Twist vs Laraque - What's all this then?

[Mox MOx]

Originally Posted by T800m101

Laraque on Twist: “Tony Twist was definitely the toughest player I have ever fought. Just hearing that name gives me the shakes, that was was the real thing, and I'm glad I came out of that fight alive!”

Interesting that Laraque would say that as I remember him also saying that as a rookie he was very anxious to fight Twist, who around this time (98-99 season) was the most feared, if not the best, heavy in the league.

I remember Peter Worrell also saying that the only time he´s ever been nervous during a hockey game was when he lined up next to Twist during a face-off.

Here´s a longer clip with a replay of the Laraque-Twist bout and at the 1.03 mark of the clip you can see that Twist really catches Georges with a shot that snaps his head back.
I also find it interesting to see that Laraque turns away his head and avoids looking at Twist when the fight is over as if saying that he´s had enough:

YouTube - Tony Twist vs George Laraque

I also agree however that BGL would´ve probably fared better against Twist a few years later.
When it comes to fighting BGL is the Barry Beck of this era, a player who never loses and wins almost all of his of his scraps. But how entertaining was Beck? And how entertaining is Laraque?

Good thread, BBBB.

[battleship25]

Watched it 3 more times.... very few punches land ...both may've landed 1 more than I thought, hard to tell...... the last 2 windmill shots by TT landed but I still see them landing on the back of BGL- nothing, no damage. TT may've landed 1 earlier but nothing much ...which is why BGL survived...he really never got tagged.

I'll be the 1st to admit TT was a devastating puncher...almost in JK league. My problem was his accuracy was crap...he shook guys up and pulled them off balance - which is a good strategy really, but it makes for ugly fights where it's hard to tell what's landing ...when I got his tape from Nighthawk I was shocked at how few punches he actually landed- a good thing for the guys he fought- but doesn't make for good viewing....I enjoyed the Ray tape much more...longer, better fights, clean punches , more TKO/KO's, more action. TT would be a handful for anyone , no doubt , but I didn't care for the style...he was very sloppy...maybe too strong...but not genetic strength - the stuff from a science lab. Many are impressed by the big muscles, the attitude...I want to see what the guy does when he gets hammered ...does he fold like a cheap suit or does he have heart...the few times I saw TT get hit clean - he dropped or lost his balance more than I think he should've. Not a brittle chin , but not granite either.

Clark would beat JK.... sorry ..I forgot the subject, gotta open up another one .

[T800m101]

Here´s a longer clip with a replay of the Laraque-Twist bout and at the 1.03 mark of the clip you can see that Twist really catches Georges with a shot that snaps his head back.
I also find it interesting to see that Laraque turns away his head and avoids looking at Twist when the fight is over as if saying that he´s had enough

The first big punch Twist lands is at the 55 second mark, a right to the face that buckles Laraque. From that point on, it didn't look like Laraque wanted to trade punches anymore, just wanted to hang on. It's an interesting point you bring up, Laraque did the same thing against Grimson that year. Grimson landed a bomb to the forehead of Laraque and sent Laraque's helmet flying, and after that bomb by the Grim Reaper, Laraque just wanted to wrestle it seemed.

[Juha82]

Even serie between these two surely.
Prime Twist and prime Laraque.

[BaddaBing Badda Boom]

I never had any reservation about Twist landing that short right that buclked Laraque. BGL lands in the beginning, looks to KD big Tony, but not for long.

Look, I thought we agreed that we would not resort to "well, it was only his first year bit?" - I have a news flash, ready, Laraque, Twist, Wilson, Fotiu, etc...all did this in the minors, constantly! Its not like they came over to the NHL from doing project development at Microsoft - They are fighters! - From Jump Street! The essentials are the same! I really doubt that anything new short of Probert and Ray losing their Jerseys really surprised any fighter whether it was in their 3rd year in the minors, 1st year in the NHL, etc...so, I see it as a moot point - Let's look at what the evidence shows not what it might show, if only...

[OneilltheGiant]

So your saying a 22 year old Laraque is the same fighter as a 30 year old Laraque.. Or a young or old Probert is as good as a Probert in their Prime..

They are not..

[T800m101]

Originally Posted by OneilltheGiant

So your saying a 22 year old Laraque is the same fighter as a 30 year old Laraque.. Or a young or old Probert is as good as a Probert in their Prime..

They are not..

I think it's really subjective. I mean, would you take a 20 year old Simon, or a 30 year old Simon? I'd take the 20 year old Simon, hands down. He was tearing up the league when he first came in. That's not to say he wasn't a great fighter at 30....

[OneilltheGiant]

Originally Posted by T800m101

I think it's really subjective. I mean, would you take a 20 year old Simon, or a 30 year old Simon? I'd take the 20 year old Simon, hands down. He was tearing up the league when he first came in. That's not to say he wasn't a great fighter at 30....

I rate fighters when they where in the peak of their careers when judging them on how good they where... It's like saying Brashear when he was with Montreal he was the same fighter he was when at Vancouver or Philadelphia a few years later, he was not..

Or was Eric Cairns the same standard of fighter when he was with Rangers than when he was with the Islanders, He was not. He was much better when he was a few years older and stronger and wiser...

