either an early knockout (either way, to be honest) or an ugly decision win for Zab. Most likely scenario: Viv drops Zab early (1st or 2nd round), Zab gets up and eventually knocks out Viv.
Personally, I think Zab cleans his clock in about 3 rounds. I don't think Zab's chin is as bad as his detractors like to say. He went 11 rounds with Cotto and wasn't knocked out for the count either, took a hell of alot of punishment from Floyd, was never hurt by Corley, beat Junior Witter (Harris' daddy). He gets an undeserved bad rap regarding his chin.
at 140, he was dropped a few times, early in the fight on each occasion, and once or twice against fighters who had no business even touching his chin, never mind to the point where he hits the deck. Not to mention that Viv is very familiar with Zab's style (and vice-versa for that matter, but more on that in a minute), having sparred with him for years. In fact, whenever discussions came up of the two possibly fighting, Zab's story would change. To those who knew both, Zab would claim that they're friends, and he wouldn't want to divide the gym up that way. To those less directly involved, Zab would play the Floyd card "Who's he? I never heard of him. He's just some other guy in the gym, he ain't nobody I need." On paper, yes Zab knocking out Viv is the most likely scenario. But I always have a hard time blindly co-signing to the traditional pick when in fact it was a fight that could've happened, but never did due to lack of interest on one-side. (not unlike Sanchez-Pedroza, sans the sparring partner back drop)
Damn, I didn't even notice all of your examples. For some reason I started and stopped at Cotto. Viv's a much bigger puncher than Floyd and Slop Slop. Witter was barely a pup when they fough, and since deliberately altered his style to get more leverage on his punches. If you're gonna mention going 11 with Cotto and not taking the count, as a positive, then the counter is that he got dropped at the same weight (and closer to his prime) against feather-fisted Cory Spinks. And stunned by modest-hitting Carlos Baldomir. Viv was no less of a puncher than Bergman and that version of Millett. I wouldn't argue with Zab having a better chin than Viv, but Zab's chin is certainly less than stellar, and obviously isn't above having a brain fart in any given fight.
Zab was never KO'd w/one punch by a bum like Carlos Maussa. Nuff said. Zab's chin's never been great, but his powers of recovery are better than aunt Viv's. Outside the sparring session, Harris really has NOTHING over Zab. Judah's faster, more powerful, better skilled, harder to hit, and recovers better when hurt. And the fact that Zab's dumb and weak mentally is negated by the fact that Harris is DUMBER, and WEAKER mentally.
ok, so why did the fight never happen? That's all I'm really asking. It's not uncommon for a fighter in need of a spectacular win to face his sparring partner (Whitaker-Rodriguez, Grant-Abdin, Taylor-Eduoard come to mind in recent memory). Shit, all I really argued was that Viv would fuck around and drop him early. For a guy who's been dropped at least 1/2 dozen times, I didn't think suggesting another decent pucher to do it was that ridiculous.
and i edited my earlier post, I meant to say that I don't argue with the claim that Zab had/has a better chin than Viv.
No. That parts not ridiculous. Personally I think it'd be a similar fight to Judah-Millet. Granted Harris is better than Millet, but still I think it would be a similar type fight.
