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This guy at his best would pwn any middleweight of the last 20 years. The only guy I'd give a chance to is Nigel Benn, because 12 rounds is a long time and nobody delivered a power shot as fast as the Dark Destroyer, and he just had so much natural power. I remember when that fight was being hyped in '88.
Nunn's timing and dexterity/punch placement was second to none, catching people on the end of his right jab, he was also really rangy and had great movement and used the left uppercut so effectively (with equal accuracy to head or body). He had exceptionally fast hands and reflexes - super-slick output, and glided his upper body out of range effortlessly. He also had great footspeed for such a tall guy, and was the fittest middleweight in the world.
A fight with Roy Jones is an interesting prospect, like the second comings of Sugar Ray Leonard squaring off. I'm sure Jones would have caused him fits - probably would have lunged past a few of Nunn's punches. But Jones was very much a pouncing fighter and Nunn would have timed him with overhand lefts. Jones was amazing, but Nunn was better founded - never off-balance, incredibly smooth and flowing. I can't see how Jones could beat Nunn over 12 rounds.
Bernard Hopkins, the mature Hopkins, if he stood off, would not have much hope with Nunn. It's really quite simple - Nunn was rangier, faster and was not hittable, and he was a southpaw which makes it more difficult to land the lead right hand. The terror Hopkins would do better, trying to cut off the ring and so on, but I see Nunn measuring him with plenty of left uppercuts. So no. Hopkins just cannot beat him.
Gerald McClellan? Jermain Taylor? Quite unknown quan****** tbh.
At 168 his plan was to take on Benn, Barkley and Toney and then fight Virgil Hill at 175. I think he'd have beaten them all (if he laid off the coke), unless Benn was in the kind of shape and mood he was in for the Galvano fight in Italy - then Benn could take Nunn out.
What about Chris Eubank? I know you'd of had to break the bank to get him in the ring with a top American, and that, quite amazingly, he didn't mean a damn thing in America. But say after either of the Benn fights he took on Nunn..
Eubank could out-pose anyone, but Nunn would have potshotted him from the outside alnight. Eubank won a lot of his fights due to the simple fact he had a longer reach and faster hands than his opponent, and judged the distance needed to be able to either pick his opponent off or lunge that stiff jab while always ready to pull away or sway away. The posing and strutting just added to the substance and the taking rounds off to rest just comfirmed his lack of stamina. Eubank would struggle like hell to beat Nunn to the punch.
The unheralded Herol 'Bomber' Graham is the most fascinating fight. Forget Mike McCallum, he wasn't dynamic enough to keep up with Nunn and was only at his best when an opponent stood in front of him. Graham was extremely difficult to hit, a switch-hitter who could either dance out of trouble or dodge out of trouble, his offense as well as his defense was so unorthdox and he was very, very quick and very slick and, to be honest, he'd have made anybody look like a fool. He made McCallum look like he was drunk off his face for six rounds. Graham's two troubles though were that 1) he couldn't punch his way out of paper bag and 2) he was a lazy bastard in the gym and got sloppy and scrappy after about six rounds. I know Nunn would catch up with Graham, start catching him more and not be troubled by any of Bomber fella's light taps. But for six rounds this would be a complete tangle, countering eachothers counters and general chaos. Great stuff.
JEFF
Nunn's timing and dexterity/punch placement was second to none, catching people on the end of his right jab, he was also really rangy and had great movement and used the left uppercut so effectively (with equal accuracy to head or body). He had exceptionally fast hands and reflexes - super-slick output, and glided his upper body out of range effortlessly. He also had great footspeed for such a tall guy, and was the fittest middleweight in the world.
A fight with Roy Jones is an interesting prospect, like the second comings of Sugar Ray Leonard squaring off. I'm sure Jones would have caused him fits - probably would have lunged past a few of Nunn's punches. But Jones was very much a pouncing fighter and Nunn would have timed him with overhand lefts. Jones was amazing, but Nunn was better founded - never off-balance, incredibly smooth and flowing. I can't see how Jones could beat Nunn over 12 rounds.
Bernard Hopkins, the mature Hopkins, if he stood off, would not have much hope with Nunn. It's really quite simple - Nunn was rangier, faster and was not hittable, and he was a southpaw which makes it more difficult to land the lead right hand. The terror Hopkins would do better, trying to cut off the ring and so on, but I see Nunn measuring him with plenty of left uppercuts. So no. Hopkins just cannot beat him.
Gerald McClellan? Jermain Taylor? Quite unknown quan****** tbh.
At 168 his plan was to take on Benn, Barkley and Toney and then fight Virgil Hill at 175. I think he'd have beaten them all (if he laid off the coke), unless Benn was in the kind of shape and mood he was in for the Galvano fight in Italy - then Benn could take Nunn out.
What about Chris Eubank? I know you'd of had to break the bank to get him in the ring with a top American, and that, quite amazingly, he didn't mean a damn thing in America. But say after either of the Benn fights he took on Nunn..
Eubank could out-pose anyone, but Nunn would have potshotted him from the outside alnight. Eubank won a lot of his fights due to the simple fact he had a longer reach and faster hands than his opponent, and judged the distance needed to be able to either pick his opponent off or lunge that stiff jab while always ready to pull away or sway away. The posing and strutting just added to the substance and the taking rounds off to rest just comfirmed his lack of stamina. Eubank would struggle like hell to beat Nunn to the punch.
The unheralded Herol 'Bomber' Graham is the most fascinating fight. Forget Mike McCallum, he wasn't dynamic enough to keep up with Nunn and was only at his best when an opponent stood in front of him. Graham was extremely difficult to hit, a switch-hitter who could either dance out of trouble or dodge out of trouble, his offense as well as his defense was so unorthdox and he was very, very quick and very slick and, to be honest, he'd have made anybody look like a fool. He made McCallum look like he was drunk off his face for six rounds. Graham's two troubles though were that 1) he couldn't punch his way out of paper bag and 2) he was a lazy bastard in the gym and got sloppy and scrappy after about six rounds. I know Nunn would catch up with Graham, start catching him more and not be troubled by any of Bomber fella's light taps. But for six rounds this would be a complete tangle, countering eachothers counters and general chaos. Great stuff.
JEFF
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