Whitaker v Armstrong 147 lbs

Why would he need the strength to keep him off when he has the speed and footwork to do so against an Armstrong who lacks the footspeed or explosiveness to compensate?

He lacked the strength to keep bigger, stronger fighters (or at least similar stylists) than Armstrong such as Vasquez, Chavez, Nelson, etc. off him as well, that didn't stop him from giving them all boxing lessons.

 

suppose he could out box him but i just see armstrong just walking through his shots and outworking him

 

That's what everyone says every time a pure boxer is matched up with a pressure fighter.

"He'd just walk through his shots!"

"He doesn't have the power to keep him off!"

When will people realize there's a whole lot more to boxing than power?

 

i see where your coming from but i think in this instanse it happens

 

Vasquez, Nelson and Chavez fight nothing like Armstrong. I think Whitaker wins the early rounds with his defensive mastery and overall quickness, but Armstrong keeps coming forward and wears Whitaker down to get a close decision.

 

Whitaker's jab was his best weapon but his GREAT BODYPUNCHING ABILITY and angles can trouble Armstrong in this matchup.

Pick'em

 

They don't fight exactly like him, but all 3 were pressure fighters against Whitaker, one of them far bigger and stronger than Armstrong, the other two at least the same size and more pure pressure stylists than Vasquez. Nelson hardly took a back-step all night against Whitaker, fighting at a relentless pace down the stretch but never able to maintain any kind of success. Chavez was only made to slow down and back up when Whitaker began putting the hurt on him.

Pressure fighters in general don't match up well with Whitaker (not many do to be frank), and Armstrong's style, which wasn't suited to cutting off the ring so much as tracking, wouldn't have fared much better IMO.

If a well past prime Barney Ross was able to outbox Armstrong inside and out throughout the early portion of their bout prior to fading down the stretch I'm pretty comfortable in my pick of a prime Whitaker to win a comfortable decision, considering he was not only better off the backfoot than Ross, but with an even better jab as well.

 

I dunno Pryorgatti, i can certainly see the argument for Pea winning, but i doubt his bodyshots would slow or bother Armstrong in the slightest.They would just be scoring points.

I doubt even someone with McCallum-esque power to the body could bother Armstrong too much.It would likely need to be an Arguello or similarly big punching fighter.

 

Have you ever seen him fight? That was one of the best parts of his game, his ability to fight off the backfoot and keep himself out of danger for any extended period of time. That's why you never, ever saw him fighting off the ropes like you did someone like Mayweather. He did it all night long an a constantly advancing, power punching Nelson in a near white-wash boxing lesson.

Over 15 rounds Armstrong more than likely would get stronger down the stretch, but I think Whitaker would be strong enough throughout the first 12 to win a large enough amount of rounds to hold on to a decision, provided this bout is over 15 rounds in the first place.

You people act as if either Armstrong had extremely fast feet or Whitaker had cement in his shoes.

 

Whitaker's legs would be a better asset to him than Pep's would the way I see it. I don't feel like being redundant so I'll just direct you to the other thread involving Armstrong where I explain my thoughts on that matter.

 

Ross was still a 2 to 1 favorite in that fight and was beaten soundly in that fight. It was also rumored that Hank carried Ross to the finish rather than just knock him out. All I saw in the early rounds was Ross fighting off the back foot and pawing his left out without any real conviction. He would land the right a little but Armstrong was landing the cleaner shots and moving Ross back.

Hank didn't have anyrespect for Ross' power and would do the same against Whitaker since he didn't have power either. Not to mention Armstrong had a pretty sturdy chin and would not be bothered by Whitaker.

Again, if this was over 15 rounds, Pernell would take the first five or sicx rounds. Then you would see Armstrong start come in and take some of the middle rounds with Pernell winning here and there. Once it gets into deep waters it's all Armstrong to win a close decision.

 

Whitaker doesn't need power to keep him off. He's got everything else to keep him off. Speed, movement, and the ability to land punches while he's moving at the same time aka doing it simultaneously. Thats laterally or on the backfoot.

People need to realise that fighters like Duran and Armstrong aren't going to simply gamble and chase Whitaker all over the ring once they feel he lacks power. If they do that, then they are going to be getting outscored IMO. And they would also become careless if that was the case. Many fighters like Duran would be extremely concerned if they were getting outscored by Whitaker, power on his punches or not.