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I watched the whole fight and it was surprising to see a tall, thin guy with a long reach using his height against a stocky, powerful opponent in a way that was kind of counter-intuitive. You would expect the taller, long armed guy to try and maintain distance against a short armed slugger, but instead, Ribalta focused on trying to catch Mike coming in, then tie him up and tire him out by draping his lanky body over Mike's neck and shoulders whenever he got close.
Ribalta's tactics reminded me a lot of how Wlad fought against Povetkin, and like Wlad, Ribalta was working to a game-plan. But unlike Wlad with Povetkin, Ribalta didn't have any weight advantage over Mike, he was actually a couple of pounds lighter, so I was surprised at how well those tactics worked. Somebody in Ribalta's camp really knew their boxing!
That fight highlighted Mike's biggest weakness .. he tended to slow down and become a little predictable after 4 or 5 rounds, and you could hear from the translation of what was being said in Ribalta's corner that they anticipated that happening and hoped to take advantage of it in the second half of the fight.
They definitely came to win, not just survive. And like you said, if Ribalta had been world class, rather than a journeyman, and big, rather than just tall, they might have pulled it off.
That was an interesting fight. Thanks again for recommending it to me.Last edited by kafkod; 05-05-2020, 03:37 PM.Comment
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You’re welcome. Glad you enjoyed it.
Ribalta’s team said they watched one of Tyson’s earlier fights. I believe it was James Tillis. That’s apparently where they hatched the idea of tying Mike up for the first few rounds, then opening up a bit more. It obviously would’ve worked better if the fighter was better. Lol But Jose fought a very good fight nonetheless, considering that he was outmatched. As skinny as Ribalta was, Tyson has said he was his strongest opponent.
Fairly entertaining fight, especially from a critical standpoint. Although Lennox Lewis fought a past-prime Tyson, one has to believe he had a good chance versus a peak version — Vitali Klitschko and Tyson Fury as well. I’d actually favor Fury.Comment
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Wallin is a nearly 6”6 southpaw who fights going forward using body work ,Ali is the entire opposite. Ali himself struggled with a cruiser weight southpaw ,if you don’t know that go watch the Karl Mildenberger fight known to cut and not carry much power ,he even topples Ali over with a body punch somewhere late in the fight .
You can’t negate other fights and then use them as proof when the opposite can be said about Ali .Comment
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Fury was also allowed to cheat in that fight and cuffed Cunningham behind the head while punching. A move as illegal as hand wraps.
Ali was street smart and tough as nails. He would not have allowed it and would have got dirtier on Fury. Ali won fights when the opponent sabotaged his eyesight. They are not these new politically correct guys allowing people to be dirty as the sins while they stay on the straight and narrow.
Funny how half you guys didn’t even like Fury, said Wilder was a bum. Yet after beating the so called Bum with illegal aid, now you got him beating the greatest of all time GTFOH.
Fury couldn’t beat Forman in his hay day let alone a Prime Ali. Address the madness.Comment
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