty much admitted that they wanted nothing to do with him. Nunn also had some OK wins over Barkley, Tate and a few others. He was well ahead on the scorecards against a young James Toney before tiring in the 11th round. Nunn was definately a great middleweight. I can't place him on par with the likes of Hagler, Robinson or Jones, but he certainly is a top 15 in my opinion.

 

He did go on to win a super middleweight title.

 

Nunn i'd almost say schooled Toney early but he had a bit of success i think it was the round prior to the KO as he closed the distance and got a bit busier. Nunn was winning the fight quite big.

 

Toney was fighting a 15 round type of fight that night, IMO, as evidenced by his slow start, then coming on in the later rounds.

 

He may have won a 168 pound title, but he was past his best then, and was on borrowed time. He got a gift decision the first time against Cordoba.

 

that doesnt surprise me with Nunn hitting his peak but what went wrong after that? he seemed to be getting jaded with those fights vs barkly and Starling.

I also heard that Leonard and Nunn didnt like each other and got into some sort of scuffle? at a meeting. Someone please clear this up.

 

Rumour was they had words at a nightclub not long at all after Nunn impressively ko'ed Kalambay. Rumour says Leonard poked his finger near Nunn's face and told him he was gonna fukk up his life, or something like that.

Only a rumour, but did read it in KO or one of those.

 

It was a 12 rounder tho. IMO Nunn was simply too fast and skilled early on before he tired a little and Toney also came on. Don't underestimate Nunn, he was boxing rings around Toney for ages.

 

I'm saying that's the type of pace that Toney fought, even though Nunn was outboxing him for the majority of the fight. Nunn was definately high on something though for that fight IMO, he looked like he was going through the motions and didn't seem to be in that fight at all, even though he was still able to beat Toney to the punch for most of the night. He didn't seem himself at all, his expressions and eyes tell me that. Don't get me wrong, prime Michael Nunn beats Toney pretty convincingly.

 

I can't comment on the Nunn-Leonard scuffle, as I do not remember it happening. I can say though, that he did not look paricularly impressive in those other fights that you mentioned. The Nunn-Starling match was a 12 round sleeper. The Nunn-Barkley match, actually left more people cheering for Barkley than Nunn. After the match, Bob Arum was given the microphone and said flat out that " Michael Nunn did not convincingly beat Iran Barkley tonight."