salsanchezfan
12-26-2008, 06:12 PM
............I recently fell upon a cache of Pedroza videos on youtube, and just got done rewatching this match from June of 1985.
I remember watching it as a 17-year old live; it was aired on ABC TV a bit later than a fight would normally be shown here, just before prime-time, so I knew it was a big deal. I had seen a good deal of Pedroza, and a couple McGuigan fights befoe this, and knew from my boxing magazines what Battlin' Barry meant to his people. It was indeed an intiguing match.....the young, powerful, transcendant Irishman against the long-reigning featherweight champ, so full of guile and experience. Pedroza at the time was the longest reigning champ in boxing, making his 20th title defense against the Clones Cyclone, who had become a unifying presence in his native land. "Leave the fightin' to McGuigan" was the saying at the time, and this fight meant EVERYTHING to them.
It was a big deal here, too. The American media picked up on McGuigan swiftly, and made him their darling, but it paled to what he meant across the pond. As descibed by the superlative Al Michaels on ABC, this was the biggest gate in european boxing history at the time.
Back then, I was rooting hard for Pedoza, always a fan of the underdog. He fought bravely and well, but McGuigan was simply a machine that night. He simply would not tire, would not relent. It was more than Pedroza's aged legs could overcome, and the torch was passed in a truly electric evening.
If you have some spare time, do youself a favor and watch this; the emotion and anticipation is palpable in this broadcast. It was, along with Hagler-Hearns, Spinks-Holmes, and Curry-McCrory a real highlight of an amazing boxing year.
And, for those across the pond who remember it or feel the ramifications even today, I'd love to read your thoughts on it as well.
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I remember watching it as a 17-year old live; it was aired on ABC TV a bit later than a fight would normally be shown here, just before prime-time, so I knew it was a big deal. I had seen a good deal of Pedroza, and a couple McGuigan fights befoe this, and knew from my boxing magazines what Battlin' Barry meant to his people. It was indeed an intiguing match.....the young, powerful, transcendant Irishman against the long-reigning featherweight champ, so full of guile and experience. Pedroza at the time was the longest reigning champ in boxing, making his 20th title defense against the Clones Cyclone, who had become a unifying presence in his native land. "Leave the fightin' to McGuigan" was the saying at the time, and this fight meant EVERYTHING to them.
It was a big deal here, too. The American media picked up on McGuigan swiftly, and made him their darling, but it paled to what he meant across the pond. As descibed by the superlative Al Michaels on ABC, this was the biggest gate in european boxing history at the time.
Back then, I was rooting hard for Pedoza, always a fan of the underdog. He fought bravely and well, but McGuigan was simply a machine that night. He simply would not tire, would not relent. It was more than Pedroza's aged legs could overcome, and the torch was passed in a truly electric evening.
If you have some spare time, do youself a favor and watch this; the emotion and anticipation is palpable in this broadcast. It was, along with Hagler-Hearns, Spinks-Holmes, and Curry-McCrory a real highlight of an amazing boxing year.
And, for those across the pond who remember it or feel the ramifications even today, I'd love to read your thoughts on it as well.
xpC9_kgOD-o&feature=related
jidoTyIKMe0&feature=related
73l5IpIyGq8&feature=related
jidoTyIKMe0&feature=related