Sparring Stories

Hey everyone. A friend of mine sent me on this report from a guy who has sparred with some of the top heavyweights and thought I would share it with you guys. It gives a good viewpoint of the kind of power that these heavyweights have.

Riddicks power wasnt memorable to me. It probably got better as he got older, cause he never even remotely buzzed me in either of our contests.

Lennox hit like a Frak tank. He cowed me; I won the first round, and he literally broke my spirit and took my soul with a right uppercut and straight right hand in the 2nd. I tried to stay away, and forgot to punch. He never got me quite as good again, but I will never forget those two punches. When we sparred years later, he hit very hard. Distinctly unpleasant to be hit by the man.

David Tua was unpleasant. I can't see myself getting stopped by him early, as he never really staggers me, but every shot hurt, and he'd bang. Every other guy I ever sparred would box when I got aggressive, but David would stand his ground and give. I'd get these horrible headaches after sparring with him, and Dave told me once that whenever he knew I was on the dance card, he'd drink extra water for his brain. Nice guy. Hit like a wrecking ball. David Tua hit hard enough to knock my headgear clean around my face. Dude had a pretty limited style, but that left was quick as a cobra when he was sharp, and boy did it have bite. Having sparred them both, Wladimir would school Tua and probably turn out his lights. He just lacks almost any sort of refinement to his violence. Granted, I don't really either unless I'm really, really on that day, but the best heavyweights I've sparred handled me a lot easier than David did.
Feels kinda bad critiquing the dude, though. He's a fun guy, super hospitable and friendly, hit like a truck and put me through plenty of painful paces. I only hope our careers and lives don't end up with me required to face him with 12's and no mask. I can't afford the surgery.

Evander Holyfield was a machine gun. He put me on my butt first round we ever sparred with a 7 or 8 punch volley. He just punched well; He'd move around and when he let them go, they hit, hard and fast and in large numbers. He was the weakest of the group since Bowe, but probably the most dangerous. He never found me difficult to find, and turned me into a bobble head more than once.

George Foreman was tricky. His jab was absolutely numbing-Ive never felt a jab like that, where your whole face would feel like it got novacained after he hit you with it. He'd also throw light punches primarily, almost pitty pat, till he had the opening, and then he'd wallop you. His punches had the most force; They didn't hurt any worse than Tua or Lewis, but I remember how badly they'd screw with my balance. His shots moved me. He also broke my nose with a straight right.

Wladimir Klitschko hit me by far the hardest, though. I couldn't get past the jab, and his right hands hit like thunder. They reminded me of Lewis', but they were quicker and sharper. Wladimir staggered me regularly in sparring. There are literally whole rounds I don't remember. He also knocked me out with a left hook. Not down, out. Only time in my life I've seen canvas and not been able to stand up by 10 seconds.

Not much point to this article unless you tell us who it is ???

I've got a friend who regularly beat the crap out of Leonard, Hearns, Hagler and Duran..

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Not much point to this article unless you tell us who it is ???

I've got a friend who regularly beat the crap out of Leonard, Hearns, Hagler and Duran..

We all stopped believing your post after we read "I've got a friend..."

I've got an imaginary one....We go everywhere together..

That has been sitting online for 3 or 4 years, I read it on another forum.

monty junior wrote:That has been sitting online for 3 or 4 years, I read it on another forum.

I thought the same as I read it, Monty. A few of the lines seemed to ring a bell.

Same, didn't you post it a bit ago Monty?

http://www.ajdugger.com/forum.html#nabble-td4090601

At a glance, that is the earliest record I can find of this transcript. Nearly 3 years old now. And yes, it has been posted on 606v2 before.

That was a great read thanks

This guy must be brain damaged by now.

catchweight wrote:This guy must be brain damaged by now.

Ask him next time he's on here.

"There are literally whole rounds I don't
remember."

Well, that's not good.

Think that's been posted on here before years ago. Good read though if true

kingraf wrote:"There are literally whole rounds I don't
remember."

I can relate to that, can't remember if I had toast for breakfast.

