(imo)
I love this highlight, it's from one of my favorite boxing clinics in a big fight. While I can't help but feel bad for Fuji when I see it, I'm in awe of Locche. For those unfamiliar, I thought I'd do a little write-up on the fighters, as I understand their backgrounds from what I've seen and read of them. Feel free to mention any contradictory information or opinion, I won't get snarky about it. :poke:
ATG defensive technician and HOFer Nicolino Locche became world champion, finally, against a tough but perfect foil. Champion Takeshi "Paul" Fuji was not your typical fighter of Japanese descent, historically speaking. He fought at 140 pounds, a higher division than most of Japan's world champions. My understanding is he wasn't Japanese by nationality either, but rather American (fighting for a Japanese boxing team of some kind, mostly in Japan, and not even speaking the language, I've read). He wasn't technical but rather a straight up banger. He punched like a truck and he was all about brute force. Matter over mind, contrary to the common phrase. He had won the light welterweight title off of a fine Italian champion (Sandro Lopopolo) by railroading and obliterating him in a couple rounds (a fight that can be seen on youtube now, like the Locche fight). He was a stereotypical puncher if anything, that just wanted to get his power on you, having faith it would prevail. It usually did.
Then came the Argentinian slickster to challenge for his title (1968). Not your typical Argentinian name fighter. Locche wasn't an intense brawler that would take two to land one. He was a relaxed guy that clowned around during fights with anyone, no matter how dangerous. Yet he emphasized slipping and blocking as much as any fighter ever would. He was not at all a puncher either. It was all ring craft he won with, very few knockouts. Everything that Fuji lacked in grace and cunning, Locche exploited with his own elite levels of those attributes.
Fuji went after Locche with all the aggression that he normally relied on and it would be his downfall. His impressive physical strength never had a moment to matter. He got desperate and was almost immediately reduced to doing basically nothing but taking jabs to the eye (which got worse and worse) and left hooks to the body while swinging for the fences all night and hitting air. Even when he landed a glove on Nico, it was usually a forearm or shoulder he landed on. Fuji was broken down, piece by piece and embarrassed in front of his own Japanese crowd, barely capable of seeing a shot come his way as his eyes swelled, forced to retire in his corner giving Locche one of his few knockout victories. Locche ended up having only fourteen knockouts in 136 pro fights, a final verified record of 117-4-14. Locche was only stopped once himself, retiring in the corner with a bad cut against the future of the division, Antonio Cervantes.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy the highlight I found and if you didn't know of the fight/fighters, discovered one you're interested in.
Locche is a forgotten ring genius. Never have I watched a guy and thought "we should give the other guy something to help, a tennis racket or something"
very poor choice of a video
Pernell isn't showcasing his defensive skills as much as his offensive skills here
He is, but he's doing in the pocket(mid range), which is more impressive.
Mayweather has gotten hit way less than Pep & Whitaker & has never been knocked down or even beat, yet he isnt one of the greatest defensive boxers?
:bs2:
The same way Roy Jones was hardly hit before he ran into Tarver, also Pep had some 250 fights, somewhere along the way your going to come across a difficult style. He may well be one of the greatest defensive fighters but you can't compare till his career is truly over and if his career is over then you certainly can't compare him to Pep or Whittaker who both continually fought the best.
Wait till Floyd is 36-38 and fights the best fighters available to him and then we can compare.
That's what happen if you don't throw combo's. They are easy to anticipate. Fuji is twitching his shoulder wide before he throws so they are easy read.
Contribution of the Year here! Good read and video. I have entertainment tonight.
Thanks, man. :fest30:
No segue but semi-relevant gif for fun here, guys:
http://www.gifsoup.com/view4/1731473/boxing-defense-locche-o.gif
(imo)
I love this highlight, it's from one of my favorite boxing clinics in a big fight. While I can't help but feel bad for Fuji when I see it, I'm in awe of Locche. For those unfamiliar, I thought I'd do a little write-up on the fighters, as I understand their backgrounds from what I've seen and read of them. Feel free to mention any contradictory information or opinion, I won't get snarky about it. :poke:
ATG defensive technician and HOFer Nicolino Locche became world champion, finally, against a tough but perfect foil. Champion Takeshi "Paul" Fuji was not your typical fighter of Japanese descent, historically speaking. He fought at 140 pounds, a higher division than most of Japan's world champions. My understanding is he wasn't Japanese by nationality either, but rather American (fighting for a Japanese boxing team of some kind, mostly in Japan, and not even speaking the language, I've read). He wasn't technical but rather a straight up banger. He punched like a truck and he was all about brute force. Matter over mind, contrary to the common phrase. He had won the light welterweight title off of a fine Italian champion (Sandro Lopopolo) by railroading and obliterating him in a couple rounds (a fight that can be seen on youtube now, like the Locche fight). He was a stereotypical puncher if anything, that just wanted to get his power on you, having faith it would prevail. It usually did.
Then came the Argentinian slickster to challenge for his title (1968). Not your typical Argentinian name fighter. Locche wasn't an intense brawler that would take two to land one. He was a relaxed guy that clowned around during fights with anyone, no matter how dangerous. Yet he emphasized slipping and blocking as much as any fighter ever would. He was not at all a puncher either. It was all ring craft he won with, very few knockouts. Everything that Fuji lacked in grace and cunning, Locche exploited with his own elite levels of those attributes.
Fuji went after Locche with all the aggression that he normally relied on and it would be his downfall. His impressive physical strength never had a moment to matter. He got desperate and was almost immediately reduced to doing basically nothing but taking jabs to the eye (which got worse and worse) and left hooks to the body while swinging for the fences all night and hitting air. Even when he landed a glove on Nico, it was usually a forearm or shoulder he landed on. Fuji was broken down, piece by piece and embarrassed in front of his own Japanese crowd, barely capable of seeing a shot come his way as his eyes swelled, forced to retire in his corner giving Locche one of his few knockout victories. Locche ended up having only fourteen knockouts in 136 pro fights, a final verified record of 117-4-14. Locche was only stopped once himself, retiring in the corner with a bad cut against the future of the division, Antonio Cervantes.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy the highlight I found and if you didn't know of the fight/fighters, discovered one you're interested in.
Contribution of the Year here! Good read and video. I have entertainment tonight.
very informative and delightful thread.. not your typical ****ty thread you usually found on BS, green K sent.
:You_Rock_ Thanks, Mellow.
actually zab and castillo knocked floyd down
btw nicco was a chain smoker
I've heard that they helped him smoke between rounds. :lol1:
one thing you'll appreciate about him is he didn't try to use rough tactics to go with his brilliant defense like instigating a clinch when getting pinned in the ropes or using his elbow to stick on his opponents throat...tactics you openly see on other defensive fighters like bhop and floyd.
zab knocked floyd down but since he isnt as popular it wasn't ruled a knock down i love floyd but anyone with a brain knows his glove touched the canvas