u/M0sD3f13

The monster hung around as long as his body could handle below bantamweight trying to get the big unification fights but politics as usual was the enemy. Stepping up to bantamweight Inoue fought 9 times at 118 going 9-0 with 8 knockouts. He was the winner of the super series tournament and collected every belt available at the weight, WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO the ring. In four years he cleaned the division out.

His opponent, enter the legendary Ruben Olivares

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Ovr2VZtGY&pp=ygUOcnViZW4gb2xpdmFyZXM%3D

Olivares IMHO is the greatest bantamweight of all time, and arguably the greatest Mexican fighter of all time. He came up through a murderers row in the strongest bantamweight division ever seen. When he got his shot at undisputed Champion Lionel Rose he had already chalked up an undefeated record of 50-0-1 and had dispatched of some of the better contenders on his way up. Battering the world class Rose he continued the incredible relay of all time great lineal champions in the division (Jofre>Harada>Rose>Olivares). He wouldn't lose until his 63rd pro fight against arch rival Chucho Castillo, a loss he'd avenge shortly after becoming two time undisputed champion. The technical slugger with a lethal left hook was only taken the distance twice in his first 58 fights. If you'd like to watch an epic trilogy check out his three fights against Chucho Castillo.

At Super bantamweight Inoue has cleared house same as 118. 9 fights, 9 wins, 6ko. He collected two alphabets in his first fight at the weight vs Fulton and added the rest along with the ring in his second. He's defended his undisputed title 7 times in a row.

His opponent another knockout machine, IMHO the best super bantamweight of all time and arguably the greatest Puerto Rican boxer of all time, Wilfredo Bazooka Gomez.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cfjvUCwxcWI&pp=ygUOd2lsZnJlZG8gZ29tZXrSBwkJLQwBhyohjO8%3D

Gomez's record at 122 is unrivalled: 41 fights 0 losses 40ko's, 17 successful ko defences of his WBC belt, 10 KO defences of the Ring title. Like Olivares used an unorthodox kind of long guard, he had a snappy jab, brutal straight right, and a sneaky and deceptive left hook. He was a brutal body puncher. Check out his fight against Carlos Zarate for a great Mexico vs Puerto Rico classic.

Who you got? Nobody has been able to get one over on Inoue in this era. Can he hang with the greatest to ever do it?

Adam Curtis fans should enjoy

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wn9pQb4ukBo

If you didn't see the last one best to watch that first

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ewvRS3NwIlQ

In day one - https://www.reddit.com/r/Boxing/comments/1w7jva0/the_greatness_of_ruben_olivares_day_1/ we went over the early career of Ruben rockabye Olivares, who I believe to be the greatest Mexican fighter of all time, as he tore through the bantamweight division on his march towards a shot at the world title. We pick up the thread in 1969. The now 22 year old whirlwind of violence has terrorised the bantamweight division for four years, racking up a spectacular record of 52-0-1 with 50 knockouts. He now stands at the door of what he's been working towards, a shot at the bantamweight championship of the world.

The champion:

All time great indigenous Australian Lionel Rose has been on an extremely impressive run. A supremely technical and intelligent pugilist sits on top of the deepest most competitive bantamweight division of all time. In February of 1968 in his 30th professional bout he shocked the world by outboxing the undisputed champion and all time great Japanese legend Fighting Harada. Rose took the WBA, WBC, and ring lineal titles with an impressive showing, outboxing Harada with his supreme ring iq and unshakable determination, winning a unanimous 15 round decision. There was no resting on your laurels in this unrivalled generation of bantamweights. Lionel had a long queue of killers lining up to try to relieve him of his title. In the past 18 months Rose was on a spectacular 7 fight winning run. His list of victims was truly impressive: Harada, Tomasso Galli, Takao sakurai, Jose Medel, Chucho Castillo, Alan Rudkin, and Ernie Cruz. Rose was a great boxer with very few chinks in his armour. Known for his ring IQ and technical excellence he also had that dog in him to go to war whenever necessary.

The challenger:

As we covered on day one Olivares has been simply an unstoppable force so far in his career. 53 men have tried to take him out, all have failed, only two have taken him the distance. A technical pressure fighter who can also box, Olivares fights at an insane pace and intensity showcasing relentless aggression and devestating power. At just 22 years old and four years into his career he has never faced someone of the calibre of Lionel Rose. Unphased his confidence is unshakable as he enters into the ring for the title shot he's been destined for.

Tale of the tape:

Lionel Rose - 22 years old, record 34-2 (8ko), height 5ft 5 and a half inches, reach 67 inches, WBA, WBC, Ring lineal bantamweight world champion.

Ruben Castillo - 22 years old, record 52-0-1 (50ko), height 5ft 8 inches, reach 70 inches, #1 ranked bantamweight contender.

