I read Virgil Hill is now leading in votes so far on this year's HOF ballots.
Is it fair that Virgil Hill gets in and not Dariusz Michalczewski, who defeated him and went 48-0, winning titles in two divisions and all the belts at 175 (although he was unfairly stripped of them)?
What do you think?
http://www.boxing.com/dariusz_michal..._the_hall.html
Is it fair that Virgil Hill gets in and not Dariusz Michalczewski, who defeated him and went 48-0, winning titles in two divisions and all the belts at 175 (although he was unfairly stripped of them)?
What do you think?
http://www.boxing.com/dariusz_michal..._the_hall.html
With a final slate of 48 -2 with 38 KOs, “The Tiger” accomplished much in his career, but will it be enough to get him into the Hall this year? Let’s review his body of work.
Amateur Record
Dariusz Michalczewski first took to the ring at age 12. He came up through Poland’s Government-run sports program and had a very successful career before turning professional in 1991. His record was 133-15-2 with 83 KOs. Among his many amateur honors, he won the:
1986 European Junior Championships: Middleweight (3rd Place)
1989 European Championships: Light Heavyweight (2nd Place)
1990 German Championships: Light Heavyweight (1st Place)
1991 European Championships: Light Heavyweight (1st Place)
Professional Career
In the professional ranks, he soon demonstrated that he possessed the tools and skills to go all the way. His power was matched by a strong chin. Always in top shape, he had great stamina and maintained superb fight-plan discipline and focus throughout his bouts. While he could have been a tad faster, he was a complete fighter with an overall skill level at the top tier.
In 1992, he beat tough Sean Mannion, 39-12-1, in Hamburg by third round TKO. This was an extremely impressive feat for someone in only his fifth fight and a harbinger of things to come. The tough Mannion had gone 15 with Mike McCallum and had beaten some top level people like Rocky Fratto, In Chul Baek and Fred “The Pumper” Hutchings.
The following year he beat Ali Saidi for the German International Light Heavyweight Title, the first of many belts he would garner. Just three months later, he stopped Noel Magee, 23-4-2 coming in, in the eighth round. This was for the Vacant IBF Inter-Continental Light Heavyweight Title. Later that same year, he won his third belt, the IBF Inter-Continental Light Heavyweight Title, with a 10th round KO of Mwehu Beya, 27-4-4 at the time. 1993 had been a good year for The Tiger.
These victories positioned him for a 1994 fight with rugged Leeonzer Barber, 19-1 (and out of Detroit). This fight would be for the WBO Light Heavyweight Title. Dariusz seized the opportunity and won the crown with a convincing UD. Finally, he was a world champion and he had earned it the hard way.
Three months later, he won the WBO Cruiserweight Title by defeating Nestor Hipolito Giovannini (36-7-3 at the time) by a decisive 10th round knockout. He quickly gave up that title so he could continue to campaign as a light heavyweight.
Amateur Record
Dariusz Michalczewski first took to the ring at age 12. He came up through Poland’s Government-run sports program and had a very successful career before turning professional in 1991. His record was 133-15-2 with 83 KOs. Among his many amateur honors, he won the:
1986 European Junior Championships: Middleweight (3rd Place)
1989 European Championships: Light Heavyweight (2nd Place)
1990 German Championships: Light Heavyweight (1st Place)
1991 European Championships: Light Heavyweight (1st Place)
Professional Career
In the professional ranks, he soon demonstrated that he possessed the tools and skills to go all the way. His power was matched by a strong chin. Always in top shape, he had great stamina and maintained superb fight-plan discipline and focus throughout his bouts. While he could have been a tad faster, he was a complete fighter with an overall skill level at the top tier.
In 1992, he beat tough Sean Mannion, 39-12-1, in Hamburg by third round TKO. This was an extremely impressive feat for someone in only his fifth fight and a harbinger of things to come. The tough Mannion had gone 15 with Mike McCallum and had beaten some top level people like Rocky Fratto, In Chul Baek and Fred “The Pumper” Hutchings.
The following year he beat Ali Saidi for the German International Light Heavyweight Title, the first of many belts he would garner. Just three months later, he stopped Noel Magee, 23-4-2 coming in, in the eighth round. This was for the Vacant IBF Inter-Continental Light Heavyweight Title. Later that same year, he won his third belt, the IBF Inter-Continental Light Heavyweight Title, with a 10th round KO of Mwehu Beya, 27-4-4 at the time. 1993 had been a good year for The Tiger.
These victories positioned him for a 1994 fight with rugged Leeonzer Barber, 19-1 (and out of Detroit). This fight would be for the WBO Light Heavyweight Title. Dariusz seized the opportunity and won the crown with a convincing UD. Finally, he was a world champion and he had earned it the hard way.
Three months later, he won the WBO Cruiserweight Title by defeating Nestor Hipolito Giovannini (36-7-3 at the time) by a decisive 10th round knockout. He quickly gave up that title so he could continue to campaign as a light heavyweight.
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