Bruce Finch

[Street Lethal]

Can somebody tell me how this boxer got a shot at the world title?

[redrooster]

Can somebody tell me how this boxer got a shot at the world title?

Ray Leonard was in another one of his "generous" moods.

[JohnThomas1]

Finch was on an 11 match winning streak and Leonard was coming off his famous victory over Hearns. He took a well deserved easy defense and had Stafford and Pryor lined up for his next two fights.

[Street Lethal]

Ray Leonard was in another one of his "generous" moods.

He was in those moods a lot. Dave Green and Larry Bonds weren't anything special either. It's interesting that the two best opponents (Duran and Hearns) he faced made him look bad. What, if anything, does that do for his legacy? I ask this because people put Leonard very high in their welterweight rankings. Is that because he defeated Benitez?

[redrooster]

He was in those moods a lot. Dave Green and Larry Bonds weren't anything special either. It's interesting that the two best opponents (Duran and Hearns) he faced made him look bad. What, if anything, does that do for his legacy? I ask this because people put Leonard very high in their welterweight rankings. Is that because he defeated Benitez?

I still haven't figured it out. I never liked those cuties and Benitez was A passive fighter even though the press got a hard on watching him, calling him a boy genius and the bible of boxing.

he never did especially well with more agressive, stronger fighters. People talk like he would have beaten Ayala. Those people don't even know what they're talking about.

Take a look at the fight with Matthew Hilton, the closest thing to Tony Ayala in terms of style, strength, and size, but without the paralyzing power. he was under intense pressure until he crashed on his side and resembled molten slag after Matt was finished with him.

Moreover, Wilfred couldn't handle Hamsho or Moore. Hamsho was the first man to teach Wilfred the meaning of fear the way he taught it to Czyz.

I favor a good brawler over a boxer more often that not.

[JohnThomas1]

He was in those moods a lot. Dave Green and Larry Bonds weren't anything special either.

In a 40 fight career the guy managed to face and beat Hearn's, Benitez, Hagler and Duran. Given the opponent quality of these 7 fights i think he could do whatever he pleased with the other 33, no? As it is there's plenty of fair fighters there. Lets open our eyes and compare him to others, Ali, Holmes, Duran, Louis and most everybody else have plenty of stiffs.

It's interesting that the two best opponents (Duran and Hearns) he faced made him look bad. What, if anything, does that do for his legacy? I ask this because people put Leonard very high in their welterweight rankings. Is that because he defeated Benitez?

Talk about shallow. Hearns and Duran made him look bad but never mind he is 3-1-1 against them. Winning isn't the important thing, looking good is. Better still, how good is winning after struggling but still finding a way? Lets write that off. Holmes struggled vs Snipes, Witherspoon, Weaver etc. Duran was beaten by some ordinaries. Even Tyson at his best had some more average bouts against palooka's. Louis. They all have their struggles, at least Leonard's were against great fighters.

[Titan1]

In a 40 fight career the guy managed to face and beat Hearn's, Benitez, Hagler and Duran. Given the opponent quality of these 7 fights i think he could do whatever he pleased with the other 33, no? As it is there's plenty of fair fighters there. Lets open our eyes and compare him to others, Ali, Holmes, Duran, Louis and most everybody else have plenty of stiffs.



Talk about shallow. Hearns and Duran made him look bad but never mind he is 3-1-1 against them. Winning isn't the important thing, looking good is. Better still, how good is winning after struggling but still finding a way? Lets write that off. Holmes struggled vs Snipes, Witherspoon, Weaver etc. Duran was beaten by some ordinaries. Even Tyson at his best had some more average bouts against palooka's. Louis. They all have their struggles, at least Leonard's were against great fighters.





:good

[My dinner with Conteh]

He was in those moods a lot. Dave Green and Larry Bonds weren't anything special either. It's interesting that the two best opponents (Duran and Hearns) he faced made him look bad. What, if anything, does that do for his legacy? I ask this because people put Leonard very high in their welterweight rankings. Is that because he defeated Benitez?



Hearns was in the mood too with Baez, Primera and Shields. Must have been catching. :good

[Unforgiven]

Sugar Ray Leonard was very popular with TV audiences.
They could have matched him with any bum and he'd get high viewing ratings.
That's how come Bruce Finch got a title shot.