[2,5,10GameMatch]

Tony Twist would fukking rock BGL's melon every day of the week, the only reason why Laraque dominates in the NHL is because he's so damn strong but guess what?? as soon as he tangles with a guy who's just as or stronger, he loses, this was the case, I guarantee you Twist would have KO'ed him had he another chance.....

Its too bad about Twist's motorcycle accident because we would have had a few more seasons of watching him splatter Laraque and chase an unwilling Brashear.

[2,5,10GameMatch]

Originally Posted by Stan Jonathan#1

Agreed and also like Twist a lot. No doubt.

But here against Kocur he wanted NO PART of fighting. This shows how good Kocur is. You can make the case it was not a great fight but the reality is Twist could not handle Kocur and knew it. WHen a fighter like Clark vs Kocur comes up it is comical...Clark leads with his head and is not beating the great Kocur.

Twist is a great one and I give him the edge here against Laraque. Below it is a diff story.


Can anyone make sense of what Battleship wrote? Can you say overanalyzing?


YouTube - Tony Twist vs. Joey Kocur

I make TONS OF SENSE of what BS25 writes about, he has more knowledge in one of his bowel movements than you will ever have about hockey fight's/ers, so go away, no one likes you retard. (2,5,10 puts #1 back on "iggy").

[T800m101]

Originally Posted by OneilltheGiant

I rate fighters when they where in the peak of their careers when judging them on how good they where... It's like saying Brashear when he was with Montreal he was the same fighter he was when at Vancouver or Philadelphia a few years later, he was not..

Or was Eric Cairns the same standard of fighter when he was with Rangers than when he was with the Islanders, He was not. He was much better when he was a few years older and stronger and wiser...

I'm saying it's different for every fighter. For example, I would rather have a young Simon or Probert, and I'd rather have an older (more experienced) Brashear.

[BENNETTWOLF]

For what it's worth, i also agree that timing in a career can certainly make a difference due to the factors that have been cited. Again, my 2 cents saw Laraque land a good left early and the "twister" land a pretty jolting right later on that took the fight out of BGL a bit. Then, Twist got loose from his jersey etc and took over physically. I'd give Tony Twist an edge here.

It would probably be a more interesting series or fight from an anticipation standpoint than in reality if it were in a prime vs prime. Two dominant guys who generally got things done quickly and occasionally with devastating results but who rarely made for consistently entertaining scraps because of their sheer physical strength.

It would be interesting to see a Nordiques version of TNT in this hypothetical. He generally just squared up and looked to throw right hand bombs but wasn't quite as physically imposing. He was still well above average in regards to strength, power and intent but not nearly as frightening. Always a handful in any uniform at any time.

[GIANTSFAN]

Laraque is a top 5 fighter all time, where Twist is a top 30 all time fighter. Laraque hasn't been dropped like Twist was vs Ewen, Huard, Leroux & McKenzie. Laraque may not have as hard a punch as Twist, not as many KO's but his record of wins vs elite competition is as good as anyone. Laraque hasn't won all of his fights, nobody does, but his win/loss % is amazing. Twist never fought Domi, McSorley or Brashear. I'm not saying Twist ducked those guys, because I don't believe he did, but those guys are all elite fighters & omitted on Twist's fight card. In too many of Twist's fights, he hits helmets & shoulder pads. He had poor accuracy & not great stamina. He could knock your block off, but he also left himself vulnerable because he swung from the ice. I really don't mind both guys, but I don't like the mouthing off Twist did & fact he never thought much of McSorley, especially since they never fought. I prefer the pre roided up Twist as well.

[ewen21]

Originally Posted by 2,5,10GameMatch

Tony Twist would fukking rock BGL's melon every day of the week, the only reason why Laraque dominates in the NHL is because he's so damn strong but guess what?? as soon as he tangles with a guy who's just as or stronger, he loses, this was the case, I guarantee you Twist would have KO'ed him had he another chance.....

Its too bad about Twist's motorcycle accident because we would have had a few more seasons of watching him splatter Laraque and chase an unwilling Brashear.

The underlined stuff.

[2,5,10GameMatch]

Originally Posted by GIANTSFAN

Laraque is a top 5 fighter all time, where Twist is a top 30 all time fighter. Laraque hasn't been dropped like Twist was vs Ewen, Huard, Leroux & McKenzie. Laraque may not have as hard a punch as Twist, not as many KO's but his record of wins vs elite competition is as good as anyone. Laraque hasn't won all of his fights, nobody does, but his win/loss % is amazing. Twist never fought Domi, McSorley or Brashear. I'm not saying Twist ducked those guys, because I don't believe he did, but those guys are all elite fighters & omitted on Twist's fight card. In too many of Twist's fights, he hits helmets & shoulder pads. He had poor accuracy & not great stamina. He could knock your block off, but he also left himself vulnerable because he swung from the ice. I really don't mind both guys, but I don't like the mouthing off Twist did & fact he never thought much of McSorley, especially since they never fought. I prefer the pre roided up Twist as well.

I disagree man, look at Probert in the mid to late 90's, he could still get wins against Brashear and Laraque but Twist fukking killed him everytime, BGL has had it easy because of his size advantage yet he still cant beat Shawn Thornton on a regular basis, overrated.