what an amazing record, does anyone know if there is any footage on him, im reading a book on unknown greats and cus d'mato is in there saying he is one of the finest he has ever seen.
From what im reading, he had a crouch style similar to marciano, and he was never knocked down, he beat the 175 champ in slattery so he had to be good.
A fantastic fighter. I've seen a picture of his exaggerated crouch, which made him as low as Pernell Whitaker's "dipsy-doo" stance. From what I've read he fought kind of like a jack-in-the-box, bobbing up and down and making you miss while he peppered you with fast punches. He was a teak-tough Irishman who could take all you had or make you miss. Take away a dislocated shoulder injury stoppage and Shade only failed to go the distance once in almost 250 fights (and that being early in his career). His brother Billy was a good fighter too (fought Greb several times). There was talk of a Greb-Dave Shade bout that never materialized. Here's a pic of them together (check out Harry's wandering eye. Glass perhaps??) This content is protected Even late in his career he was fighting and beating the best. Al Gainer was a dangerous young light-heavy on the rise when he took on Shade. Al got schooled that day.
I do believe his Leo Flynn stablemates Kid Norfolk and Panama Joe Gans taught him that style. Many years later Mike Capreano a huge Dave Shade admirer taught it to Lamotta.
