BIG DEE HERE = Bill Brennan would walk right thru every thing Pastrano would throw at him as Willie Pastrano couldn`t break at egg with his best punch. Pastrano wasn`t any Harry Greb as he wasn`t a really fast guy like Greb or rough like him either. KO in 8rds as Bill Brennan carried to much firepower for the Lt Heavyweight to take. BRIAN LONDON KOed PASTRANO, ROY HARRIS BEAT HIM ON POINTS, ALONZO JOHNSON UDed HIM, JOE ERSKINE OUTPOINTED HIM. GREGORIO PERALTA BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF HIM THEN WHEN HE FOUGHT HIM FOR THE TITLE PASTRANO HEELED HIM OVER THE RIGHT EYE CAUSING A HORRIBLE CUT STOPPING HIM IN THE 6TH RD. NONE OF THOSE GUYS WERE IN BILL BRENNANS CLASS AS A FIGHTER . ESPECIALLY BRIAN LONDON WHO WAS AS INEPT A FIGHTER AS I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFETIME.
"ESPECIALLY BRIAN LONDON WHO WAS AS INEPT A FIGHTER AS I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFETIME". per BIG DEE Pretty good way to sum up Brian London's skills (no offense to the Brits).
The Pastrano that squeaked by Harold Johnson would have outpointed Brennan. That would be the version of Willie that we're talking about, right? Not the out of shape version that London was able to tko (cuts).
To be fair to Bill, not many could swear by his true ability as a fighter. He wasn't half bad. He dropped many a decision to several cuties, but guys he could box with would find a tough, competent and powerful foe. As much as Dempsey's title defence against Brennan counts against the Mauler, it says a lot about how Brennan could get stuck in. Pastrano would have to look at not getting involved because Brennan could chew you up when he got you on his terms.
The one thing that Brennan could do is crack. While Pastrano outpointing Bennan is clearly one possibility there is an issue of his ability to take Brennans punches. Miske, Gibbons and Greb all had outstanding chins, perhpas among the best for their weight.
Brennan not only didn't knock any of these guys out, or, for that matter, any other top fighter. List the best man Brennan actually stopped. Because he was able to edge Levinsky, Brennan probably could edge Pastrano on his night. More likely he joins the whole slew of heavyweights that Pastrano managed to defeat. We have seen the list Pastrano lost to, but Brennan lost his share also. Pastrano, though, defeated Rex Layne, Pat McMurtry, Charlie Norkus, John Holman, Dick Richardson, Willi Besmanoff, Brian London, Joe Bygraves, Franco Cavicchi, Alonzo Johnson, and Tom McNeeley, as well as Joey Maxim. He also beat Harold Johnson, Gregorio Peralta, and drew with Archie Moore. Brennan can not match these victories in depth or in quality.
Brennan established himself as a contender by knocking out men forgotten today. The names, Al Benadict, Boer Rodel, George Davis, Tony Ross, Soldier Kearns, Bob Devere and Tom McMahon mean little today but at the time these were noteworthy wins. The kind of fighters where a heavyweight today might beat half that number of them and get a shot at the title. Now dont get me wrong he was no Billy Miske or tommy Gibbons but the guy was destroying the B teir of his day brutaly.
BIG DEE HERE= Don`t being up the Peralta championship fight as Pastrano was a dirty ******* when he needed to be and he was in the Peralta championship fight as he heeled him to open a horrible cut over his right eye. The Rex Layne fight everybody was kicking Layne`s ass by that time as he never was the same after Marciano sheared his front teeth off and KOed him brutally. BILL BRENNAN WAS A LOT BETTER THEN YOU GIVE CREDIT TO AS HE FOUGHT THE BEST OF HIS TIME AND PASTRANO WASN`T A WELL THOUGHT OF LT. HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION WHEN HE HELD THE TITLE. HE BETTER BE GLAD HE LOST THE TITLE TO WHO HE LOST IT TO AS HE DUCKED BOB FOSTER TO FIGHT WHO HE LOST IT TO. FOSTER WOULD HAVE BEAT PASTRANO TO DEATH.