[bumdujour]

Can somebody tell me how this boxer got a shot at the world title?

probably the same way patrick charpantier got to challenge oscar de la hoya in 98.

[Titan1]

Come to think of it, Ray did say Bruce hurt him momentarily.

[Flea Man]

Ayala :lol:

[JohnThomas1]

Ayala :lol:

Ahhh the good old days. Various new posters would appear and bounce back and forth with Rooster, sharing their mutual hatred and coming up with more and more criticisms when it seemed impossible. They'd cop a bit of heat or lose respect and suddenly a new name would spring forth and away we'd go again. If Leonard was reading the forums he'd have thought he was living Groundhog Day.

[My2Sense]

Can somebody tell me how this boxer got a shot at the world title?

By being rated in world title rankings.

[The Morlocks]

I still haven't figured it out. I never liked those cuties and Benitez was A passive fighter even though the press got a hard on watching him, calling him a boy genius and the bible of boxing.

he never did especially well with more agressive, stronger fighters. People talk like he would have beaten Ayala. Those people don't even know what they're talking about.

Take a look at the fight with Matthew Hilton, the closest thing to Tony Ayala in terms of style, strength, and size, but without the paralyzing power. he was under intense pressure until he crashed on his side and resembled molten slag after Matt was finished with him.

Moreover, Wilfred couldn't handle Hamsho or Moore. Hamsho was the first man to teach Wilfred the meaning of fear the way he taught it to Czyz.

I favor a good brawler over a boxer more often that not.
the brawlers like Hamsho and the middleweight contenders of the early 80s were a joy to watch. i got to see a lot of those fights live (as i've said before, especially Fletcher and Hamsho and all the greast nights in philly in the 70s and early 80s) and miss those halycon days of boxing still. I will admit though I was aPintor fan instead of a Chandler fan.:rasta

[Boro chris]

Delete.

Must read entire posts before criticising them. Doh!

[MRBILL]

Finch was a "Gimmie" guy for SRL in Feb. 1982 on HBO......... Leonard parked his ass inside of 2 rds............ Finch was a tune-up for Ray's proposed fight with Roger Stafford that never happened cuz of Ray's detached retina and surgery in May of '82.....

MR.BILL

[anarci]

Hearns was in the mood too with Baez, Primera and Shields. Must have been catching. :good What are you talking about Shields:patsch That dude was a very good fighter and a legit top contender who was competetive with a Prime Pipino Cuevas and took everything and the kitchen sink from Hearns before the ref stopped it in 12. Shields would be a top contender in todays deep welter division.. Id probably pick him over Collazo and maybe Berto too.

[anarci]

He was in those moods a lot. Dave Green and Larry Bonds weren't anything special either. It's interesting that the two best opponents (Duran and Hearns) he faced made him look bad. What, if anything, does that do for his legacy? I ask this because people put Leonard very high in their welterweight rankings. Is that because he defeated Benitez?
Davey Boy Greene was another tough guy he gave Palomino a tough fight and knocked out former Champ Stracey. Greene was a good puncher, and that was one of Rays most impressive kos, one punched him cold i believe.

You guys are not to informed about some of these past Welters from the late 70s and early 80s . Bruce Finch wasnt that bad either not as good as Shields or Greene but he did have a good run before fighting Leonard and beat some decent guys. Most notably Zeferino Gonzalez who gave Welter version of Duran Fits.

[JohnThomas1]

Lethal hasn't posted for about 2 years so don't hold your breath waiting for a reply.

[anarci]

Lethal hasn't posted for about 2 years so don't hold your breath waiting for a reply.:lol::lol: I didnt even notice that,till u mentioned it. This thread is from 07.
Well maybe MD Conteh will answer he obviously dont know about Shields or seen him fight to make that comment.

[JohnThomas1]

:lol::lol: I didnt even notice that,till u mentioned it. This thread is from 07.
Well maybe MD Conteh will answer he obviously dont know about Shields or seen him fight to make that comment.

If Dinner see's it, he will comment don't worry :lol:

[MRBILL]

Speaking of Roger Stafford, he beat Cuevas by decision in 1981, but got parked by Donald Curry in the opening round in 1983-circa...... I have that blow-out somewhere...... Curry was warming up in the back while Stafford was doin' all his bullshit praying on his knees.......

Years later Roger Stafford took a few slugs in the back and I hear is now rolls about in a chair........ CHRIST!!

MR.BILL