and what would have been the result? I'll start with what I think would have been a barnburner... Julian The Hawk Jackson v Lamar Kidfire Parks 1994 Kidfire was scheduled to face Gerald McClellan, who I think was just too large for Lamar and would get him steamrolled. But Jackson was smaller, a better fit at 154. Obviously JJ had all-time pop but not the top end boxing skill. Meanwhile Lamar had speed and skill and sufficient pop to hurt Jackson. I know that Reggie Johnson called him the best puncher he had ever faced. I don't see how this one wouldn't have been fireworks, for as long as it lasted. I am still calling Jackson the winner late after tasting the canvas and being behind. Julian had a lot of heart and was willing to walk through hell to win. Sometimes, tho, his body was unwilling to follow.
Kid fire wins a shoot out mid rounds. Would be a great fight. I would also go with Jackson Benn 90 . Would of been awesome to huge punchers head to head .
Benn v Jackson would have been an absolute belter. I like Benn by KO, after being on the floor several times!
Reggie Johnson-Julian Jackson would have been good. Why did Hopkins never get to Quincy Taylor, anyone know?
I kinda sorta wish Toney could have stayed at middleweight for a bit longer. The late 80's to mid 90's (pre Hopkins) era in middeweight is absolutely fascinating. So many great fighters fought at that time. Michael Nunn, James Toney, Roy Jones Jr, Julian Jackson, Gerard McClellan, Nigel Benn, Herol Graham etc. Just a glorious era.
Thanks, fellas. Good mentions. I looked on the front page of Classic and every single topic was on heavies. Myself, I have nothing more to say on heavyweights. Maybe after this weekend. The 1990's was just such a great era for my favorite weight class.
I only remember Johnson hitting the canvas once even though he climbed up to 175 and fought into his 40's. I would pick him to win a decision but he would be walking a tight rope.
Eubank-Julian Jackson was spoke of in April 1990 for the vacant WBC title. Nunn-Eubank was also spoke of, with Nunn referring to Eubank as ‘poison’ after his fight with Starling. McClellan-Hopkins in late 94 would be cool. Toney-Parks in 92 would be LIT.
Its very hard to think of a deeper division than middleweight. Maybe we should do a study of this era of middleweights for those of us who are interested. Perhaps by rewatching some of the key fights from this era.
A quad header Middleweight Title Card in November 1990 held at The Trump Plaza,Atlantic City. Nigel Benn v Sugar Ray Leonard for WBO title Roberto Duran v Donald Curry for WBC title. Michael Nunn v Herol Graham for IBF title Mike McCallum v Chris Eubank for WBA title Undercard ( Ten Rounds) Sumbu Kalambay v Chris Eubank Juan Roldan ( comeback) v Matthew Hilton The era that started with the SRL-Hagler fight and subsequent shake up of the division right up to 1992 was wonderful...we saw so many fights...but some others escaped us.
Michael Nunn vs Tommy Hearns would have been a good one. I'm not entirely sure if it was late 89 or early 90, but I heard that Tommy was offered the Leonard rematch or Nunn. James Toney vs Bernard Hopkins, the only fight missing from the matches between imo the three kings of the middleweight division of the 90s in Jones, Toney, and Hopkins.
