MIRACLE MATTHEW: Abandoned as a child, Matthew Saad Muhammad discovers the sport of boxing in prison and is the WBC Light Heavyweight Champion of the World for two and a half years. In 1998, he becomes a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Matthew was a great fighter. He was involved in some all-time wars with Dwight (Braxton) Qawi, He took a lot of punches from some great fighters and pretty much suffered the same fate as fighters like Quarry, Ali, etc.....Our brains aren't supposed to be battered like these warrior's brains were. A very hefty price to pay for fame. Matthew was one of the great light heavyweights in boxing history.
Another excellent recap. Thank you Rich. John Conteh was a fighter my father always told me to get tapes of when I was an amateur as he said he was a textbook very correct boxer with an excellent jab. I didn’t listen. I was bombs away thinking I was Matthew Hilton Dave Boy Green. John Conteh lives down the road from me today and I see him occasionally at the bank or a coffee shop. He always stops to chat about boxing. A gentleman and in good health I’m pleased to say.
Thank you for this Rich. I was a fan of Conteh , on the up & he was the first pro fight my dad took me to. Mathew was devastating with those lefts of his. I became a big fan of him .Bless 👊
Matthew Saad, always looked a weight heavier than his opponents, a tough guy, always gave value for money. Thanks for another excellent delve Into boxing history.
Conteh had been a great fighter with bags of talent but was seriously past his best in this fight. He was past his best in the first fight but still made it close and might have stopped Saad on cuts in the first fight had Saad's trainer not used an illegal substance to seal it. Conteh had been a devastating fighter with power in both hands but breaking his right hand twice, once in a car crash and loose living had left him diminished. He won his World title at 33 and was robbed against Parlov. Watch him widely outpoint Yacqui Lopez using just one hand - Lopez nearly stopped Saad himself. In the first Saad fight Conteh was ahead on points and had edged it again using his left almost exclusively but seemed to run out of gas in the last two rounds. He still has all his marbles and does okay on the after dinner circuit.
I saw a recent interview with John who is now in his early seventies. Still looks good and has his faculties intact. A fighter who made his money and goy out at the right time.
The first fight seemed to be lost by Conteh in the last three rounds. But, in reality, Matthew was up 8-4 on two score cards going into the thirteen round due to the fact that most American boxing judges do not count jabs as significant punches--And John was truly outclassing Saad Muhammad with his left jab. Doubling & tripling with it, after the fifth, Conteh was outpointing the champion as he was coming in. At the time, I thought the first fight was 6-6 going into the 13th. The rematch showed how mercurial John had become in his boxing skills by his late 20's. One day, he had them and the next day, he didn't. Conteh lost the early rounds as in the first fight, while Matthew knew exactly what to do to knock him out--And he did.
Partying was definitely John’s big downfall . There was a story about him wrecking his Rolls Royce while drunk driving when he was champ , superbly talent boxer Conteh’s last great effort was his first fight with Saad . That was brutal 15 rounder and John came up just short
Conteh was past his best at this point, probably the UK's best ever light heavyweight though. Saad Muhammad was a great fighter. Technically flawed but so tough and powerful.
Jeez Matthew hit hard, it's hard to believe that Marvin Johnson managed two wars with this guy. Would have loved to see him at his peak against the Jinx Spinks. Your research skills into the history of boxing and details and facts never fail to astonish me. Had some fan mail Rich, who was your hero growing up watching boxing and what was a big fight you saw that they ended up loosing?
Saad & Sugar Ray Leonard were among my favorites. I remember turning the second Saad-Lopez on and off and back on again because I was scared Saad was going to lose.
Matthew Saad Muhammad was your typical Philadelphia Blood and Guts fighter. Unfortunately for him, those wars that he had with John Conteh, Marvin Johnson, and Yaqui Lopez took a lot out of him before he lost his title to Dwight Muhammad Qawi.
Watching Matthew fight makes me chuckle at the books showing Ray Leonard as a light heavyweight champ 😂. Matthew was one bad dude worthy of respect. Rip champ
interesting about the butting.. conteh did have a reputation for that.. he eas a spiteful fighter.. in his short prime .. he was elite.. i believe the best British boxer of all time
I've recently watched several of Conteh's fights for the first time and many of his opponents "mysteriously" suffered bad cuts. He had a habit of following his punches with his head. Obviously a good fighter and a good person from what I've read but the head butts happened too often to be accidental.
Conteh was a good fighter but by this stage in his career had become a one handed fighter. His right hand had been his big punch. But he had broken it twice and in this fight he never actually threw a right hand. After Conteh retired he tried to make a comeback but the British Boxing Board of Control wouldn't give him his licence back because a brain scan had shown an anomaly in relation to the stem of his brain. He went into acting and is now an after dinner speaker.
AWESOME M.SADD. MY FAVORITE LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT OF ALLTIME.
MIRACLE MATTHEW:
Abandoned as a child, Matthew Saad Muhammad discovers the sport of boxing in prison and is the WBC Light Heavyweight Champion of the World for two and a half years. In 1998, he becomes a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Matthew was a great fighter. He was involved in some all-time wars with Dwight (Braxton) Qawi, He took a lot of punches from some great fighters and pretty much suffered the same fate as fighters like Quarry, Ali, etc.....Our brains aren't supposed to be battered like these warrior's brains were. A very hefty price to pay for fame. Matthew was one of the great light heavyweights in boxing history.
Another excellent recap. Thank you Rich. John Conteh was a fighter my father always told me to get tapes of when I was an amateur as he said he was a textbook very correct boxer with an excellent jab. I didn’t listen. I was bombs away thinking I was Matthew Hilton Dave Boy Green. John Conteh lives down the road from me today and I see him occasionally at the bank or a coffee shop. He always stops to chat about boxing. A gentleman and in good health I’m pleased to say.
