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Spence is a definitely the better fighter but...
Let’s break it down.
First looking at their resumes simplistically in terms of credible wins. Prime/talent/performance are all subjective so let’s define credible as:
Wins against present/future/former world champions.
DSG has wins over:
Campbell, Holt, Morales x2, Khan, Judah, Matthysse, Peterson, Malignaggi, Guerrero and Rios.
And losses against:
Thurman and Porter.
Spences has wins over:
Algieri, Brook, Peterson, Garcia and Porter.
No losses.
So on this evidence it suggests Garcia but let’s contextualise.
Firstly how many of these wins/losses were against fighters when they were active world champions as being an active world champions evidently means you are still boxing at a high level.
Garcia has wins over: Morales, Khan, Matthysse(interim) and Peterson.
Loss agains Thurman.
Spence has wins over: Brook, Peterson,(regular) Garcia(135) and Porter.
So on this evidence it looks a lot closer. Let’s try contextualise further.
Garcia’s four wins:
1. Morales 52-7 W UD.
Age: 35.
Notes: Retired following another loss to Garcia, Future HOF’er.
2. Amir Khan 26-2 W KO4.
Age: 25.
Notes: Unification, Khan was coming off a SD loss to Lamont Peterson, Garcia was an underdog heading into the fight.
3. Matthysse 34-2 W UD 12.
Age: 30.
Notes: Lineal title fight. Garcia was an underdog.
4. Peterson 33-2-1 W MD 12.
Age: 31.
Notes: Fought at a catchweight, disputed decision.
Spence’s four wins:
1. Brook 36-1 W KO11.
Age: 31.
Notes: Coming off a stoppage loss to GGG, claimed to be struggling at the weight.
2. Peterson 35-3-1 W KO7
Age: 33.
Notes: Peterson only fought once more.
3. M. Garcia 39-0 UD12
Age: 31.
Notes: Garcia’s first fight at 147, moved up from 135/140.
4. Porter 30-2-1 SD 12.
Age: 31.
Notes: Unification bout, close fight, Porter had beaten DSG 12 months earlier.
Overall I’d give Garcia the edge, but Spence isn’t far behind. Garcia has two clear cut wins in fights he wasn’t meant to win. Spence has never been an underdog but does have an impressive win on the road and beat a guy who beat Garcia. Both have won in a unification bout but Garcia won in far more decisive fashion, whilst also winning the lineal 140 lb title against Matthysse.
Let’s break it down.
First looking at their resumes simplistically in terms of credible wins. Prime/talent/performance are all subjective so let’s define credible as:
Wins against present/future/former world champions.
DSG has wins over:
Campbell, Holt, Morales x2, Khan, Judah, Matthysse, Peterson, Malignaggi, Guerrero and Rios.
And losses against:
Thurman and Porter.
Spences has wins over:
Algieri, Brook, Peterson, Garcia and Porter.
No losses.
So on this evidence it suggests Garcia but let’s contextualise.
Firstly how many of these wins/losses were against fighters when they were active world champions as being an active world champions evidently means you are still boxing at a high level.
Garcia has wins over: Morales, Khan, Matthysse(interim) and Peterson.
Loss agains Thurman.
Spence has wins over: Brook, Peterson,(regular) Garcia(135) and Porter.
So on this evidence it looks a lot closer. Let’s try contextualise further.
Garcia’s four wins:
1. Morales 52-7 W UD.
Age: 35.
Notes: Retired following another loss to Garcia, Future HOF’er.
2. Amir Khan 26-2 W KO4.
Age: 25.
Notes: Unification, Khan was coming off a SD loss to Lamont Peterson, Garcia was an underdog heading into the fight.
3. Matthysse 34-2 W UD 12.
Age: 30.
Notes: Lineal title fight. Garcia was an underdog.
4. Peterson 33-2-1 W MD 12.
Age: 31.
Notes: Fought at a catchweight, disputed decision.
Spence’s four wins:
1. Brook 36-1 W KO11.
Age: 31.
Notes: Coming off a stoppage loss to GGG, claimed to be struggling at the weight.
2. Peterson 35-3-1 W KO7
Age: 33.
Notes: Peterson only fought once more.
3. M. Garcia 39-0 UD12
Age: 31.
Notes: Garcia’s first fight at 147, moved up from 135/140.
4. Porter 30-2-1 SD 12.
Age: 31.
Notes: Unification bout, close fight, Porter had beaten DSG 12 months earlier.
Overall I’d give Garcia the edge, but Spence isn’t far behind. Garcia has two clear cut wins in fights he wasn’t meant to win. Spence has never been an underdog but does have an impressive win on the road and beat a guy who beat Garcia. Both have won in a unification bout but Garcia won in far more decisive fashion, whilst also winning the lineal 140 lb title against Matthysse.
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