Stevie was a very good fighter, but prime Camacho was a level above him. His speed would be too much for Stevie to handle, though Johnston would have his moments. Camacho clearly. 8-4 UD.
Why was Camacho a level above him? Id say they are on the same level I do think Camacho could win this, though
I know you hate Camacho, but I think for a short period of time he was a special figher. Talent wise he was a level above Stevie. Stevie aint outboxing Hector, and he didnt have the power to deter him.
About how I see it, & I agree Camacho was better. Johnston would make him work. Camacho was a very capable 130 & 135lber, but resentment against him is both widespread & powerful.
It has nothing to do with resentment... why would I resent him? he's a loser and always has been... how does one resent a failure? it has to do with the fact that he was ONE EXCELLENT WIN on his whole resume and NO OTHERS he was NOT special, he was FAST and he was fighting SLOW, OLD guys
Davis might have been old when Camacho fought him, but he still was very fast. Hector made him look slow. What speedy fighter did Johnston ever fight?
Just speaking in generalities, but I should've clarified that, to be fair. A lot of people do, in fact, resent him, but I thought he was pretty impressive in the lower weights, & could've handled better adversaries than he actually did. Not many troubled him, for a start. People fawn all over Mosley at Lightweight, & I think that's just fine, but his reputation as a likeable guy with a fighters' spirit is the only noteworthy distinction between him & the 135lb. Camacho, in terms of how good they were.
All I know is that Camacho woulda never lost to Cesar fuckin Bazan. And Stevie gets KTFO by a prime Rosario. No ifs, ands, or buts.
Camacho probably would have, too, if he hadnt run like a girl after Rosario hit him a few times as for the Mosley comparison, as Ive said... Mosley proved that he was a FIGHTER later on in his career, Hector NEVER did that
The point, though, is that I don't think Mosley ever proved himself a dramatically better LW than Camacho was, but has a more favoured rep because he's more fan-friendly (even though Mosley has never been a draw, he's always had peoples' respect --- at least until BALCO). Whether you, "fought" or not, Camacho was as effective at what he did to win as a Mosley. He'd beat Johnston.
Mosley wasnt really tested at that weight, but he was tested later on and showed he had a great fighters tenacity and determination... simply because he didnt have to do that during his run at 135 doesnt mean that he somehow COULDN'T or that it somehow allows Camacho to be seen as his equal in the cojones department Camacho had a character flaw that his early opponents were too circumspect to exploit Mosley had a character STRENGTH that his early opponents were too circumspect to exploit COLOSSAL difference
I never said Camacho had Mosley's cajones. I said he was as good a Lightweight as Mosley was, & just as difficult to beat. There have been literally boatloads of fighters lacking heart who made themselves World-class fighters. Camacho is not a true rarity. All fighters have short-comings, anyway --- why is Camacho to be singled out for extra contempt? He's supposed to trade at his own expense or face condemnation? It's Boxing, not a Roman Gladiatorial contest.
if we are rating Camacho and Mosley against one another, we must include EVERYTHING that makes up their strengths and weaknesses... the idea that Camacho is just as good at lightweight as Mosley was because he never had to show any guts is a fallacy Camacho didnt just suddenly become chickenshit at 140... it was always in him Mosley didnt just suddenly become brave at 147... it was always in him Using your logic, Camacho versus Duran at 135 is a great fight because we cant cite Camacho as a pussy OFFICIALLY Bullshit, we all know what would happen as soon as Duran started landing... Camacho would RUN
...& Mosley would be knocked out. How do you know Camacho was, "always a pussy?" Where's the evidence for that? There are plenty of guys who made permanent changes to their game after being hurt or knocked out in the ring. Who is to say Camacho wasn't changed by what happened?
name the "plenty of guys" whom you would regard as great fighters or at the very least, near-great, who became complete pussies only after getting punched hard for the first time after you've named them, name the ones who at any point showed that they had tremendous bravery at some earlier point prior to becoming sissies
That doesn't amount to proof Camacho was, "always a coward," & I don't think it precludes him from being the excellent fighter I think he was around Lightweight.
so, he had all of this intestinal fortitude and then suddenly it just disappeared right before he defended his title against Edwin Rosario? he was a man of integrity and courage and then just magically he finally lost his nerve in that fight? but it was there for all of his fights before that?
I didn't say he was Superman, but there really isn't much to suggest in his prior fights he was this shameless, unethical coward waiting to be exposed. He got hit with a shot, & adjusted to enhance his chances of victory. I don't see why he is being demonised for it, really. Don't all excellent fighters make adjustments to enhance their chances of victory? Aren't we in the habit, or supposed to be in the habit, of admiring such qualities, or at least respecting them in understanding? Camacho, to me, stands as a tough ask for a lot of very fine 130 & 130lbers. I think criticising him for using movement about the ring is like downgrading Tyson for hitting too hard. Every fighter is entitled to use what they can to their advantages. Camacho's style worked for him, & helped to win him many fights. That's a terrible thing?
Ramonza, there is using movement and there is running and fighting negatively... Camacho did the latter in his early career, before he fought the first guy who really hit him (Rosario) when did he ever get his mettle tested even slightly? Heart is a key ingredient to being a great fighter... if you dont have it, you arent great Think about it... what great 130 pounder would you pick Camacho to beat? knowing everything you know about the guy, everything he showed ad infinitum in his career when faced with someone who could land on him...
