What stretch of fights were fighters at their absolute peaks

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by My2Sense, Dec 22, 2008.


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  1. My2Sense

    My2Sense Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    By peak I don't mean simply in their primes, but at the absolute best of their best.

    For example, Carlos Monzon was a great, dominant champion for a long time, but I think he performed at his absolute best from the 2nd Benvenuti fight through to the Briscoe rematch.

    I think Joe Frazier hit the top of his game in the first Ellis fight, and was at his peak through the Foster fight to the first Ali fight. After that, he gained a lot of weight for a couple of years, then got crushed by Foreman, and even though he got his weight back down, he never fully regained his absolute best form.

    Some others -

    Muhammad Ali - vs. Williams and Terrell
    Lennox Lewis - vs. Grant, Botha, Tua
    Julian Jackson - from In Chul Baek to Terry Norris
    Kid Gavilan - late '52, vs. Gil Turner and Billy Graham IV
    Ken Norton - Quarry, Garcia II, Stander
    Roberto Duran - Viruet II, DeJesus III
    Saad Muhammad - Conteh II, Yaqui Lopez II, Mwale
    Ray Leonard - Duran II to Bruce Finch
    Hopkins - Tito through Joppy? (questionable)
    Mayweather Jr. - Manfredy to Corrales

    Do you agree/disagree with the above? What examples of your own do you have?
     
    My2Sense, Dec 22, 2008
    My2Sense, Dec 22, 2008
    #1
  2. bladerunner

    bladerunner El Intocable Full Member

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    Felix Trinidad after he moved up to 154 till he he got beat by Hopkins.
     
    bladerunner, Dec 22, 2008
    bladerunner, Dec 22, 2008
    #2
  3. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    This looks like a pretty solid assesment, though some of these guy's primes are pretty hard to pin point. Norton for example, was looking pretty good when he beat Ali in 1973, but then again he looked fairly good against Holmes 5 years later ( though not in his prime ).

    Here is one for me

    Evander Holyfield from the Dokes fight through George Foreman.
     
    mr. magoo, Dec 22, 2008
    mr. magoo, Dec 22, 2008
    #3
  4. El Puma

    El Puma between rage and serenity Full Member

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    That was pretty impressive the way he mowed down top level fighters, despite being so "limited" in his boxing skills.:good
     
    El Puma, Dec 22, 2008
    El Puma, Dec 22, 2008
    #4
  5. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    Jimmy Young - Jose Luis Garcia/Shavers II to Ken Norton. So 74' to late 77'
     
    Russell, Dec 22, 2008
    Russell, Dec 22, 2008
    #5
  6. Mantequilla

    Mantequilla Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Tito was better in his early Welter days(circa oba carr) than he was at junior middle.

    That tito would have battered someone like Vargas in 5 or six rounds.
     
    Mantequilla, Dec 22, 2008
    Mantequilla, Dec 22, 2008
    #6
  7. My2Sense

    My2Sense Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Lennox and Hopkins were tough to pinpoint an exact "peak".

    Lennox would look awesome in one fight, then sh*t the next. I think he looked as good as ever against Ruddok much earlier in his career, but then it seemed he took a step back in his next few fights, until hooking up with Manny Steward. I chose the period I did as his "peak", because that's when he was about as consistent as he ever was.


    I meant to do one for Holy, but forgot. But that's about what I'd make his peak anyway.
     
    My2Sense, Dec 22, 2008
    My2Sense, Dec 22, 2008
    #7
  8. My2Sense

    My2Sense Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Another one:

    Winky Wright - Keith Mullings through McKart III
     
    My2Sense, Dec 22, 2008
    My2Sense, Dec 22, 2008
    #8
  9. AlFrancis

    AlFrancis Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Donald Curry from Roger Stafford to Eduardo Rodriguez
    Lloyd Honeyghan from Silvester Mittee to Gene Hatcher
    John H Stracey from Roger Menetrey to Hedgemon Lewis
     
    AlFrancis, Dec 22, 2008
    AlFrancis, Dec 22, 2008
    #9
  10. My2Sense

    My2Sense Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Two more:

    Dick Tiger - Rocky Rivero, Ruben Carter, Giardello IV
    Alexis Arguello - early '78, Escalera I to Alcala
     
    My2Sense, Dec 22, 2008
    My2Sense, Dec 22, 2008
    #10
  11. My2Sense

    My2Sense Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Michael Nunn - vs. Tate, Roldan, Kalambay
     
    My2Sense, Dec 22, 2008
    My2Sense, Dec 22, 2008
    #11
  12. My2Sense

    My2Sense Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Good one. It always perplexed me how Honeygan seemed to lose his form so suddenly, and for no apparent reason.
     
    My2Sense, Dec 22, 2008
    My2Sense, Dec 22, 2008
    #12
  13. natonic

    natonic Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I think with Duran you have to include the Palimino and Leonard (Montreal fights). I know Dejesus III was a virtuoso performance but I recently watched that again and thought Dejesus was looking a little shopworn compared to the first 2 fights. I'd go as far as to say Leonard was a level, maybe 2 levels above the Dejesus of '78. Palomino was a vey good championship fighter and Duran moved up 2 weights and nearly shut him out.
     
    natonic, Dec 22, 2008
    natonic, Dec 22, 2008
    #13
  14. Robbi

    Robbi Marvelous Full Member

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    De La Hoya - Ruelas through to Gonzalez.

    Hopkins - Echols II and Trinidad.

    Barrera -Salud, Hamed, Sanchez.
     
    Robbi, Dec 22, 2008
    Robbi, Dec 22, 2008
    #14
  15. Addie

    Addie Myung Woo Yuh! Full Member

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    Beat me to it. :good

    Barrera was quite dazzling against Kelley, but it was such a mis-match at that time, you'd be hard pressed to put it in the same league as those three performances. Barrera was on a different planet to the rest of the Featherweights during his time there.
     
    Addie, Dec 22, 2008
    Addie, Dec 22, 2008
    #15
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