Vincent Pettway - Gianfranco Rosi II (A dud by any other name, aka "Where did Rosi learn to box?"

Darrin was sort of a lower case Sean O'Grady in a way.

 

Rossi was a very good figther - an overachiever, actually.

The Pettway fights were at the very tail end of his career.

He beat some good fighters like Darren Van Horn, Lupe Aquino and Duane Thomas.

He was an alphabet champion more than once.

Was he ever the best fighter at 154?

No

But he was very solid over a very long period of time.

 

He beat a good fighter, Lindell Holmes, though, to win a 168 lb world title.

He defeated a few good fighters - Holmes and Robert Hines.

Hines had beaten Matthew Hilton and Holmes had beaten Frank Tate.

Yes, he was crushed by Barkley, but so was Thomas Hearns.

 

He means Rossi was extremely unorthodox.

 

No offence

But:

I know you weren't around when Rossi was prime, but you should do a little research before posting something like this.

You picked a fight where Rossi was way past prime.

If you want to learn about a given fighter, watch fights as he progresses, hits prime, and then past prime.

Don't start with a fight where he is past it and use it to denigrate him as a fighter.

You are not seeing the whole picture of his career.

Many of us on here witnessed most or all of Rossi's career.

Yes, he was very unorthodox, but he could be effective and had some very solid wins in his career.

He won a verson of the 154 lb. title on two occasions.

From '85 to '94 the only guys who beat him were Honeyghan and Curry.

 

I knew you would respond to this thread. It is right in your wheelhouse. That being said, I think you like Rossi better than I did.

 

Well, I mean he was not a great fighter.

He was very unorthodox.

I didn't really enjoy watching him.

He was nowhere close to being one of my favorite fighters.

But, he could be effective - ugly yet effective.

I only posted because the OP made it out to be like he was a horrible fighter - which was not the case.

 

I agree with you on all counts, Saad. A lot of the posters here never watched Rossi's fights as they happened, and gain an understanding outside of Boxrec. To quote Mr. Han speaking to Williams in "Enter the Dragon": "Your style is un-orthodox" .... "But, Effective."

 

Look my friend.

You seem the type who knows nothing about a fighter but becomes a know it all smart alec when a few facts come his way.

Against Pettway Rosi was pushing 40 and worn out after 60 pro fights and a 15 year pro career.

Rosi had actually been outboxing Pettway in the 1st fight but was repeatedly headbutted punched from behind and hit low.It was a foul display.

Ironic because Rosi himself was a master of the dark arts. But the fight was a technical draw after a cut caused by a butt.

In the rematch you saw Rosi was still shaken up by the fouls of the 1st fight and his skin hadnt recovered.Pettway just turned him into an old fighter.

Say what you like but show some respect. Rosi after this fight beat Verno Phillips at 39 to win the WBO 154lbs crown but was robbed due to politics. That made him a WBC,IBF and WBO champ at 154lbs.

He beat Chris Pyatt ,Lupe Acquire,and Duane Thomas in one calender year. A solid numero 3 paper titlist in the days when there were 3 champs per weight.

 

AHAHA Same.

 

I wish there were more Pettway fights available

 

I was at the Brown fight. Left an indelible impression.

 

I’ll stick up for Gianfranco.

Rosi fought at the top of the154-pound division for basically a decade. Pettway won the second fight after the first ended in a technical draw — Rosi dropped him in the first round of the first fight and then was cut on an accidental butt with the fight being stopped in the sixth (IBF rules dictated six complete rounds before going to the cards).

After the two fights with Pettway, Rosi bested Verno Phillips for the WBO but failed a drug test. Lost the rematch by majority decision.


After being blasted out by Ragamuffin Honeyghan at welter, Rosi moved up to junior middle and had a very nice run.

He beat Van Horne twice, Gilbert Dele twice, Angel Hernandez, Lupe Acquino, Glenn Wolfe, Troy Waters, Rene Jacquot, Duane Thomas, Chris Pyatt and a few other notables.

That’s a pretty good resume. Never tangled with Julian Jackson or Terry Norris, but apart from that he faced most of the top guys in his era (including losing to Donald Curry). Ring Magazine had him consistently ranked top 2-3 in its annual ratings covering a period of several years.

Lot of more celebrated guys had worse ledgers and accomplishments. Sorry you don’t like his style but it ain’t a beauty contest.