Would if Barry McGuigan had defeated Stevie Cruz in 1986,what next?

Nelson. Definitely not Chavez.

 

He was headed to fight Azumah Nelson and a big loss I am sure..

 

I can see McGuigan and Nelson co-topping a bill in March 87, in anticipation of a unification fight later that year (maybe summer in Lansdowne Road or Wembley), Nelson beats Gutierrez or Villasana; McGuigan blows it against an unknown Venezuelan, Antonio Esparragoza...

 

Yes. I remember the picture the boxing magazine of Azumah standing and Pat Cowdell on the ground. I think. It has been so many years.. Those magazines were great.

 

Often wondered this myself Richard. If hrd faced Az Nelson, then I fear Barry would have lost.
Doesn't matter where the fight had taken place, Ireland, London or Las Vegas. Nelson was at the top of his game, to sharp.
It would have been a hard slog, punishing fight, Barry giving it his best. But doomed to fail.
Nelson stops him in 15 but Barry manages to give Nelson one of his tougher fights.

 

Poor Pat didn't know what hit him!

 

And he never recovered his world class form, and indeed was pretty streaky at domestic level from then on.


Maybe the biggest victim of the curse of the British Super Featherweight title (the first 14 champions of the newly re-established title, all lost in their first defence of the title).

 

Spot on.

 

As great as Azumah was he could be hot or cold. I personally wouldnt couny McGuigan out of a first go around with Azumah

 

The cruz fight boggles the mind.It was epic...after everything barry still nearly won but for those 2 last gasp knock downs..he just didnt know how to fight going backwards....hed never needed to like in the 15th.

He beat a helluva run of foes.i think he'd beat esparragoza...barry was true world class.....what he really needed was a rest if hed beaten cruz