Tough fight to pick... If it's 15, I think Cuevas gets the nod and I expect Ike to fade late... In a 12 rounder, Quartey might have just enough rounds in the bank to win
I'd take Cuevas by KO. Ike was a sucker for left hooks, and Cuevas simply didn't give a flying fuck. He started fast and just went winging with those deadly hooks. One of them would catch Ike and he wouldn't recover.
Mind you, I don't think that highly of Quartey in a historical sense. If we're talking the 80s welters, I think he loses to Leonard, Hearns, Duran, Benitez, Cuevas, Palomino, Curry, Starling, and Brown.
Quartey's chin worries me going in against a puncher like Cuevas. I remember what Lopez was able to do whenever he actually THREW punches. Cuevas has no issue letting his punches fly. Quartey has more skills I think, and if his jab can keep Cuevas off balance for 15 rounds he wins, but it's difficult to see. I think Cuevas, down on the cards, scores a come from behind KO in about 8 rounds.
definitely a possibility I do think Ike was pretty resilient and had heart, so I was giving him the benefit of a doubt
JL Lopez - he paved the way for guys like Provo, and Jermain Taylor. Lopez is the Godfather of subpar finishers. If only he could finish off a hurt opponent as quickly as he could finish a joint, he'd have been a HOFmer.
Quartey smashes him up and tko's him in under 6. Ike was vulnerable late in fights as he faded but he was pretty sturdy for the first 8 rounds or so and he could and would hit. And cuevas, well, he kinda sucked. I don't care how legendary his era was. Boxing nostalgia takes an L in this one.
I like how this is a 15 round fight and there's no mention of Ike even possibly hurting this scrubby little fellow. Lol.
Cuevas only real skill asides from power was his footwork. He had great offensive footwork and kod his scrubby opponents just by staying in front of them and leering big punches go until they failed. But he had no jab or defense or much of a skillset, so his whole plan against Quartey would be to stand in front of him and load up shots and he's going to popped and peppered jabs and right hands and counter hooks.
