IntentionalButt
03-23-2010, 05:10 PM
I would like to foster a discussion of this star-crossed super featherweight world title challenger.
I would like to first establish parameters - that we all please refrain from sophomoric tangents or snarks having to do with the circumstances of his premature passing (to clear the air for the uninitiated, he was slaughtered by a woman jealous of another lover who was...not quite a woman).
The only aspect of his death that concerns me, at least for the purposes of this thread, is the question of "What if it hadn't occurred?"
It isn't that those other details regarding the circumstances aren't interesting in their own right, in a real-life pulp fiction manner, but based on what film is available this was a special fighter and deserved enough of our respect as fight fans to not have any and every discussion of him degenerate into a daytime talkshow gigglefest.
What we know is that he was the toast of the town in the Philadelphia boxing scene for a time. He fought for the better part of six years, largely in his own backyard, and largely against middling opposition, but began to slowly gain a head of steam, netting very good wins over the likes of Kim, Lunny, and Barraza en route to his first - and, as it happens, only world title shot (WBC) against a prime Alfredo Escalera.
Most observers at the time and since (myself included) feel he did more than enough to "take the belt" as they say, his pesky right jab seemingly tethered on a paddleball string to the champ's forehead.
Ultimately, he surrendered a much-maligned decision at home to Escalera (who would go on to twice bug the crap out of a still-great Alexis Arguello).
The rebuilding process began immediately, and no sooner had a couple of bounceback no-name KO victims begun to pile up than the bright career - and indeed, life - of this world-class southpaw was cut short.
Given the opportunity to compete throughout his able years, who believes that this man would have secured vindication, and worn a world title belt? I certainly believe he had the tools. He was a real 15-round fighter, could endure through bad cuts, had obvious power, tricky feet, was capable of precision punching while off-balance, and possessed a now-rare trait in "ring awareness" (knowing when to clinch, when to retreat or cancel an attack, and converting his jab when necessary into a counter-swatter).
Anyone agree? Disagree? Match him against top contemporaries at (or near) his weight.
I would like to first establish parameters - that we all please refrain from sophomoric tangents or snarks having to do with the circumstances of his premature passing (to clear the air for the uninitiated, he was slaughtered by a woman jealous of another lover who was...not quite a woman).
The only aspect of his death that concerns me, at least for the purposes of this thread, is the question of "What if it hadn't occurred?"
It isn't that those other details regarding the circumstances aren't interesting in their own right, in a real-life pulp fiction manner, but based on what film is available this was a special fighter and deserved enough of our respect as fight fans to not have any and every discussion of him degenerate into a daytime talkshow gigglefest.
What we know is that he was the toast of the town in the Philadelphia boxing scene for a time. He fought for the better part of six years, largely in his own backyard, and largely against middling opposition, but began to slowly gain a head of steam, netting very good wins over the likes of Kim, Lunny, and Barraza en route to his first - and, as it happens, only world title shot (WBC) against a prime Alfredo Escalera.
Most observers at the time and since (myself included) feel he did more than enough to "take the belt" as they say, his pesky right jab seemingly tethered on a paddleball string to the champ's forehead.
Ultimately, he surrendered a much-maligned decision at home to Escalera (who would go on to twice bug the crap out of a still-great Alexis Arguello).
The rebuilding process began immediately, and no sooner had a couple of bounceback no-name KO victims begun to pile up than the bright career - and indeed, life - of this world-class southpaw was cut short.
Given the opportunity to compete throughout his able years, who believes that this man would have secured vindication, and worn a world title belt? I certainly believe he had the tools. He was a real 15-round fighter, could endure through bad cuts, had obvious power, tricky feet, was capable of precision punching while off-balance, and possessed a now-rare trait in "ring awareness" (knowing when to clinch, when to retreat or cancel an attack, and converting his jab when necessary into a counter-swatter).
Anyone agree? Disagree? Match him against top contemporaries at (or near) his weight.