Better All-Around Fighter: Primo Carnera or Riddick Bowe?

"Primo carnera was six feet five and weighing around 260lb, had always been considered by experts to be only a mediocre boxer. The said he could not really punch, that he just sort of clubbed his opponents. In fact, his reach was much greater than any opponent, and the leverage that gave him enabled his punches to penetrate almost any defence. In contrast to the experts, I had always considered Carnera to be a technically sound boxer, so I was not in the least suprised to hear he had knocked Sharkey out in the sixth round to become the second European to win the world heavyweight title. Within the year he successfully defended the his title against Paulino. He did this in Italy in front of Mussolini." - Max Schmeling. Autobiography.


"But against Carnera you did hsve to be careful. For such a big man, he was deceptively fast. He didn't really punch his weight, but he was a very damaging puncher just the same" - Larry Gains autobiography. Page 107



"He was a good man and one whom the game treated very badly. I have watched the film of his fight with Max Baer and heard men laugh, as they saw the big Italian hit the canvas over and oVer again. They should have cheered instead. Baer was a terrific puncher and only a very brave man could have taken that sort of punishment and kept coming back the way Carnera did that night.
He of course came too late to the game...too late to learn the trade. It's true he was not a great champion. But remember he was the heavyweight champion of all the world. No one can take that away from him." - Larry Gains Autobiography page 108



Max Bear predicted Primo would beat Joe Louis! Here is a quote from Max Baer:
"On march 28th Max Baer came out in favour of Primo to win the fight. Max told the press that Primo would explode the meteoric rush of the young Louis. He acknowledged Joe might well knock Primo down but recalling his own fight with the tenacious Italian nine months earlier the champion predicted with his usual certainty that Primo would get back on his feet "I haven't forgot how many times he was down and up in my fight with him that I got dizzy keeping track of the knockdowns, and I wasn't fooling when I hit him either!" Max predicted that if primo was in the same condition as he was when he fought him then Primo would wear the young man from Detroit down."- Primo Carnera, the life and career of the heavyweight champion by Joseph S. Page.



"Carnera was a much better fighter than I gave him credit for. Of course there is a lot of controversy relative to his bouts but, be that as it may, the fellows a better fighter than given credit for.
Carnera's style and his reach, you've got to find a way to get to him, well I did that the first time. The second time I realised I'd just do the same thing again, but I didn't give him credit that he might improve. He handled me with ease. He picked me up bodily and placed me over near the ropes. Those arms were like limbs of a tree and, when he put them in front of him, there was nothing to hit." -Jack Sharkey.

 

That's a strange position to take considering Jess Willard has enjoyed something of a resurgence in popularity! Still I suppose you have to clutch at whatever you can.

 

At least Carnera's supporters are providing detailed explanations of their reasoning, and backing it up with footage.

Carnera's detractors just throw ad hominem insults at him; like that he was an unskilled stiff, without providing any explanation of their position.

When challenged to provide this, they just respond with "it’s obvious", or some other evasive reply.

That is the behaviour of somebody taking an ideological position, who probably hasn’t even though it out very clearly.

 

Watch him against Campolo and Impelletiere.

 

Never mind the Hollywood version, Why not read about what max Schmeling, Max Baer, Jack Sharkey and Larry Gains say about Carneras legitimacy as a fighter? I have posted Quotes and sources on post # 228

 

lol Boxiana will never be the same after this week.

They almost fooled us if it weren't for that meddling footage with revolutionary accessibility.

 

Choklab KO Gallico 2

 

U wot

 

Haha nah it's slang.
It roughly translates to "Whatchu talking about Willis."

 

Did you just add that "fair" part?

If you actually do an analysis on Carneras weaknesses that is fair and open minded, I guarantee you that you can spark a good debate. People here react better when they feel like those posing the questions aren't doing so as a hit job.

I know Carnera has shortcomings. But I also know Tyson Fury has similar ones. And that other SHWs don't always looks so great. And I also know that they can be extremely effective despite some technical or physical shortcoming. I'm balancing all of that.

You on the other hand seem to have a blind vendetta against old school fighters, where you blame them for everything while excusing or even congratulating modern fighters for doing the same thing.

All of you who say that "classicists" don't give modern fighters their due are plain wrong. When GGG came around even Beinstock said "Holy cow. Yep, he's he real deal!"

 

As easy as most SHWs.