Forgotten fight. Truly one of the all time great light heavyweight wars. Neither guy was a great, but they sure produced a great fight.
"I wonder if Jeff Harding has broken his nose". Guess what, Jeff Harding't didn't wonder if he had broken his nose. He KNEW his nose was broken and he knew HE didn't break it
When Dennis Andries first won the WBC title he traveled through the London Underground the following day and was barely recognized.
Don't know how I'd describe Hardings style. It's not European, way too many body punches, but it's not quite Mexican. Sort of old-school pressure-boxer who stood up tall at the same time.
BUT very tall and a bit hittable. Just a unique and rare style closest I can come to it would be Clinton Woods who was obviously much more boxer than puncher. Or Carl Thompson who didn't quite put the clusters of bodyshots together like Harding. Ask people about their favourite trilogies I guarantee nobody remembers Harding vs Andries. As I say Andries took a trip on the London Underground with his WBC belt in 1986 and nobody knew who he was.
I never thought of the Clinton Woods comparison, but yeah I can somewhat see it. Only like you said, Woods was more of a boxer. Harding-Woods would have been a good scrap, but I'd expect Harding to be too strong for Woods.
Right or wrong, I regard Jones Jr as the hallmark for all 175 talent between Spinks moving up and Tarver beating Jones in 2004. I've literally never looked at a 175lb fighter in that era without immediately concluding that he's "the 2nd best or 5th best......etc....AFTER Jones..." I immediately look at a guy and conclude he'd lose to Jones and try to decide how the fight would go. I dont do it with any other division. Dont know why either.
