Who Was the Better Inside Fighter?

[McGoorty]

Not for nothing, but don't forget Chavez in this conversation.

Look mate there are so many who were awesome inside, Klaus, Darcy, Petrolle, Basilio, Fenech, Hagler, All of those names had different attributes that made them great on the inside some you definitely needed to never allow on the inside because as body punchers even great really great fighters will wilt fast, Billy Petrolle was one and Les Darcy, well nobody survives him if he gets inside he was simply too strong. Frank Klaus was a genius technician on the inside and was so good he wrote a book on the art of Infighting. Carmen Basilio was strong, had real inside skills, could take whatever they hit him with on the way in and he would wear you down, bust yer face and yer insides and make you think of mummy....... Hagler was a bit like that too, he was more like Basilio than many realise/ Jeff fenech had to get inside so he got real good at getting in there, although not a heavy puncher like most I named he was very strong for a little guy and at his best weights seemed bigger than his opponents and he had great stamina. Fenech had very fast hands and would set up a jab and then he would usually be inside wearing his man down and if there was any sign of weakness he would finish the fight quick Carmen Basilio style (i.e. the finishing aspect... basilio was better in most departments).

[McGoorty]

A note on Frank Klaus, one thing that makes him a stand out is that when he was toe to toe on the inside he usually made every punch count and his skills were of such a high calibre that he rarely got hit often as his defense on the inside was a pure science... a fighter not to be underestimated.

[Tony Trick-Pony]

Not for nothing, but don't forget Chavez in this conversation.

Hey, back off, buddy!

Haha.

Yes, "El Grand Campeon Mexicano" was unreal on the inside. I loved his body work and the way he parried and slipped punches with relative ease most times. Another great master of combining effective aggression with sound defensive skills.

As far as who I'd pick in a fight between them, I go with Duran by decision over Chavez and Armstrong by decision probably, but I don't know. Chavez would be right at home with a guy who came inside like that.

Maybe it would be interesting to see all three standing in each others' faces for 15. It would be such a punch rate and Compubox nightmare. Those machines would be smoking! Haha

[soul_survivor]

Both were tremendous. It's very hard to pick one. They may be the best smaller inside fighters ever.

I'll go with Duran since there is more footage.

That's the main point making me pick Duran, we can pretty much see the vast majority of his career, sadly it's not the same with Armstrong. Having said that, from what I've seen AND read, Armstrong seemed to have an unusual engine, constant across 12-15 rounds of boxing with multiple fights every year. It's quite remarkable.

[Tom Cruise]

I think there is enough footage of Armstrong at his peak to know what he was about tbh.

winning the WW title:



controversially drawing vs MW (sortof) champ Cerefino Garcia:



some of his toughest stylistic fights vs Baby Arizmendi (who looks a very good inside fighter in his own right)





Plus theres highlights of his fights with LW great Lou Ambers on youtube.

[rightsideup]

I think there is enough footage of Armstrong at his peak to know what he was about tbh.

winning the WW title:



controversially drawing vs MW (sortof) champ Cerefino Garcia:



some of his toughest stylistic fights vs Baby Arizmendi (who looks a very good inside fighter in his own right)





Plus theres highlights of his fights with LW great Lou Ambers on youtube.

Thanks for sharing

[rightsideup]

Look mate there are so many who were awesome inside, Klaus, Darcy, Petrolle, Basilio, Fenech, Hagler, All of those names had different attributes that made them great on the inside some you definitely needed to never allow on the inside because as body punchers even great really great fighters will wilt fast, Billy Petrolle was one and Les Darcy, well nobody survives him if he gets inside he was simply too strong. Frank Klaus was a genius technician on the inside and was so good he wrote a book on the art of Infighting. Carmen Basilio was strong, had real inside skills, could take whatever they hit him with on the way in and he would wear you down, bust yer face and yer insides and make you think of mummy....... Hagler was a bit like that too, he was more like Basilio than many realise/ Jeff fenech had to get inside so he got real good at getting in there, although not a heavy puncher like most I named he was very strong for a little guy and at his best weights seemed bigger than his opponents and he had great stamina. Fenech had very fast hands and would set up a jab and then he would usually be inside wearing his man down and if there was any sign of weakness he would finish the fight quick Carmen Basilio style (i.e. the finishing aspect... basilio was better in most departments).

Duran had most his sucess against Hagler at a distance with a counter right and only one period of success on the inside. Marvin expected Duran to come inside and was too strong for him. Duran had success against the big strong Barkley who was not as schooled but Marvin was just the bigger stronger middleweight.

[Tony Trick-Pony]

That's the main point making me pick Duran, we can pretty much see the vast majority of his career, sadly it's not the same with Armstrong. Having said that, from what I've seen AND read, Armstrong seemed to have an unusual engine, constant across 12-15 rounds of boxing with multiple fights every year. It's quite remarkable.

Oh, he was unreal. A constant bombardment of punching all the way through. So much fun to watch. Every second is worth paying attention.

IMO one of the best of all time- top 5 for sure.

[McGoorty]

Duran had most his sucess against Hagler at a distance with a counter right and only one period of success on the inside. Marvin expected Duran to come inside and was too strong for him. Duran had success against the big strong Barkley who was not as schooled but Marvin was just the bigger stronger middleweight.

That's one reason I mentioned Hagler, even if you are a great infighter like Duran or Armstrong you DO NOT try it against someone who is also good at it and hits hard, they would have copped it even worse against Darcy, the way that guy lifted Clabby and others off the canvas and back like they were yo yo's is truly astonishing to see, Darcy would bring his body shots fro low like a type of uppercut to the ribs. I wonder if Armstrong ever fought Billy Petrolle ? that would test my theory........... The other point your comment raises is how smart Duran was, he would have known Hagler would be too strong in there and so he planned for it... that Hagler Duran fight is a real study in tactics, and a great fight, Duran held up well and did not lose any respect in that.... what O loved about it too was that both men really seemed to truly hate each other and that made it quite spiteful... reminds me of the way Zale and Graziano felt about each other although they seemed to be freinds after they both retired, maybe Duran and Hagler have mellowed towards each other too, most old timers do.

[soul_survivor]

Oh, he was unreal. A constant bombardment of punching all the way through. So much fun to watch. Every second is worth paying attention.

IMO one of the best of all time- top 5 for sure.

Yep!

I have Armstrong just below Robinson, Ali and Pep.