Well, in 1994, the four respective champions were Benn, Eubanks, Nunn and RJJ. Contenders and challengers included Toney and Collins. How many of Froch, Bute, Ward and Kessler would you pick to beat that lot? MTF
In 1994, Nunn lost his title to journeyman Steve Little. So I don't see it being much of a stretch to think any of these fighters could beat him then. RJJ is the only one of the 1994 fighters that I would pick to win all 4 fights without question. I could see the 4 fighters from now being competitive and getting some wins against the rest.
Nunn would be the single biggest win on any of the present top 168lb-ers CV by a long, long way. And I think Nunn is grotesquely overrated, frankly. Froch wouldn't last more than four rounds against Benn (terrible style match-up) and Eubanks would decision him comfortably. Bute has fought absolutely no-one of note and until he does I refuse to accept he beats any of the four names I mentioned. Kessler is a mental midget. Ward is likely the best of the four but, again, is completely unproven save a good (if filthy) win over the aforementioned mental midget. He might stink a decision win over an over-the-hill Nunn but his chin is perhaps supect and Nunn could whack. RJJ obviously schools all four with ease. MTF
If you think Boot, Kessler, Froch and Ward are better then you are fucking out of your tree. The early-mid 1990's SMW's were killers: two of the best of them ended up perminently brain damaged in fights against each other where they beat the living shit out of one another. Take Carl Froch, who I like a lot as it happens, who thinks he is a power puncher with fast hands. He's living in la-la land. Compared to Benn, McLellan, Eubanks, RJJ etc he hits like a girl and his 'speed' is non-existent; RJJ would have used him as a heavy bag. MTF
I never said they were better, you're putting words in my mouth. My position is pretty much the same as BWJ a couple of post earlier, tough I think that Toney would probably beat all 4 also. I think most of the current crop are better than Calzaghe
He also bested P-Dub, imho. He beat Cintron twice, first by TKO, then on points, just didn't get the decision.
Well...I guess we're gonna have to agree to disagree, because I don't think quite as highly of the other fighters outside of RJJ as you do. I know you're a big fan of the likes of Benn and Eubank, so you picking them to win by a mile isn't much of a surprise. And personally I don't have a horse in this race. And like I said, Nunn lost to Steve Little in '94, who was a journeyman and a mediocre fighter. All that about "the best win, etc..." is irrelevant. That result actually happened...it's not a mythical match-up like most of your response here. And if you don't think any of the fighters from now could duplicate that result at that time...then you're just being stubborn. Nunn was a good fighter at 168, but not remotely an elite one. And I seem to remember you thinking much more of Kessler when he was discussed regarding Calzahge's win over him. Your defense of him went on for days. To me, RJJ is the only one I would choose without question in either match-up. A tournament among the rest of the best from '94 would produce some very competitive fights.
MTF sometimes gets a little out of control when discussing super middles from that time. I'm with you...I agree that outside of RJJ, there are some competitive fights to be made among the two eras.
yeah, he's got a real professional style with all of his leaps and his clinches, looks just like Mike McCallum:l3:
Why not? guy keeps his hands by his ankles, leaps in with the same shot all night, has no inside game to speak of, his defense is leaping straight back with his chin in the air... McCallum would school him, as would about 50 other guys
His style is what it is. I think it is more accurate to call it unconventional than amateur. The best ams have various styles, but I know of no good amateurs who fight like Martinez. There isn't some panicky style prevalent in the ams, either. That's just you talking out of your ass
To be fair Hut, most people felt Serge won a close fight over Tall Paul, and the Cintron fight was an outright robbery. As I discussed with Hut recently, Sergio isn't exactly an amazing fighter, but he is legit. At face value he is a 2 bob Roy impersonator, but despite that, he can fight. There's a pretty big different in ability between him and the Nonitos/Pacquiaos/Floyds of the world, but he's also better than cdogg thinks he is, it seems cdogg has just taken a particular dislike to his strange, unschooled style.
He's alright for right now, but that's it He has loads of flaws that would be exploited by a good fighter with good fundamentals... but he's never fought anybody like that, because there is no such fighter out there at the moment, save Floyd Mayweather, who is probably too small, despite his huge edge in skill... seriously who is the best technical boxer between 154 and 168? How many are there that are even as skilled as say, Reggie Johnson?
Eaxctly... it's a ridiculous tactic that has worked marginally well against a pretty ordinary group of guys
He knocked Cintron out. I don't care what the official result was, Kermit got KO'd that night and the ref blew the call.