A topic long popular among fight fans has involved predicting the results of hypothetical matches pitting boxing’s historically elite fighters against each other. Now it is my turn to play transcendental promoter by matching boxers against each other in defiance of the laws of time.
Rocky Marciano vs. George Foreman
Marciano and Foreman were two of the most fearsome punchers to have ever held the heavyweight crown. A match between them would surely be a slugfest of epic proportions. Foreman had the advantage of height and reach over his opponent, while Marciano was superior in durability and stamina. A major difference between Foreman and Marciano is that the former bludgeoned his opponents into defeat with his heavy hands, while the latter generally scored clean, often one-punch, knockouts.
The fight might initially resemble Foreman’s two victories over Joe Frazier, in which “Big George” easily disposed of a much smaller, aggressive foe. Indeed, at first, Marciano would likely have trouble penetrating past Foreman’s jab, a punch used with devastating effect against Frazier. Marciano might well be dropped once or twice during the early rounds. However, flooring the “Brockton Blockbuster” and keeping him down were two different things, as all-time knockout king Archie Moore learned to his regret. Foreman would become discouraged as he found that Marciano could take his best and keep coming. As the fight wore on, Foreman’s poor stamina, combined with Marciano’s iron chin and endless energy, would witness a dramatic reversal of fortune. My view is that a bloodied but unbowed Marciano would tough his way to a mid-fight KO victory.
Victor Galindez vs. Bob Foster
This was a match that could have happened had Foster not retired after a controversial draw with Jorge Ahumada in 1974. However, the Foster of that period was already a much-diminished fighter from his glory days a few years prior. Taking both men at their peak provides an intriguing matchup. Foster had a clear advantage in height and reach, as well as possessing one-punch knockout power. Galindez was much more rugged and physically stronger. A hard hitter, he could not match Foster in sheer punching force.
Foster would have to keep Galindez at bay for the duration of the fight while hoping to land one or several of his patented left hooks in hopes of achieving a KO. However, this would be easier said than done. Foster tended to negate the advantages he had in height and reach over the great majority of his rivals by stooping low, punching down, and therefore exposing both his chin and body in the process. Galindez had underrated defensive skills and was an expert body puncher. He would have an easy target in Foster, who would be frustrated by an inability to nail his Argentine opponent cleanly. Galindez would take advantage of this fatal weakness in Foster’s boxing makeup by breaking his lanky opponent in half via devastating body blows and ending the match with his own left hook, probably between rounds 5 and 10.
Joey Giardello vs. Marvin Hagler
Hagler would have the edge in power and Giardello in boxing skill. Nonetheless, the latter also showed the ability to outslug such hard hitters as Willie Troy and Rocky Rivero when he elected to brawl rather than box. In terms of consistency, Hagler was the more winning fighter, with Giardello at times drifting into a listlessness that resulted in various losing streaks. However, for the purposes of this hypothetical contest, Giardello must be evaluated as being at his mental best.
Hagler had trouble with clever boxers, as demonstrated in his losses to Willie Monroe and Ray Leonard. Giardello’s superior skill would enable him to outbox his opponent using quick jabs and solid combinations. At the same time, Joey’s solid chin and often surprising slugging ability would enable him to outfight “Marvelous Marvin” in the trenches. Overall, Giardello would be too complete a fighter for Hagler and would triumph via unanimous decision.
Barney Ross vs. Jose Napoles
This bout would pit two of the welterweight division’s finest boxers against each other in what could best be described as the pugilistic equivalent of a chess match. Ross was quicker, but Napoles had the edge in power. In terms of skill, there would be little to choose between them.
There would be much jockeying for position in the early rounds as each man attempted to find his rhythm. The main difference would result from Ross’s lightning-fast hands, which would, in the end, provide him with the key to victory over the methodical “Mantequilla.” In a bout that would feature many bravura flourishes of boxing skill from two masters of the fighting art, Ross would eke out a razor-thin decision.
Nicolino Locche vs. Roberto Duran
Locche was undoubtedly a fighter possessed of brilliant defensive talent. He sometimes relied on defense to the detriment of offense, however, barely throwing a punch en route to controversial decision wins over such opponents as Carlos Hernandez and Adolph Pruitt. Regardless, when Locche was at his best, as in victories over Paul Takeshi Fuji and Antonio Cervantes, he was a most formidable foe who combined evasion and attack in equal amounts. Duran was a hard puncher whose ring generalship was often underappreciated. On the other hand, he regularly had difficulty with crafty boxers such as Edwin Viruet, Vilomar Fernandez, and Ray Leonard.
Duran would apply maximum pressure to Locche from the start but would find the “Untouchable” an extremely slippery target. The former’s vaunted body blows would find more air than flesh, while Locche would counter the Panamanian’s attack with rapid jabs and hooks. The longer the fight proceeded, the more Duran’s frustrated assault would unravel before Locche’s defensive wizardry and ring adroitness. The final result would favor the Argentine by unanimous decision.
Wilfredo Gomez vs. Danny Lopez
Another bout that might have taken place had Lopez defeated Salvador Sanchez in either of their encounters. Both men were renowned for their punching power, with Gomez being the more skillful of the two.
Lopez was usually a slow starter and was sometimes floored early, even in bouts he eventually won. Gomez, who did not suffer from these deficits, would start quickly and immediately assume command of the match. Simultaneously, he would pick “Little Red” to pieces by avoiding Lopez’s arching punches while responding with accurate counterblows. This being the case, Gomez would finish his man sometime in the first few rounds.
Eder Jofre vs. Ruben Olivares
Jofre and Olivares were both tremendous punchers, as their many knockout victories attest. In general, there would be little to choose between them in terms of boxing skill and physical strength. Jofre’s chin was better than that of Olivares, however: both of the former’s losses were by decision, while Olivares was stopped nine times, including at the height of his career.
The match would be a battle of attrition waged mostly on the inside. In the first four or five rounds, the bout would be relatively even as both men battled toe-to-toe for supremacy. Jofre’s more solid chin would be his major asset, as Olivares would gradually be broken down as the fight wore on. After an exciting ten rounds or so, Jofre would emerge triumphant via KO.
Miguel Canto vs. Yoko Gushiken
This match would witness two of boxing’s best smaller men in a classic boxer-against-slugger matchup. Canto was certainly the most technically skilled flyweight of his time, while Gushiken, for a period, was a dominant force among the junior flyweights. Canto was known for his technical skill and lack of punching power (of his fourteen successful title defenses, only one ended in a stoppage). Gushiken was a competent boxer but relied mostly on punching power to score victories.
The crux of the bout would depend on Gushiken’s ability to trap Canto and deprive the Mexican of using his boxing skills. However, Gushiken was aggressive but not a pressure fighter. Rather, he would simply follow an opponent until he was near enough to unleash an attack. This strategy would fail against Canto, who would ensure to maintain a distance between himself and his adversary based on superior footwork and an educated left hand. The Japanese slugger would find the gap impossible to breach and end up losing by a comfortable margin to his more adept opponent.
