The Ring magazine "Battle Of the Legends" mythical matches

[jas]

(shout out to Robbi on bn24)


September, 1991.

Lightweight: Carlos Ortiz v Pernell Whitaker

Tony Curtis (matchmaker): Ortiz via decision.
Gil Clancy (trainer and TV analyst) Ortiz, TKO 13.
Jackie McCoy (trainer) Ortiz via decision.

October, 1991.

Middleweight: Marcel Cerdan v Marvin Hagler

George Kanter (manager): Cerdan via decision.
Harry Markson (former MSG president) Hagler via decison.
Jake LaMotta (former fighter) Cerdan via decision.

May, 1991.

Light-heavyweight: Matthew Saad Muhammad v Vivtor Galindez

Eddie Mustafa Muhammed (former fighter) Muhammad via 15th round stoppage.
Ron Kantz (matchmaker) Galdinez via late TKO.
Marvin Johnson: Galdinez via stoppage KO 11th or 12th.

July, 1991.

Junior featherweights: Wilfredo Gomez v Jeff Fenech

Tim Ryan (CBC announcer) Gomez by TKO.
Jay Edon (former referee) Fenech via decision.
Harold Lederman (judge) Gomez 5th round KO.

August, 1991.

Heavyweights: Jack Dempsey v Rocky Marciano

Don Dunphy (announcer) Marciano via KO 3rd or 4th.
Bill Cayton (manager) Marciano via decision.
Marty Cohen (promoter) Dempsey via decision.

June, 1990.

Bantamweights: Ruben Olivares v Jeff Chandler

Don Chargin (promoter) Olivares via late TKO.
Bob Yalen (consultant for ABC-TV) Olivvares late TKO.
Jackie McCoy (trainer) Olivvares via TKO 6-8 rnds

October, 1990.

Welterweights: Jose Napoles v Sugar Ray Leonard

Emanuel Steward (trainer) Leonard via decision.
Bennie Georgino (manager) Leonard decision or late TKO.
Teddy Brenner (matchmaker) Napoles via decision.

February, 1991.

Welterweights: Emile Griffith v Pipino Cuevas

Benny Georgino (manager) Griffith via TKO in the 10th.
Harold Weston jnr (former fighter) Griffith via stoppage in 10th or 11th.
Alex Wallau (TV anlayst) Griffith via late TKO or decision.

March, 1991.

Welterweights: Henry Armstrong v Roberto Duran

Art Rust jnr (historian) Duran via decision.
Don Dunphy (announcer) Armstrong via KO in the 5th.
Marty Cohen (promoter) Armstrong decision.

December, 1991.

Welterweights: Kid Gavilan v Wilfred Benitez

Lou Duva (trainer) Gavilan via decision.
Bill Mazer (broadcaster) Gavilan via decision.
Bob Lee (IBF president) Gavilan via decision.

June, 1993.

Cruiserweight: Michael Spinks v Evander Holyfield

Dwight Qawi (former fighter) Holyfield via stoppage in the 10th.
Johnny Bos (matchmaker) Spinks via decision.
Cedric Kushner (promoter) Holyfield via stoppage in the 8th or 9th.

[Scott9945]

I enjoyed reading that. Thanks.

[Sugar Adam Ali]

Interesting matchups. Some tough calls to make, my picks

Ortiz vs pernell is probably a draw, pernell gets dropped once, Ortiz misses a lot, pernell not active enough on offensive

Hagler beats up cerdan and probably wins a late corner stoppage

Mathew saad wins a shootout thriller, SD

Gomez would be too much for fenech

Marciano breaks down Dempsey and wins a slugfest in probably 4-6 rounds..

