Should hall of famers who drew the color line not be rated as highly?

Yeah, why not.
I'd also vote to nuke America for its crimes against the natives, but I doubt the idea's been floated in Canastota.

 

But wouldn't that kill all the natives?

 

The few that remain, yes.
Admittedly the plan isn't without its flaws.

 

Of course.

 

sometimes politics and economics play a part in all of that. Jack Johnson basically drew the color line once he was champion, was it economics or politics or was it the case of navigation? I think it was economics and Johnson felt he was above the other fellows. In the case of Dempsey, he was pretty much controlled by Tex and there was one black fighter that he arguably avoided, Wills and he did fight the Wills victor Sharkey once he came out of his 3 year void.

we could say he avoided the best challenger of his era and unfortunately points would come off. The question is could he have fought Wills if he wanted to, Was it economics or politics?

In the case of Tunney I think we would have to see who the best of his times were and who beat who and how many did he avoid, he drew the color line but did he still beat the best of his era?

Sharkey,Schmeling,Carnera and Louis to Walcott and Marciano did not draw a color line and they fought the best. A few tough black guys Louis missed were beaten by Walcott and Galento and other challengers that Louis faced

Now Larry Holmes drew the color line as well not fighting Page,Thomas,Weaver (rematch and unification) Dokes, Witherspoon and Williams-rematches) so if you takes points off do it across the board

 

Absolutely not.

The only, repeat only consideration, should be who they beat.

 

In theory yes, but you still look at who they beat, and how.

If fighter A drew the colour line because he was wicked and cowardly, but he still has a better resume than fighter B, who fought all comers because he was a good and noble man, then fighter A is still better.

 

Ya right lets knock down a few HOF'r who drew the color line, like Joe Louis, SRR, Jack Johnson, everything is not always black and white.

 

I'd agree if as already suggested it was universal for fighters no matter what colour fighter that drew the line jack johnson being the prime example

 

I don't know.. Not sure I'm too keen on punishing history based on the norms of the future...

 

How about nuking Mongolia for their crimes against China/Central Asia? Or nuking Mexico for the Aztecs crimes against Central America?

 

It's not about punishing, it's about recognizing that a lot of supposedly dominant athletes never faced some of their most formidable, deserving opponents.

 

Sure let's start with:
John L Sullivan
Bob Fitzsimmons
Tom Sharkey
JimJeffries
Jess Willard
Jack Dempsey
Gene Tunney
Tommy Loughran
Young Stribling
How about if you only fight the poor ones or the ones past their sell by date , does that count ?
How many do you have to fight before you are ok?
Can you fight a token black and then get a pass?
Does anybody actually give any credibility to the HOF?