Does Cuevas have too many flaws for Curry to exploit, or is Curry simply not mentally and/or physically tough enough to withstand Cuevas' firepower?
Ten years ago if you asked this, I would have said Curry without hesitation. But nowadays, my opinion on Curry's worth has declined, while my opinion on Cuevas has risen. I would make Curry only a very slight favorite. He was NOT Hearns by any means, so Cuevas has a really good chance in this matchup of blasting him out.
The simple truth is that I don't trust Curry in a fight where his durability and resilience could be seriously tested. He surrendered his title on his stool in the first defense where he was truly tested, and was one-shot KO'd in his next big fight.
He did, and it's a very good point to make. Curry didn't have the intangibles (heart, and mental toughness) of a Robinson/Leonard/Hearns. I could see Cuevas either knocking him cold, or pushing to a point where Curry mentally wilts and quits. On the flipside, I could see Curry, with his fantastic skill and accuracy, walking Cuevas into a lot of shots and stopping him. Tough call, but I have no issue with you favoring Cuevas.
Even though the four have very little in common i can't help but think of Marquez-Austin as a comparison. The supposed more "polished boxer" type against the "crude banger". Not really an accurate description of each, and it's a different class but i can envision a similar outcome. I don't know that Curry can put it on enough to get an early stoppage, or is defensively adept enough to avoid or recover from a bomb. It's one of those fights where the "puncher's chance" factor is not so slim.
Tim Austin in general is a name you don't hear much of anymore. Doub probably brings him up the most.
Austin was a bit like Frank Liles IMO - a good, solid technical boxer who held a title for a number of years, but flew under the radar without ever really emerging as a star, and then just faded away after losing the title.
I can never think of Austin-Marquez without immediately thinking of Aaron Snowell repeatedly yelling "It won't be long now" at Marquez's corner just before the start of the 8th round. In his defense, he was correct.
