Tomorrow is the 40th anniversary of the death of Salvador Sanchez. This made me think about what other great fighters died too young.
What fighters do you think we lost too soon?
He wasn’t killed but Michael Watson very nearly died and was left with permanent brain damage after a fight with Chris Eubank in 1991.
There was a period in the late 80’s and early 90’s where the british middleweight division threw up a series of utterly brutal fights. With Eubank, Nigel Benn and Watson right in the thick of it.
What happened to Watson was a tragedy but watching those fights back now I’m amazed it was only him so badly affected.
Sorry, still slightly off topic but relevant to my last post. I’ve just realised that the sons of Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn are scheduled to meet in October.
A part of me welcomes the possibility of a display similar to their fathers fight but the humanitarian in me would be appalled.
this might interest some of you
Nice one,
Hearns - McCallum, Foreman - Shavers, and Norton - Frazier would be top of my list.
Weren’t Norton and Frazier sparring partners? I know they were both trained by Eddie Futch.
ETA - mis posted
Regarding Foreman-Shavers, I can’t see any outcome besides an early Foreman KO.
As far pro wrestling goes it is shame Bruiser Brody died before he got to go to the WWF and have a feud with Hulk Hogan in the late 80s.
Audie Murphy. Died way too young.
I think you are right. I’ve said it before but it bears repeating, there is not much scarier in boxing than early Tyson, but Foreman on the heavy bag may be that thing.
Shavers could knock out a rhinoceros with one punch. There was always the possibility he could catch George with that one punch. At Foreman’s best he wouldn’t have a problem with Shavers, but he had several low points in his career where Shavers would have had the opportunity to get in a ‘lucky punch’.