Understandable at your advancing years Milky.

kingraf wrote:Understandable at your advancing years Milky.

You know, Sometimes I can't even remember if I had toast for breakfast

milkyboy wrote:

kingraf wrote:Understandable at your advancing years Milky.

You know, Sometimes I can't even remember if I had toast for breakfast

I know what your Wife had for breakfast the other day ....

God, has she been nibbling chipolatas again.

Never mind that, I can't even remember if I had toast for breakfast.

milkyboy wrote:God, has she been nibbling chipolatas again.

Never mind that, I can't even remember if I had toast for breakfast.

No clue. I have the same meal every breakfast.

John Bloody Wayne wrote:Same, didn't you post it a bit ago Monty?

Indeed John, maybe a year or so ago. Interesting read though!

Yeah the article is a few years old but I hadnt read it before. I was surprised he said Klitschko hits the hardest.

hayemaker wrote:Yeah the article is a few years old but I hadnt read it before. I was surprised he said Klitschko hits the hardest.

I'm not suprised. If Wlad decides to let his hands go, I don't think many heavyweights could stand up to it. In fact if Wlad had Vitali's Durability he would probably be near unbeatable for any heavyweight in history.

That's baloney...Wlad is so successful because he doesn't let his hands go....He's slow and he's got no chin....Could anyone imagine what a Liston, Foreman, Shavers, Tyson, Frazier or even Tua would do with a slug that let's his hands go..

Wlad is intelligent..He stinks but he wins..

He stinks because he has a glass jaw. Khan is doing the same thing. Mayweather stinks quite a bit too.

Not many hevies out there who can outbox Wlad tho TRUSS.

What nugget of a mod deleted my JabMachine post.

Soldier_Of_Fortune wrote:What nugget of a mod deleted my JabMachine post.

I did soldier

you know the house rules mate.

Soldier_Of_Fortune wrote:What nugget of a mod deleted my JabMachine post.

I had one deleted...Never mind you can still have pops at me....I'll let you!!

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:

Soldier_Of_Fortune wrote:What nugget of a mod deleted my JabMachine post.

I had one deleted...Never mind you can still have pops at me....I'll let you!!

Its not my wish to delete comments but I must adhere to the HR. If you have further questions you can PM me.

cheers.

Wlad is not exciting but he gets the win. If Joe Louis is held in such high regard then Wlad should too. Joe fought all sorts of bums and many have him as the the best or 2nd greatest heavy ever.

I agree Louis beat plenty of chaff...But they did bother to get in shape..He also beat the guy who destroyed him and didn't rely on big bro to sort him out..

I had toast for breakfast...or was it cereal.

Anyway, I sparred once when I was 13. Didn't like getting hit in the face...or anywhere else and promptly sacked the whole thing off. Very happy to watch someone else get hit in the face ever since but decided the fight game wasn't for me. Shame really as my pre fight slanging matches would be brilliant even if the fights themselves were dreadful affairs.

Anyway, I had toast for breakfast...or maybe it was cereal.

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:I agree Louis beat plenty of chaff...But they did bother to get in shape..He also beat the guy who destroyed him and didn't rely on big bro to sort him out..

Point taken but Louis should not be top 2 imo. He has a good record of stats, thats it. Ali is ten times the fighter Louis is, yet some rate Louis as high because of longevity. Joke!

Louis is my number 2.... But he's miles behind the number 1..

ONETWOFOREVER wrote:

Soldier_Of_Fortune wrote:What nugget of a mod deleted my JabMachine post.

I did soldier

you know the house rules mate.

Dont mention JabMachines past imaginary sparring exploits.............can't see that in the house rules.

Comes under rule 1 & 3. Easier to clean up now than wait for it to be one numerous pages.

AdamT wrote:Wlad is not exciting but he gets the win. If Joe Louis is held in such high regard then Wlad should too. Joe fought all sorts of bums and many have him as the the best or 2nd greatest heavy ever.

