Which World champion fought the most awkward contenders during their reign?

Discussion in 'British Boxing Forum' started by SportsLeader, Jan 23, 2012.


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  1. SportsLeader

    SportsLeader Chilling Full Member

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    Larry Holmes deserves a shout. The number of unorthodox (not stance, but style wise) fighters he defended his title against is impeccable.

    Ossie Ocasio, Mike Weaver, Trevor Berbick, Leon Spinks, Renaldo Snipes Michael Spinks.

    All fairly awkward fighters. Spinks (Michael) is obviously one of the more notable ones, having terrorised a great light heavyweight era with his unorthodox style. Weaver was in the same mold as Ken Norton, an awkwardness that's sort of hard to pinpoint, but fought an unconventional fight and was very hard to breakdown. Ocasio and Snipes are in the same mould; both very quick fighters who used head movement a lot, making it damn hard to stick a jab on them. Leon Spinks had a lot of herky-jerky movement himself. Berbick wasn't an unorthodox, but used his feet a lot and certainly wasn't the typical stand up Heavyweight boxer.

    I'm more knowledgable on Holmes's reign than other champs, so did any other guys fight a higher number of tricky styles than Holmes? Or did some fight much more unorthodox fighters but in lesser numbers?
     
    SportsLeader, Jan 23, 2012
    SportsLeader, Jan 23, 2012
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  2. SportsLeader

    SportsLeader Chilling Full Member

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    I've amended the title to make the question a bit more accomodating, singling out just the heavyweight division made this a bit too vague.

    Remember Holmes's guys were awkward in comparison to other heavies, those styles at lower weights were often common.
     
    SportsLeader, Jan 23, 2012
    SportsLeader, Jan 23, 2012
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  3. DrMo

    DrMo Team GB Full Member

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    I think 'Spoon was awkward for Holmes as well with his cross-arm guard.

    Wlad has had to fight some awkward looking southpaws like Byrd & Ibragimov. Plus some skittish cruisers like Haye & Chambers.
     
    DrMo, Jan 23, 2012
    DrMo, Jan 23, 2012
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  4. SportsLeader

    SportsLeader Chilling Full Member

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    Yeah, I thought about including Witherspoon, in fact he's definitely up there with Weaver in terms of awkwardness.

    Now that the thread focus is a bit different, can you think of any other examples Moseph?
     
    SportsLeader, Jan 23, 2012
    SportsLeader, Jan 23, 2012
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  5. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    Marvin Hagler.
     
    Flea Man, Jan 23, 2012
    Flea Man, Jan 23, 2012
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  6. SportsLeader

    SportsLeader Chilling Full Member

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    Care to expand for those not so familiar with his reign? :yep

    We talking Hamsho/Antuofermo?
     
    SportsLeader, Jan 23, 2012
    SportsLeader, Jan 23, 2012
    #6
  7. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    Roldan with his Argie stylist blend of offence and defence (and strength) & Mugabi, who turned boxer and mixed up his shots well. You could make a case for Leonard being awkward in their fight as well, certainly tricksy and with a strict gameplan that completely counterbalanced Marv. It had Hagler trying to be over awkward himself, before he realised he oughta be throwing more.

    Bassa had Zapata x2, McAuley x2 & Rojas among his defences.

    Ricky Hatton had Maussa, Urango, Pacqiuao, and faced Collazo as well.
     
    Flea Man, Jan 23, 2012
    Flea Man, Jan 23, 2012
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  8. BoxingAnalyst

    BoxingAnalyst Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    McCalllum fought alot of awkward fighters.
     
    BoxingAnalyst, Jan 23, 2012
    BoxingAnalyst, Jan 23, 2012
    #8
  9. atberry

    atberry Boxing Junkie banned Full Member

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    Nigel Benn: Galvano (spoiler/clincher), Eubank, Giminez (short/squat), Nardiello (spoiler/whiner), Perez (short/squat), Malinga (cagey/rangey)

    Eubank: Sherry (runner/clown), Stretch (wanker), Watson (stiff/crabbed), Malinga, Benn (duck/weave), Rocchigiani (a giant Winky Wright), Schommer (wide-stanced), Collins (messy marauder)

    They come to mind.
     
    atberry, Jan 23, 2012
    atberry, Jan 23, 2012
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  10. SportsLeader

    SportsLeader Chilling Full Member

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    :good

    What do you reckon of the awkwardness of Holmes's opponents? Do you reckon there's many fighters who fought more tricky customers :think?
     
    SportsLeader, Jan 23, 2012
    SportsLeader, Jan 23, 2012
    #10
  11. SportsLeader

    SportsLeader Chilling Full Member

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    Nice one :good
     
    SportsLeader, Jan 23, 2012
    SportsLeader, Jan 23, 2012
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  12. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    :lol:
     
    Flea Man, Jan 23, 2012
    Flea Man, Jan 23, 2012
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  13. SportsLeader

    SportsLeader Chilling Full Member

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    Anybody else got anything?
     
    SportsLeader, Jan 23, 2012
    SportsLeader, Jan 23, 2012
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  14. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    It's a good shout IMO, although Holmes had a fair few, not a great word because more often that not they were good, but 'green' fighters. The guys you mentioned are all good shouts though.

    Joe Louis is a good shout actually. Crouching and sneaky power puncher Galento. Marauding bum rushing man mountain Buddy Baer. Wild and fearless ruffian Max Baer. Herky jerky big man Carnera. Sweet counter-puncher and fleet footed Jersey Joe. He found Conn (smaller, faster, in-and-out) & Godoy (shorter, mauler) hassle as well.

    Some of those guys are a bit too smooth to be considered 'awkward', but they were certainly an awkward proposition for Louis.

    EDIT: Trying to think of more examples I strayed outside 'durin g their reign'. Apologies.
     
    Flea Man, Jan 23, 2012
    Flea Man, Jan 23, 2012
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  15. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    Wonjongkam's had some oddities, most notably Naito but also Rungvisai and a few inexperienced weirdo stylists.
     
    Flea Man, Jan 23, 2012
    Flea Man, Jan 23, 2012
    #15
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