[Phantom]

I just loved this fight...saw it live. It had such a sudden and dramatic...and unexpected ending...love that Duane Thomas for taking advantage of the situation..

 

[Yiddle]

I will hold my hand up here and admit to thinking that Mugabi would win this easy . I was so impressed with his effort against hagler I thought Thomas had no chance . Didn't thomas disappoint after winning the title though beaten by Aquino and Rossi then didn't he have one or two fights then retire then have a fight quite a few years later . I might be wrong but I don't think he's with us anymore is he

 

[Sittin Sonny]

I will hold my hand up here and admit to thinking that Mugabi would win this easy . I was so impressed with his effort against hagler I thought Thomas had no chance .

The lesson: Never underestimate a Kronk man. :yep

That left uppercut that smashed Mugabi's eye socket was a thing of beauty. Notice that it landed on the opposite (left) side of Mugabi's face, much like the punch that Lara landed on Angulo which made him quit in a similar manner.

Didn't thomas disappoint after winning the title though beaten by Aquino and Rossi then didn't he have one or two fights then retire then have a fight quite a few years later . I might be wrong but I don't think he's with us anymore is he

All true. I don't remember why his career fizzled so badly - he was a good-looking fighter IMO, with good technical skill and a sharp punch. Prior to this fight, he had also beaten an up-and-coming Sumbu Kalambay. His death was in a drug-related shooting IIRC - maybe drugs had been a factor in his rapid decline as well?

 

[Sittin Sonny]

Incidentally, Mugabi eventually won this title several years later, when he beat the man who beat the man who beat the man who beat the man who beat Thomas.

 

[ThinBlack]

Duane Thomas was a Kronk homeboy.YOu knew Emanuel would have him prepared for the test.

 

[Phantom]

It was an enjoyable fight for seeing Thomas win the way he did....the eye injury to the Beast...and Thomas pouring it on...seizing the moment like he did...

 

[ThinBlack]

His only loss had been a cut stoppage to Buster Drayton, and I think he was winning that scrap, so it was nice to see Thomas win.

 

[Bill Jincock]

the 80s had a lot of junior middles that were good solid fighters at one point, but had a poor lifestyle outside the ring-or were just borderline lunatics-and weren't able to sustain good form consistently.

Drayton, Thomas, Aquino, Hilton, Hines, Mugabi..etc

You ended up with a fighter who wasn't much of a natural talent like Gianfranco Rosi having a better career than any of them, due to sheer work ethic and superior mentality.

 

[ThinBlack]

Very good point on Rosi.

 

[Bill Jincock]

Rosi once he hit his stride as a champ was often quite like a much more active, sloppier version of the old late 30s- 40s Hopkins.

Of course he was mocked and derided for his hideous style and considered by no means a P4P level fighter instead of being praised for being crafty, due to not being late-thirties + or having previously been great with a more talented looking approach.:lol:

In retrospect tbf he's quite underrated.Got to respect him for handling the hypejob Van Horn.

 

[ThinBlack]

Forgot about Van Horn, time really flies.