Maxim won but even if you choose to ignore the following facts because they don't fit in with your agenda: - Robinson had a huge points lead - it was the heat that prevented him from finishing a bout for the only time in his 25-year career Robinson still went 13 rounds with the light-heavyweight champion the world. That on its own shows that he had business fighting at 175.
I hope you're doing this on purpose as your idea of a joke. No one in their right mind would seriously suggest that Maxim was the better fighter that night. If you are serious then you're as crazy as the guy in your avatar.
I agree Hearns probably loses, but Robinson certainly belonged in there at 175 and was handling Maxim without too much of a problem, from all I've read.
Robinson later wanted a fight with Maxim's successor Archie Moore and they met up for dinner with their wives. I couldn't see Robbie handling Moore easily. I read years ago that Robinson ended the fight weighing the same as a Welterweight and Maxim under the Middleweight limit?? I could imagine the Robinson part but not Maxim's
I value results. Maxim gained the result. He won the 15 round fight thus proving, on that night, he was the better fighter. It's pretty simple and entirely irrefutable.
Yeah it wasn't close at all, but no excuses of course. Maxim, though not any kind of puncher to speak of, was strong, extremely tough, intelligent and a rough night for almost any LHW in history. Heck, even some HWs too. Joey had a great chin.
All fights should be held in sauna like conditions. It tends to peel back who really is the best boxer - or, at least, it might determine the fighter with the greater tolerance to extreme heat and humidity - not something I personally look for in a boxing match.
Agreed. Not what I'd call 'fair' conditions for a fight, but I guess they had to deal with it back then, along with people smoking in the arenas and everything else. I wonder if Crawford-Spence was held under the same conditions for 15 rds. what would happen?
Yeah, citing those conditions and their impact on the outcome is not an excuse or taking of credit from Maxim. Just a fair observation and appreciation of what went down. From the other end, without it being a self contradicting view. I can also understand Maxim’s stating “Well, what was I supposed to do, I was subject to the same conditions”.
Oh definitely, he outlasted Sugar Ray and that's all there is to it. He came through like a real champion. I can see it surviving also as a testament to Robinson's flat-out greatness, to be competitive (and then some!) at such an old age, at a much higher division than where he was at his best (at a time when division-hopping meant something), against an ATG, after all those wars.............my goodness, no wonder the man is rightly considered the best to ever do it!
Robinson can have no complaints and he never did complain. But he clearly would have won this fight comfortably in less extreme conditions.