*First saw a pro fight in 1899. *Fleischer has refereed and judged more than 1,000 fights. [url]http://www.si.com/vault/1962/08/06/616495/mr-boxing-himself[/url]
Well he did box at 122, and he judged, and he was a referee, and he founded the Ring Magazine and wrote numerous books on boxing. You might want to read the damn article before opening your mouth, is that too much to ask?
Nat was Mr. Boxing and though he had his detractors and was a very stubborn set in his ways character he was as big a part of boxing journalism as was Sam Taub, Nat Loubet, Red Smith and many more. The first bout he saw was the Terry McGovern-Pedlar Palmer world title bout and his passion for the sport never waned. He was strongly against the alphabet titles and wasn't keen on the Jr weights either feeling they all weakened boxings structures and rewards. On his watch the Ring world ratings were without equal or question and though his preference of the old timers rankled some his views have become more accepted with the fighters of the fifties and sixties being more scrutinized today. Even his rejection of the sixties Ali from being all time top 10 caliber isn't screamed about as much as it once was.
Fleischer wasn't an Ali fan That is a major heresy and hurts his legacy on some forums. I won't say which ones. I'm surprised Ali's High Priest hasn't attacked this thread.
Nat saw Frazier beat Ali in 1971. He did not live to see Ali's best wins. He died in 1972. Had nat saw Ali beat Frazier in Manilla, and Foreman he would have revised his opinion.
He saw the "prime Ali" of the 1960s. He didn't think he deserved a place in the top ten. A win over Frazier probably wouldn't have put him there either. Who knows? Neither of us know, but I seriously doubt it. I think Fleischer knew a lot about Ali's wins over Liston, that few people know.
I knew Nat, he was always polite and took the time out to discuss boxing, the old timers and he gave me opinions on the newer guys. I used to go up to Ring Magazine on 31st street and as a teen, he always would chat, John Ort was also a good guy,John was son-in -law to Nat Loubet but Nat F. had seen them all from Langford to Johnson to Greb and Dempsey to Ali and his opinion carried much weight
When I was a young Navy Gob, I wrote a letter to Nat Fleischer asking him how would I go about being a cub reporter to his Ring Magazine, hardly expecting a reply to my request. Well Nat did reply to my missive telling me to go to college when I got out of the Navy...Well I did not follow his advice for I got hitched immediately after being discharged, goodbye my possible job in Ring Magazine, and the fights I engaged in was with my wife...But no one of Nat's time from 1900 til the day he died in 1972, saw as many ringside bouts as Nat Fleischer did in his long life...I remember the Ring Magazine office was in the old hallowed Madison Square Garden on 8th Ave, between 49th and 50th street in NYC....So many wonderful Friday nights I spent at the fights watching the great fighters of a Golden Age of boxng in the 1940s. Yessir...
I've also thought your writings reminded me of Sailor Sam Taub whom you listened to on the radio and I read in every old Ring magazine. I missed what could have been your columns there but always look forward to your postings here Burt.
Great experience you had growing up in New York Bummy! I always imagined Nat a testy growling type of a man, I was way off. I grew up in Minnesota and as a teen imagined doing just what you did, going up to the Ring offices and talking with Mr Fleischer. I'm glad that one of was able!
T, I could have never been as great a boxing fan of history was it not for Nat Fleischer's Ring Magazine. I started collecting old Ring Mags since a boy, some dating to the late 1920s and 1930s. Those old Ring Magazines from those days survived many decades, whilst the ring Mags of the WW2 days crumbled quicker because they were made from cheaper paper because of the war resulting with few surviving in pristine condition. Alas half of the old Ring Mags, and other boxing magazines were destroyed by Hurricane Sandy....Man proposes and Nature disposes it seems.
Boxer=Vanboxingfan;16745410]Well he did box at 122, and he judged, and he was a referee, and he founded the Ring Magazine and wrote numerous books on boxing. You might want to read the damn article before opening your mouth, is that too much to ask?[/QUOTE] Mr boxing made a ***** of the second Ali-Liston by poking his nose in when he had no jurisdiction at all.his ignoring of modern fighters was complete rubbish.I suppose you think he's more important to boxing than ali tyson etc etc. Boxer are more important than writers sonny