who was the most talented/skilled black fighter to come out of england

"18 years...18 years....She got one of you're kids, got you for 18 years"

 

Not to disparage any fighters for where they come from. these guys were all fine pugilist, particularly Nigel & Lennox. But the sweet science and Black American fighters are a much different breed of style and athlete!

 

I'm back just in time for the fun.

 

Bomber Graham's attack was all amateurish arm-punching from awkward angles

Sure he had abit of talent - he had speed and reflexes, was a southpaw who could fight in different stances, and could be very physical

But to me he was more tricky and awkward than talented and artistic

 

And Julian Jackson had a bit of a punch

Ray Leonard had a bit of ego

Smokin' Joe had a bit of a left hook

George Chuvalo had a bit of a chin

and Mike Tyson... well he had a bit of an ear.

 

You said it yourself to placate the British crowd, in America he would of said Sugar Ray Leonard, Buchanan was his first big Title, without doubt he would remember that, Buchanan was a great fighter, but not the most skillfull or talented, maybe the translator was rubbish.

 

he's allways on about colour/race.

 

come back in 15 years time.......

we might be saying james de gale.

 

Duran past his best ? Maybe not that much ? After he lost to Kiirkland Laing in 1982 he beat Davey moore in 1983 a much bigger guy to win the world title at a heavier weight, afterterwards he went the distance with an even bigger guy a monster called Marvin Hagler in 1983 and then beat another world Champion Iran Barclay ( twice conquerer of Tommy Hearns )
in 1989, looks like you don't know as much as you think. Laing's losses were usually down lack of training, he was renowned for partying all night before fights, there has been stories of him turning up on the day of the fight straight from nights out. The question was who is the most Talented/skilled not who is the most dedicated, if Laing had been as dedicated he would have been a world champion for sure.

 

Where's Lloyd Honeyghan? Or was he too offensive minded (Curry and post-Curry anyway)

 

Duran was never the same fighter post New Orleans, he peaked from the 77/78 until the first Leonard fight.

What he did against Cuevas, Moore, to a point, Hagler, Barkley and again to a point against Pazienza and Camacho (first fights), are what turned a brilliant fighter into a great.

Despite being as much as 12 years past his pomp, he could still produce a memorizing performance that totally baffles his critics and thrills his fans.

The resume of the 70s was strong; the redemption from Montreal and to a lesser extent, the Laing fight, is the intangible that breaks the glass ceiling and can elevate Duran to the absolute top of the entire history of the game.

Laing is an after thought in the Duran story.

I liked Kirkland, but he lacked that something. He was schooled by the limited Nina LaRocca; he never learnt from his mistakes (Jones/Oliva/Smith), he had ability, he had a talent, but it was not exceptional, it was flaky, he was thus an engima.

 

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WIKHfYCZZJg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Kirkland Laing Pro Highlights

 

<iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oY_1iNtpb1E" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> http://youtu.be/oY_1iNtpb1E

Short films of the "Gifted One" Kirkland Laing (worth watching)

 

Lennox Lewis is the clear no. 1 here, followed by Conteh.