For those who've never seen it, one of the most underrated wars of the 80s: Arroyo, like Mancini, was a Youngstown boy. Would have been an interesting fight to see in the mid 80s. Arroyo was not great, but he had good offensive skills and a big right hand. Subsequent to this fight, Arroyo would lose his title to Jimmy Paul. Paul gave him a vicious beating, and Arroyo was never the same again.
Paul royally fucked him up. That fight would have been stopped today. Then Paul got outclassed by Haugen shortly after. I reckon Arroyo would have beat Mancini in 85. Ray was faded by 85.
I don’t know... it wasn’t hard to find Arroyo ... I think Mancini might’ve still had enough to win... would be a brawl though
Supposedly Arroyo used to kick Ray's ass in sparring, which resulted in Ray avoiding him. It sure as fuck would have been a huge fight in Ohio. Admittedly though, Arroyo was a bit too stiff and straight up for the elites. His chin wasn't that great either.
That was an upset when Haugen beat Paul to me. Jimmy looked set for a long run but it just didn't work out for him. Perhaps the best of Manny's second tier champions.
Haugen was very underrated defensively. People wouldnt know that by watching the Chavez beatdown, but Greg was faded in the Chavez fight. Not that it would have changed the outcome, Chavez would take apart any version of Haugen... but the 80s Haugen would have fared a bit better in defeat.
I liked Greg he beat Chris Calvin who could knock an elephant flat before that fight so I knew he was a helluva fighter. I just thought Paul had the edge going in was happy that Haugen won.
Haugen had a good style ... not a particularly talented guy but very smart and just knew what to do in there
Haugen probably would have reigned at lightweight for a while, but then he got outboxed by some ordinary guy from Virginia.
I thought Pernell could have stopped him if he really stepped on the gas. As it was, Greg bullshitted and jabbed his way to losing every round. He knocked the holy shit out of Mancini, though. I had a bet on that one - to have him in the IBHOF is disgraceful as folks here have said. Haugen should be there in as well if their criteria is that low.
Yeah, Whitaker probably coulda gotten Haugen out if he really stepped on the gas, I agree. Instead he just chose to toy with him and beat him up. As for the Mancini fight, Ray was shot to pieces, but Haugen would ALWAYS be a tough style matchup for Ray. Although, prime-for-prime, I think the early 80s Mancini beats the late 80s Haugen... competitive but clear decision.
Alli sort of reminds me of Pryor. Arroyo I never knew was from Youngstown. He certainly was not the hometown hero that Mancini was although maybe I'm wrong. Both guys fought at 135. Who wins if they go head to head?
Actually, I would say Terence Alli was more like a smaller and less talented Harry Simon. I don't see the style similarity with Pryor. As for Arroyo-Mancini... Ray was never the same after killing Kim. That fight took something outta him both physically and emotionally. So by 84-85, I do think Arroyo could have outboxed him and maybe even busted him up. The 81-82 Mancini would stop Arroyo. Just a higher caliber fighter.
Roger Mayweather did the best job ever on Terrence giving him a boxing lesson. Alli almost won the title versus Ramirez, though. That crap of running across the ring grew thin on me after awhile as everyone knew it was coming including Roger who spun him clear across the ring when he tried that shit with him.
That and that Chris Calvin fights were probably the first times I saw the guy. Those were great days to be a fight fan watching them on ESPN.
