Who's the best fighter you'd pick Saad Muhammad to beat?

Sadly I think the Qawi beatings ruined Saad before his time. He was never the same fighter after that nor even close. He was truly an amazing talent with a well rounded game consisting of both sound boxing skills, stamina and decent power. Difficult question to answer who the best opponent he’d beat could be.. I think he could have beaten guys like Virgil Hill, Darius Michaelczewski, Jeff Harding and Thomas Hearns in his light heavyweight form... Bob Foster wouldn’t be impossible but certainly a dangerous proposition.

 

Foster ices him. Saad was too hittable for a hitter like Foster. He'd come back to KO Hearns though.

 

I think he could have worn down Jose Torres.

 

Matthew Saad Muhammad would have beaten Willie Pastrano, if a fighter like Brian London kayoes him in 1958, I say Saad Muhammad does it rather easy. Saad Muhammad vs Michael Spinks is the fight I wanted to see, but if Saad Muhammad beat a boxer in John Conteh, I would say his chances were good against Michael. Bob Foster would be a very tall order to beat, as well as a Archie Moore, also in his prime. But Matthew Saad Muhammad is one of the all time greats.

 

Richard, those were cuts inflicted around Willie's eye's inflicted by Brian's head, not his fists. London never came close to decking or ko'ing Pastrano,...in fact, no one ever did with a head shot...only at the end of his career, in 1965, was Jose Torres able to turn the trick with a vicious left to the liver. Conditioning problems, and a general lack of motivation was Willies big problem...until that meeting with the great Harold Johnson in 1963, when Pastrano put it all together and fought with a harnessed fear...a healthy, motivational fear champion Johnson. In that fight Willie's legs never let him down...he was a perpetual motion marvel over 15 rounds, and won a disputed decision over Johnson,...forcing the older man to lead and come after him...a splendid strategy that worked to a tee.
I believe that version of Pastrano would have boxed Saad all night long for a decision win. Think of the superb effort Conteh put forth vs Saad, only to fade badly in the last couple of rounds, allowing Matthew to deck him a couple of times and cop the decision. Pastrano would have had a pathological fear of getting hit...and would have been like fighting a ghost. Just my opinion btw. I believe that Pastrano could have achieved far more than what he did...and the Johnson fight was an example of what could have been...close fight or no.

 

That was a very good post, and thanks for the info. I think you are right.

 

I'd like to see Bernard Hopkins and Saad, I believe Hopkins would get worn down over 15 and stopped

 

Saad bombs out Roy Jones. But I never thought too much of Roy at lh, but it'd be a big name anyway. Kovalev would be another victim. Dick Tiger is another name.

 

I think he would stop Victor Galindez, if Rossman could do it then Saad could also.

 

I like the Galindez shout a lot. I think Saad takes him. He also takes Torres of course ( who is exceptionally overrated), he also beats Tiger, who, God love him, was a savvy opportunist more than the rough-tough physical fighter he'd been at 160. Saad also beats Hopkins for similar reasons.

 

Do you think that you could pick a more unfair example than Victor's form in Rossman l? That's like using Saad's performance and form in Qawi ll as an example for a hypothetical match up.

 

Galindez at peak form would be too clever, strong and wicked a counter puncher for Saad.

 

I think you and the Cobra are 2 of the best posters period.