Olivares wins by 9th rd ko

Napoles I think is one of the few guys that could actually beat srl, napoles work rate and rythmn would fluster Ray, and napoles' pace would force him into exchanges often, and I think they will throw toe 2 toe often much like the srl-Duran 1.. I think this is my upset special, and napoles can walk away with split decision in an epic fast paced fight

Griffith would win pretty easily, probably 6th or 7th ko

Duran Armstrong is the toughest fight to call.. I think Armstrong maybe tailored made for Duran with his aggressive swarming style,I think Duran would roll and smother and counter Armstrong all night.. I think Armstrong's chin gives out before he totally breaks down Duran... Close fight, but I can see Duran catching him with something huge, and either stop him or at least hurt him bad enough to were Duran takes command of the fight...
Duran by 13th tko

Kid gavilan would outpoint benetiz in a snoozer

Holyfield outlasts spinks in a war and stops him 14th rd.. Holyfield is nearly unstoppable in a 15 rd fight.. His endurance and pace in his prime would be too much for spinks late...

[Cyberspace]

I doubt any two people here would completely agree on every matchup, but thanks to the OP for the matches.

[Sugar Adam Ali]

I doubt any two people here would completely agree on every matchup, but thanks to the OP for the matches.

No doubt, but I am interested in what others think

[Welsh Jon]

Whitaker wins SD
Hagler wins UD
MSM wins via SD
Gomez wins via TKO
Marciano wins via TKO
Olivares wins via TKO
SRL wins via UD
Griffith wins via TKO
Duran wins via UD
Gavilan wins via UD
Holyfield wins via late TKO

[BennyST]

Man, Fenech has become so underrated and forgotten.

Some odd views in some of them. Armstrong KOs Duran in five? Ortiz via KO over Whitaker?

[BennyST]

Lightweight: Carlos Ortiz v Pernell Whitaker

I cannot decide this one. Ortiz was brilliant, and I think he beat a prime Locche so I could see him taking this in a very close, either/or fight just on the more active offense.

Middleweight: Marcel Cerdan v Marvin Hagler

Hagler wins a reasonably clear decision in a tough, scrappy fight.

Light-heavyweight: Matthew Saad Muhammad v Vivtor Galindez

I think Galindez takes a close fight. Interesting that Eddie Muhamad said Saad would win via stoppage, despite beating Saad and losing to Galindez at the same period in his career. Fighters often do that.

Junior featherweights: Wilfredo Gomez v Jeff Fenech

As a sr bantam, Fenech was an absolute monster and until late in his career, never showed anything but an iron chin, and I think his style would be a nightmare for Gomez'. Fenech in a close, brutal fight.

Heavyweights: Jack Dempsey v Rocky Marciano

Marciano in a tough decision.

Bantamweights: Ruben Olivares v Jeff Chandler

I think this would be very close. Chandler showed a great chin, until his very last fight before retiring when he looked suddenly shot. Until then he was a beast and was never knocked down, never even hurt from what I remember. He has the tools to outbox Olivares for long stretches. Hard one.

Welterweights: Jose Napoles v Sugar Ray Leonard

Leonard via decision.

Welterweights: Emile Griffith v Pipino Cuevas

Griffith via TKO late.

Welterweights: Henry Armstrong v Roberto Duran

Duran in a crazy fight, in which his well timed counters on a rushing Armstrong are the difference on offense. Neither gets the advantage inside, but Durans cleaner defense and counters sneak a close one.

Welterweights: Kid Gavilan v Wilfred Benitez

I could definitely see Gavilans strong offensive volume working against him and Benitez taking a close decision that could have gone either way.

Cruiserweight: Michael Spinks v Evander Holyfield

I don't ever remember Spinks being hurt apart from in the Tyson fight. I know he went down in the Qawi fight. But he wasn't hurt at all, and it was definitely from their feet getting tangled in my opinion. I could see him doing well against Holyfield, but a prime Holyfield just doing the better overall work and getting a decision.

[Scott9945]

Whitaker decision
Hagler decision
Galindez TKO
Gomez / Fenech - draw
Dempsey TKO
Olivares KO
Leonard TKO
Griffith decision
Duran decision
Benitez decision
Holyfield decision