Fights that would have had a different outcome if both fighters were in their prime.
I’ll go Hagler v Leonard and Tyson v Hollyfield.
Who you got?
Re: Boxing
Posted: 20 Oct 2025, 16:22
by Nutsin
Fights you’ve seen live.
I saw Nigel Benn win at the Royal Albert Hall in a commonwealth title fight.
I saw Lennox Lewis fight Klitschko at the Staples center in L A. Watching the fight live looked a lot different than when I watched it on HBO later that week. Watching Live it never looked close, Lewis was dominant and we were pretty close to the ring.
A title fight at Caesar's palace is on my bucket list.
I Can tell you this Lennox Lewis didn’t do Coke.
Re: Boxing
Posted: 20 Oct 2025, 12:47
by Council Scum
zico wrote: ↑20 Oct 2025, 12:23
The ridiculous thing is Nigel freely admits that he burned the candle at both ends massively. Can't imagine what he would have been like if he had been fully committed to the craft.
You'll find most fighters did back then, most of the 80's top fighters were on coke.
Re: Boxing
Posted: 20 Oct 2025, 12:23
by zico
The ridiculous thing is Nigel freely admits that he burned the candle at both ends massively. Can't imagine what he would have been like if he had been fully committed to the craft.
Re: Boxing
Posted: 20 Oct 2025, 11:59
by MaryMillingtonsGhost
zico wrote: ↑20 Oct 2025, 11:36
I remember when Benn went to the US to fight Iran Barkley. This was a guy who had beaten Hearns and lost on a split decision to Roberto Durán and took on an undefeated Michael Nunn dropping a close majority decision. Benn beat him on the three knockdown rule in the first round, although to be fair he could have been knocked out himself. One of the most brutal first rounds I have seen where any form of defensive boxing went out of the window.
Re: Boxing
Posted: 20 Oct 2025, 11:43
by Council Scum
zico wrote: ↑20 Oct 2025, 11:36
Benn was an entertainer, probably the most exciting fighter I've seen, up there with Hatton for pure up and at 'em. You were never disappointed bar his last few fights when he had gone. The McClellan fight did for Benn what the Watson fight did for Eubank. Eubank said Benn was by far the hardest puncher he had faced. I remember when Benn went to the US to fight Iran Barkley. This was a guy who had beaten Hearns and lost on a split decision to Roberto Durán and took on an undefeated Michael Nunn dropping a close majority decision. Benn beat him on the three knockdown rule in the first round, although to be fair he could have been knocked out himself. One of the most brutal first rounds I have seen where any form of defensive boxing went out of the window. I think Eubank paced himself and had the better chin although I would argue Benn should have got the decsion in their second fight.
The story behind the draw, whoever won, was contractually agreed to sign with Don King, the draw meant neither had to sign and could walk away free agents... Don wasn't happy it ended a draw as the contract didn't factor that in.
Re: Boxing
Posted: 20 Oct 2025, 11:36
by zico
Benn was an entertainer, probably the most exciting fighter I've seen, up there with Hatton for pure up and at 'em. You were never disappointed bar his last few fights when he had gone. The McClellan fight did for Benn what the Watson fight did for Eubank. Eubank said Benn was by far the hardest puncher he had faced. I remember when Benn went to the US to fight Iran Barkley. This was a guy who had beaten Hearns and lost on a split decision to Roberto Durán and took on an undefeated Michael Nunn dropping a close majority decision. Benn beat him on the three knockdown rule in the first round, although to be fair he could have been knocked out himself. One of the most brutal first rounds I have seen where any form of defensive boxing went out of the window. I think Eubank paced himself and had the better chin although I would argue Benn should have got the decsion in their second fight.
SurfaceAgentX2Zero wrote: ↑20 Oct 2025, 09:54
Honeyghan beat Don Curry, IIRC the best pound for pound boxer in the world at the time. For that, he must get in any top 10, even though he quickly sank without trace. Excellent as he was, I don't think you can put Michael Watson in the Top 10 - he was very much the third man in a UK trinity.
My left-fielder would be Dennis Andries.
See my list mate...
Ahhh. Fair dos. I think I might have Froch in there instead of Khan, if only for the two Kessler fights. And it's difficult to separate Eubank and Benn.
As much as I loved Benn back then, for me Eubank was better.
Khan won titles at 3 weights and competed at 4, people take the piss like he was shit, because he got KO'd a few times (So did Lewis) and call him chinny (check the Maidana fight, he had a chin) but talent wise, he was one of the best.
SurfaceAgentX2Zero wrote: ↑20 Oct 2025, 09:54
Honeyghan beat Don Curry, IIRC the best pound for pound boxer in the world at the time. For that, he must get in any top 10, even though he quickly sank without trace. Excellent as he was, I don't think you can put Michael Watson in the Top 10 - he was very much the third man in a UK trinity.
My left-fielder would be Dennis Andries.
See my list mate...
Ahhh. Fair dos. I think I might have Froch in there instead of Khan, if only for the two Kessler fights. And it's difficult to separate Eubank and Benn.
SurfaceAgentX2Zero wrote: ↑20 Oct 2025, 09:54
Honeyghan beat Don Curry, IIRC the best pound for pound boxer in the world at the time. For that, he must get in any top 10, even though he quickly sank without trace. Excellent as he was, I don't think you can put Michael Watson in the Top 10 - he was very much the third man in a UK trinity.