Thanks, John. Cool to hear that you talk to Conteh.
Thank you for this Rich. I was a fan of Conteh , on the up & he was the first pro fight my dad took me to. Mathew was devastating with those lefts of his. I became a big fan of him .Bless 👊
My pleasure, Nick. Conteh was definitely one of Britain's best.
WOW. Nice. Sometimes you have to lose to learn. Happens in every sport. Ur correct 💯
Matthew Saad, always looked a weight heavier than his opponents, a tough guy, always gave value for money. Thanks for another excellent delve Into boxing history.
My pleasure, Pam.
Matthew Saad Muhammad didn't know how to put on a boring fight. He was one of the most exciting fighters to ever step in the ring.
Saad Muhammad & Conteh we’re two of my favorite fighters as a teenager. Thanks Rich for replaying in fight in my mind.
My pleasure, Scott.
John Conteh was Buddy Mcgirts favourite British fighter 🥊
Conteh was in decline was a good fighter but outclassed here. Still see Conteh over here in the UK as after dinner speaker very funny guy cheers Rich
Conteh had been a great fighter with bags of talent but was seriously past his best in this fight. He was past his best in the first fight but still made it close and might have stopped Saad on cuts in the first fight had Saad's trainer not used an illegal substance to seal it. Conteh had been a devastating fighter with power in both hands but breaking his right hand twice, once in a car crash and loose living had left him diminished. He won his World title at 33 and was robbed against Parlov. Watch him widely outpoint Yacqui Lopez using just one hand - Lopez nearly stopped Saad himself. In the first Saad fight Conteh was ahead on points and had edged it again using his left almost exclusively but seemed to run out of gas in the last two rounds. He still has all his marbles and does okay on the after dinner circuit.
That should read 23 not 33 - sausage fingers!
I watched the first fight like an hour ago. What timing!
I saw a recent interview with John who is now in his early seventies.
Still looks good and has his faculties intact.
A fighter who made his money and goy out at the right time.
John Conteh is on cover of the massively popular and famous “Band on the Run” album by Paul McCartney and Wings
thanks for the upload
My pleasure, Byron.
The first fight seemed to be lost by Conteh in the last three rounds. But, in reality, Matthew was up 8-4 on two score cards going into the thirteen round due to the fact that most American boxing judges do not count jabs as significant punches--And John was truly outclassing Saad Muhammad with his left jab. Doubling & tripling with it, after the fifth, Conteh was outpointing the champion as he was coming in. At the time, I thought the first fight was 6-6 going into the 13th.
The rematch showed how mercurial John had become in his boxing skills by his late 20's. One day, he had them and the next day, he didn't. Conteh lost the early rounds as in the first fight, while Matthew knew exactly what to do to knock him out--And he did.
Tank job.
The rematches to these great 1980s fights tended to be Caddyshack II level sequels compared to the first fights
I had only read about this fight. First time seeing it. Both guys are good but Saad was a beast
Thanks for the breakdown ❤
Sure thing, John.
This was one of those 1980s rematches that just fell as flat as Caddyshack II.
I heard Conteh had personal problems and did too much partying by the time he fought Saad Muhammad.
Partying was definitely John’s big downfall . There was a story about him wrecking his Rolls Royce while drunk driving when he was champ , superbly talent boxer Conteh’s last great effort was his first fight with Saad . That was brutal 15 rounder and John came up just short
Conteh was past his best at this point, probably the UK's best ever light heavyweight though. Saad Muhammad was a great fighter. Technically flawed but so tough and powerful.
It’s Conteh or Len Harvey. Both great boxers.
Jeez Matthew hit hard, it's hard to believe that Marvin Johnson managed two wars with this guy. Would have loved to see him at his peak against the Jinx Spinks. Your research skills into the history of boxing and details and facts never fail to astonish me.
Had some fan mail Rich, who was your hero growing up watching boxing and what was a big fight you saw that they ended up loosing?
Saad & Sugar Ray Leonard were among my favorites. I remember turning the second Saad-Lopez on and off and back on again because I was scared Saad was going to lose.
Thanks Rich!
My pleasure, Christopher.
Matthew Saad Muhammad was your typical Philadelphia Blood and Guts fighter. Unfortunately for him, those wars that he had with John Conteh, Marvin Johnson, and Yaqui Lopez took a lot out of him before he lost his title to Dwight Muhammad Qawi.
Watching Matthew fight makes me chuckle at the books showing Ray Leonard as a light heavyweight champ 😂. Matthew was one bad dude worthy of respect. Rip champ
interesting about the butting.. conteh did have a reputation for that.. he eas a spiteful fighter.. in his short prime .. he was elite.. i believe the best British boxer of all time
I've recently watched several of Conteh's fights for the first time and many of his opponents "mysteriously" suffered bad cuts. He had a habit of following his punches with his head. Obviously a good fighter and a good person from what I've read but the head butts happened too often to be accidental.
Sorry Rich, can't watch a childhood hero get his arse kicked, liked Saad a lot but loved Conteh
Ah, third Conteh fan here. He was class.
he was technically one of the best fighter's I v seen
I am reading “Warrior” by Tris Dixon
Worth a read 💯
I read "Road to Nowhere". Great stuff.
Conteh was a good fighter but by this stage in his career had become a one handed fighter. His right hand had been his big punch. But he had broken it twice and in this fight he never actually threw a right hand. After Conteh retired he tried to make a comeback but the British Boxing Board of Control wouldn't give him his licence back because a brain scan had shown an anomaly in relation to the stem of his brain. He went into acting and is now an after dinner speaker.
A prime Conteh would have taken Saad. Conteh was robbed in their first fight.
Dive