Two of the deeper ages for Boxing's traditional glamour division. What do you think of the following fights between some of the high-profile non-champions of each era? All bouts set down for twelve rounds... 1970 Oscar Bonavena vs. 1999 Ike Ibeabuchi 1976 Ron Lyle vs. 1996 Andrew Golota 1970 Jerry Quarry vs. 1991 Ray Mercer 1974 Kenny Norton vs. 1991 Donovan Ruddock 1977 Jimmy Young vs. 1991 Tommy Morrison
I haven't seen much of Bonavena so i won't make a pick on that one. I think the 70's contenders win every fight, although Norton-Ruddock has the possibility of the upset special.
Ibeabuchi by decision. Anything can happen in a Golota fight...gotta go with Lyle as Golota is crazy. Quarry by decision Ruddock by (vs) Dokes style KO Young by decision
Ike & Bonavena fight to a draw with neither fighter celebrating Ruiz-style afterward. Norton pounds out a workman like decision over Ruddock. Ruddock is game and provides a few tense moments, but is outboxed by Norton for the most part. Golata is too fragile and Lyle is too bad of a man for him. Golata eventually folds. Lyle by middle to late rounds TKO. Morrison does ok against Young in the early rounds, but is unable to pace himself and is gassed after 3 or 4 rounds of landing some good shots but mostly missing Young. Young quietly takes control after that and is in control down the stretch for a decision win. Quarry decisions Mercer. Mercer is never hurt and lands some heavy shots along the way, but not enough to win many rounds.
Ike-Bonavena is damned close, the type of decision that gets argued about Lyle TKo 9 Golota. Golotas slightly ahead after 6, but we know what he does, he's a nut. I have trouble picking Norton over anyone who punches as hard as Ruddock. Could go either way, Ken might walk the tightrope since Ruddock wasn't the most agressive or purposeful puncher at times, or he might not. He could get stopped at ANY time. Young at his best wins every time. Will he turn up at his best though? He lost to worse fighters than Tommy Morisson. Gimme Quarry to outwork Mercer in a close one.
I'll go this way... Bonavena D12 Ibeabuchi Lyle TKO6 Golota Quarry UD12 Mercer Norton UD12 Ruddock (Almost too close to call, though Norton's track record against punchers is better than usually stated) Young UD12 Morrison
