Didn't know which forum this should go in, but since it's mostly about MMs, I put it in MMs. Which MWs at their best would you favour to beat Robinson of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre? And bonus question, is that actually Robinson's best MW performance? I think it's his best filmed performance full stop, but I had debate before where someone said that Olson, Turpin II and Graziano were better performances.
Robinson would kill at 154. There's no junior middleweight in history I would take over that version of Robinson - not Hearns (too chinny), and not overrated McCallum (too slow). Ray was ideally built to be a junior middleweight, because he had a big frame for a welterweight, and not so much at middle. But to answer the question, Robinson was THAT fucking good that I'd still give him a chance with virtually any middleweight in history that night. Hagler, Monzon, and Hopkins would all struggle with his handspeed, and firepower.
I think this fight (the rematch with Rob Villemain) may have represented his peak as a MW. Villemain was a tough customer coming off official wins over LaMotta and Kid Gavilan and was reportedly robbed in an earlier fight with LaMotta.
Robinson had trouble with essentially every upper-echelon pressure fighter he fought. He drew with Basora, lost to Turpin, Fullmer, Basilio and LaMotta. He called Zivic his toughest ever fight. He seemingly won a robbery vs Georgie Abrams. Gavilan gave him massive trouble too. So that said, I immediately pick Hagler of the Obelmejias fight to beat him. I'd also actually pick Lytell to have given him a good go as well, but as we know, Robinson didn't want that one. Hopkins and Monzon would both be out boxed IMO. I think Robinson's too quick for them. I'd take Greb in a second, but I don't include him without footage. Guys like Tiger could squeeze a win out IMO.
In terms of percentages. I think Hagler vs Robinson is 70-30 for Hagler, whereas I think Monzon and Hopkins vs Robinson is like 60-40 for Robinson. Not that I think there's any major advantage or difference between them in ability, it's just styles. I'd probably pick Jones over Robinson too. Steele could beat him.
Roy is too big for Robinson, yes. You mentioned Tiger. I could see Dick pulling it out (LOL), but I'd be more inclined to go Robinson by UD.
Where's Sly you need him? He'd tell you that Nunn beats Robinson 11-1, and Golovkin and Canelo stop him.
So would I, TBH. Tiger didn't really like movers, and Robinson was one of the best. His jab is ridiculously underrated IMO. I can see Tiger winning in a series like LaMotta and Fullmer did more than I can see him outright beating the best verison of Robinson.
I actually made this thread after crushing some little muppet on ESB general who said Nunn and GGG would be locks to beat Robinson.