Louis is lauded not only for what he did but HOW he did it. One of the finest technicians in the sport and utilized a whole array of punches.
How many people still discuss an upcoming Wlad fight by including the phrase "Jab, jab, grab"? For a man with such physically impressive attributes (ooh Matron) Wlad is one of the most disappointing HW to hold a belt but as TRUSS says, it's his inability to take a decent shot that's the cause of his safety first approach. He's unlikely to throw anything that's not 100% guaranteed to land and leave him open to a counterpunch...which is smart...but so very, very dull to watch. He stays at arm's length (as he simply can't fight on the inside) and generally misses about seven opportunities to throw a fight ending shot every contest for fear of ending up flat on his back.

Lousi fought chaff but dispatched them with aplomb. Wlad fights chaff and ekes out a points win.

I had cereal for breakfast....but come to think of it, it might have been toast

AdamT wrote:

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:I agree Louis beat plenty of chaff...But they did bother to get in shape..He also beat the guy who destroyed him and didn't rely on big bro to sort him out..

Point taken but Louis should not be top 2 imo. He has a good record of stats, thats it. Ali is ten times the fighter Louis is, yet some rate Louis as high because of longevity. Joke!

Who would you put above him Adam into the number 2 slot?

Rowley wrote:

AdamT wrote:

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:I agree Louis beat plenty of chaff...But they did bother to get in shape..He also beat the guy who destroyed him and didn't rely on big bro to sort him out..

Point taken but Louis should not be top 2 imo. He has a good record of stats, thats it. Ali is ten times the fighter Louis is, yet some rate Louis as high because of longevity. Joke!

Who would you put above him Adam into the number 2 slot?

I know you are not asking this Adam but I will answer - Frazier

Only 5 of his last 18 opponents have seen the final bell so he certainly doesn't eek out a points win every time. Just most people find his style horrible to watch so they assume every fight goes to points.

Holmes

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Louis is my number 2....  But he's miles behind the number 1..

Ali is the greatest ever. I use to say Robinson and Armstrong like every one else. Name another fighter who hadn't fought in 3 years and came back slower and still beat monsters like foreman and Frazier. Ali is the greatest imo.

I don’t much care for Wlad’s style, is certainly not a career box set I will be buying. However as I have said countless times he has found a style that works for him and perhaps more crucially protects his main weakness. There is something admirable in all that. Distaste over his style would only have any validity if he was fighting in front of 20 people, but he has found an audience who seem only too happy to lap it up, he is winning, not getting bashed up and making good money in doing so, fair play to him.

As I have said previously, you want to criticise anyone criticise the useless contenders who all go in knowing exactly what Wlad will do but cannot come up with one viable game plan between them to make him vary things up or step out of his comfort zone.

He's dull but effective but the word to take away and digest (for me at least) is "dull"

Some are content to sit and watch his glorified sparring sessions but it's gone long past the stage where I will bother to tune in to one of his fights

DAVE667 wrote:He's dull but effective but the word to take away and digest (for me at least) is "dull"

Some are content to sit and watch his glorified sparring sessions but it's gone long past the stage where I will bother to tune in to one of his fights

Mayweather??

Ali's my number 1 because of Frazier,Liston and Foreman...Truly chilling monsters that mere mortals crapped their pants over....

Plus 15 years at or near the top always helps..

Holmes no way....Even worse Hampo thinks Wlad is good to watch..

hampo171 wrote:Comes under rule 1 & 3. Easier to clean up now than wait for it to be one numerous pages.

How does a post 'JabMachine........' breaks these two rules?

AdamT wrote:

DAVE667 wrote:He's dull but effective but the word to take away and digest (for me at least) is "dull"

Some are content to sit and watch his glorified sparring sessions but it's gone long past the stage where I will bother to tune in to one of his fights

Mayweather??

Are you serious.....Are you comparing Maidana to Mormeck

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:

AdamT wrote:

DAVE667 wrote:He's dull but effective but the word to take away and digest (for me at least) is "dull"

Some are content to sit and watch his glorified sparring sessions but it's gone long past the stage where I will bother to tune in to one of his fights

Mayweather??

Are you serious.....Are you comparing Maidana to Mormeck

Truss it was in jest. I'm actually a huge Floyd fan, just enjoy a bit of wum