My left-fielder would be Dennis Andries.
See my list mate...
Ahhh. Fair dos. I think I might have Froch in there instead of Khan, if only for the two Kessler fights. And it's difficult to separate Eubank and Benn.
Re: Boxing
Posted: 20 Oct 2025, 09:58
by Council Scum
SurfaceAgentX2Zero wrote: ↑20 Oct 2025, 09:54
Honeyghan beat Don Curry, IIRC the best pound for pound boxer in the world at the time. For that, he must get in any top 10, even though he quickly sank without trace. Excellent as he was, I don't think you can put Michael Watson in the Top 10 - he was very much the third man in a UK trinity.
My left-fielder would be Dennis Andries.
See my list mate...
Re: Boxing
Posted: 20 Oct 2025, 09:54
by SurfaceAgentX2Zero
Honeyghan beat Don Curry, IIRC the best pound for pound boxer in the world at the time. For that, he must get in any top 10, even though he quickly sank without trace. Excellent as he was, I don't think you can put Michael Watson in the Top 10 - he was very much the third man in a UK trinity.
My left-fielder would be Dennis Andries.
Re: Boxing
Posted: 20 Oct 2025, 09:38
by Council Scum
Massive Attack" wrote: ↑20 Oct 2025, 09:36
Kell Brook deserves a special mention, especially after coming back competing after being stabbed up.
Bandit.
Re: Boxing
Posted: 20 Oct 2025, 09:36
by Massive Attack
Kell Brook deserves a special mention, especially after coming back competing after being stabbed up.
Re: Boxing
Posted: 20 Oct 2025, 09:23
by Council Scum
Nutsin wrote: ↑17 Oct 2025, 20:46
The British top 10 of fighters for the last 50 years.
1) Calzaghie
2) Lewis
3) Naseem
4) Watson...Controversial I know, but he boxed Eubanks head off the night Eubank caught him with a desperation haymaker. He Also beat Benn
5) Eubank....Chin of Granite
6) Benn
7) Hatton
8) Minter
9) McGuigan
10) Fury
What's yours?
Lewis
Calzaghe
Naseem
Honeyghan
McKenzie
Andries
Fury
Conteh
Khan
Eubank
Re: Boxing
Posted: 19 Oct 2025, 09:28
by southbankbornnbred
There's enough action in there for about six fights!
Wild is the word.
Re: Boxing
Posted: 19 Oct 2025, 09:20
by Iron Duke
How did he come back from that?
Re: Boxing
Posted: 19 Oct 2025, 06:28
by Massive Attack
What a wild 1st round this was last night..
Re: Boxing
Posted: 18 Oct 2025, 22:37
by Briano
Dave boy Green v Sugar Ray Leonard..fxck me what a mid match
, wrote: ↑18 Oct 2025, 10:53
I well remember the unfancied John H Stracey going to Mexico City and, much to everyone’s surprise, putting one over Jose Napolese to win his world title.
I was at school with son of one of Terry Lawless trainers, Frank Black, about a week after Stracey won that title he brought Stracey over the Leys Lido in Dagenham. Well documented Stracey couldn’t believe the mob over there that were astounded to see a real world champion
I remember Stracey fighting Dave Boy Green. Some black eye!
Re: Boxing
Posted: 18 Oct 2025, 20:02
by Briano
, wrote: ↑18 Oct 2025, 10:53
I well remember the unfancied John H Stracey going to Mexico City and, much to everyone’s surprise, putting one over Jose Napolese to win his world title.
I was at school with son of one of Terry Lawless trainers, Frank Black, about a week after Stracey won that title he brought Stracey over the Leys Lido in Dagenham. Well documented Stracey couldn’t believe the mob over there that were astounded to see a real world champion
Re: Boxing
Posted: 18 Oct 2025, 18:54
by Massive Attack
I loved it when he took on that freak of nature and beat Valuev. Wobbled him as well. Seriously impressive shit coming up against that 7ft lump.
Re: Boxing
Posted: 18 Oct 2025, 18:52
by Takashi Miike
zico, I think froch would have had to have knocked him out and joe's chin was very good. much like the trouble carl had with ward
for me, duke mckenzie would be one of the first on a british all time top ten
Re: Boxing
Posted: 18 Oct 2025, 18:43
by Eerie Decent
Think David Haye gets in the top 10, for me.
Undisputed, Ring Magazine Champion at Cruiser, HW Champion, might not have massive names on his record, and obviously had the Thompson loss (also ignoring the Bellew nonsense, he was finished) but I don't think there's been a Brit with his sheer KO power, at respective weights.
Re: Boxing
Posted: 18 Oct 2025, 18:32
by Massive Attack
zico wrote: ↑18 Oct 2025, 18:23
I think even Nigel Benn said Watson was the better of the three. A real tragedy.
Agreed
Re: Boxing
Posted: 18 Oct 2025, 18:23
by zico
I think even Nigel Benn said Watson was the better of the three. A real tragedy. Would be interested to hear others thoughts on whether Carl Froch would have beaten Calzaghe? They always keep sniping at each other and we will obviously never know. Would have been a great fight though.