The fight starts with a feeling out period that lasts all of about a minute before the two pugilists start trading vicious hooks as Olivares immediately applies relentless pressure and aggression on the champion. Rose answers in kind. What follows is five rounds of pure violence. Who will break first?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ADluUI0wTvQ

Yous have probably seen it but I just watched this last night and it's one of the funniest pods I've ever seen. They work so well together

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=juoYEGf57lo&pp=ygUfaGFybGFuZCB3aWxsaWFtcyBhbmRyZXcgc2FudGlubw%3D%3D

I was using this app https://github.com/EchoMusicApp/ which was bloody marvellous but it's now broken. It just syncs my YouTube music in an ad free player. Can someone please recommend a good alternative. Thanks.

https://heavyhands.libsyn.com/10-fighters-greater-than-floyd-mayweather-fistorical-perspective-bonus

This is a great interview from a few years ago. Kyle is a great writer and historian of boxing, and Muay Thai, and one I hold in high esteem. The topic is 10 fighters greater than Mayweather - a fistorical perspective.

When Mayweather retired there was a tension between the general boxing fans and these uppity boxing historians. To many Mayweather fans it's unfathomable that he wouldnt be The Best Ever. For many historians he isn't even top 10. The modern punters point to the achievements, 50-0, most champions beat, five weight classes etc as though it speaks for itself.

I notice /boxing is similarly divided whenever the comparison between todays champs and those of past eras comes up. Some defer to experts, some develop a passion and watch/read/study past eras, others doubt the expertise and instead see a bunch of old fuddy duddys that are drunk on nostalgia and disrespect the 21st century boxers who stand on the shoulders of giants with a more refined degree of mastery of the sweet science.

If anyone would like to at least understand what the argument of the historians is based on Kyle walks the listener through his top 10 boxers of all time, taking time to make his case for his picks, giving the context, justification and explains his methods for studying past eras.

Any fight afficianado will appreciate Kyle's passion and knowledge and even if you disagree with him after listening I think you will at least understand and respect his fistorical perspective.

Between 1969 and 1978, 8 out of 10 ring magazine fights of the year were contested at heavyweight. This heavyweight era is by far and away the greatest of all time. In terms of talent, depth and all time great fighters and fights nothing comes close. The stars of the show are of course Muhammad Ali, George Foreman and Joe Frazier. All three men won an Olympic gold medal and all had a turn reigning as world champion in this golden era. Enjoy the best of the best in the heavyweight division in quality HD restoration.

1969 fight of the year Joe Frazier vs Jerry Quarry

Frazier (23-0, 20ko) is making the 4th defence of his NYSAC world heavyweight title, the title at this stage is fractured since Ali got stripped and banned. Frazier has one version jimmy Ellis the other. Jerry Quarry (31-2-4 18ko) steps up as the latest great white hope, a quality counter puncher with an iron chin and a lot of ticker for some reason decided to fight smoking Joe in a phone booth. The two went forehead to forehead and slugged it out until one couldn't continue.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8YzVPniVXTM&pp=ygURZnJhemllciB2cyBxdWFycnk%3D

1971 fight of the year Frazier vs Ali

Frazier (26-0, 23ko) followed up the Quarry fight by winning a unification bout against wba heavyweight champion Jimmy Ellis making him unified WBC, WBA, NYSAC, Ring magazine world champion. His first defence he sparked out the legendary light heavyweight Bob Foster. Meanwhile Ali (31-0, 26ko) had returned from his forced 3 and a half year hiatus with victories over contenders Jerry Quarry and Oscar Bonavena. Frazier's title claims still had a big asterix, Ali was the man and had never lost in the ring. The two undefeated bitter rivals faced in the Fight of the Century. One of the biggest sporting events of all time. Around 300m people watched live worldwide. Each man earnt a 2.5m dollar purse, the largest fee earnt by not only any sportsman but any entertainer in history. The fight did not disappoint, it's one of the best I've ever seen.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bsskKSS1LSA&pp=ygUOYWxpIHZzIGZyYXppZXI%3D

Frazier (29-0, 25ko) is now the undisputed king of the greatest heavyweight era of all time. Following his victory over Ali he has made two more successful defences of his belts and is now taking on the number 1 ranked challenger in big George Foreman (37-0, 34ko) Foreman having turned pro on the undercard of Frazier v Quarry has since been tearing through the division brutalizing all before him. His impressive record includes 10 first round knockouts and 12 2nd round knockouts. Frazier is 3-1 favourite going in, even those backing big George could not have imagined what would follow

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=s06uEUvv_Og&pp=ygUSZnJhemllciB2cyBmb3JlbWFu

To be continued