Man, this one would be so close... a real toss up due to the styles involved..Pastrano was a boxer/purist and Conteh had so many skills to go along with his offensive output. The thing is, Pastrano would go completely defensive and box, box, box...with no interest at all in mixing it up with JC..and that would take a lot away from John's overall game as he would be put in the role of the stalker...the aggressor. It would depend on how comfortable John would be in that role. I really think that these two would split a few bouts. When in shape, both guys were great at what they did, and they would definitely put on a great show....this would be a classy night of boxing.
You'd have to favor Conteh's more consistent output, especially with that left hand, as well as his all round offence to carry the fight for him.
I'd go for John,over the distance. If he'd have kept his focus,and not had so many out of the ring distractions,he'd have have been up there with the Fosters,Spinkses,Moores etc.
He never showed any issues with it, in fact he often excelled at this type of role, albeit not typically against the slickster types. I'd go so far as to say this matchup suits him better than it did the more rigid Johnson.
I think Pastrano has the defensive edge and would be better in the chess match. I also think he fought and prevailed in tougher fights and proved more as a fighter. There is the notion of him outworking Willie in this thread. But I have to wonder, how effectively? Pastrano faced better pure boxers IMO.
Pastrano generally lost to the best guys he faced (or, if not, showed crucial limitations), and I don't think his performances against Peralta (arguably his most grueling) quite compare to Conteh's against Ahumada, personally, although they were some of the most telling for him as far as his mettle was concerned. I think Conteh was definitely the more versatile and capable fighter overall, he just never realised his full potential, as brilliant as he was for a short time. As an aside, I actually think Conteh was every bit as good, if not better defensively at his best (in the upper-body primarily) as Pastrano. Willie had more spring in his step, though.
True, but Pastrano's best straps are much better than Conteh's IMO: Maxim, Johnson, Downes. I think Willie's bag of blocking/ feints and slips tricks was a little more complete than John's.
Conteh was forced out of his comfort zone by Matt Parlov..who's awkward as hell boxing at least was effective in forcing John into the role of aggressor. Parlov however, couldn't even approach Pastrano's brand of slickness or Pastrano's whiskers. Pastrano tried like hell to avoid punishment, and at his best, he was like a phantom, but when tagged, he took a punch as well as anybody...he was never decked by a head shot.
I tend to stay away from Conteh matchups because i don't think we ever really saw any extended peak from him so it's tough to say at times how he'll do against non-contemporaries. Pastrano i need to revisit, i've seen a good bit of him, but never really all at once or with the attention he deserved.obviously a fine fighter but he nevre quite grabbed me.I've always held his poor performance against Torres and struggling as he did with Downes(who i don't rate high even at middle) against him, perhaps unfairly.Tough to get past him looking like a poor man's Serrano and offering next to no offense in that title loss though.
The Torres loss was in the 15th year of his professional career, after quite a few boxing matches against some good fighters. The Johnson fight is still my favorite.
Wille was done for when he fought Downes...it was a miracle that he save his crown with a ko like he did...ans he was truly shot when he fought Torres. I agree with the poster who mentioned the Johnson fight as his best. Remember, Pastrano inspired Ali to dance way back in the eaqrly 60's.
