Do you think there is a difference if they fight at 130 or 126? It didn't occur to me because they were both successful at both weights. But since they were both champs at 130, then let's use that weight....although they both may have been a little better at 126. See what I mean? I'm not sure the weight class matters in this match up.
I think Lockridge may have actually been a bit better at 130, a bit stronger and more durable... Chacon was definitley a better Featherweight but its a similar matchup at either weight Chacon was definitley the harder puncher and more "dynamic" offensively in the sense that he could land from long range and thread the needle with his excellent right hand, a damaging, head-snapping shot... he had more "bounce" and more one-shot, fight-changing capability... more one-move quickness... on the other hand, his belief in that punch and his machismo often lead him to being more hittable... for every two punches he'd dodge with his hands at his sides, he'd get nailed with one good one and you could definitley hurt him Lockridge was much more workman-like, busy, two-handed, generally an accumulation hitter (the uncharacteristic Mayweather KO notwithstanding) and more durable than Chacon with a better capacity for taking a punch (the uncharacteristic LaPorte KO notwithstanding) and while he wouldnt do anything flashy defensively, he was well-schooled, he rolled with the punches... you wouldnt see him with his hands at his sides doing any showboating defensive maneuvres the way Chacon sometimes did, he was not risky in that sense I think this is a dynamite and close fight... back and forth... Lockridge attacking and working, punching to the body with Bobby answering back with the more eye-catching shots... I could see both guys hitting the deck in this fight... I like the accumulation of Lockridge to be the difference as Chacon is forced to conserve energy and try to come on in spurts while Rocky just outworks him... some eye-catching offensive outbursts from Chacon in the second half of the fight but Lockridge keeps working and wins a unanimous decision in a wonderful slugfest and I think he stops Bobby circa 14 if its a 15 rounder... but if its 12: LOCKRIDGE W12
Bobby was a better fighter than Rocky ever was, and far more durable. Lockridge was strictly an arm puncher, would have hit Bobby plenty, but Bobby marches through his shots and knocks him out in around 9 with those lunging rights that he loved to wing.
far more durable? I dont buy that for a second Part of what made Chacon so compelling was the fact that he got hurt a lot and had to come back... but against the very, very best he got stopped (Arguello and Olivares) Lockridge went the full 12 with a prime Julio Cesar Chavez... Chacon would have been ground to dust in that same matchup, he wouldnt have seen the 9th round Chacon was more talented and he hit harder, but Lockridge was definitley the stronger and more durable guy
