Reznick can we clarify this thread is ONLY about his ability in his prime? Not his legacy/achievements?
NoBody would pick the first two. This is more like it. Primo was at one time, if only for a day, genuinely the best in the world. Really.
I think we are judging him based on or around his prime. And I'm starting to realize that it's hard to ignore achievements when assessing abilities. At some point you have to talk about who he used his abilities against, how good they were, etc.
You guys think there should be an option between "Good" and "ATG"? Like "Championship level boxer" or something? Or is it just fine the way it is? Are there non ATG fighters who won the lineal title and defended it at least once?
He essentially sits in his own category for the era. He was not as good as Schmaling, sharkey or Baer, but he was significantly better than anybody else around. Louis Schmeling, Sharkey, Baer in whatever order you prefer. Carnera The rest
If I had to (and I don't, my poll clears everything up) I would have: 1,Fraudulent oaf 2, legit but No better than journeyman 3, legit World level 4,legit and Good enough to be champion 5, All time legend.
I dispute that he was better than Schaaf who beat ; Poreda Uzcudun Loughran Renault Braddock Baer Stribling Galento I dispute that he was better than Larry Gains who beat him. I dispute that he was better than Johnny Risko who beat: Baer Levinsky Heeney Maloney Griffiths Loughran
you don't know if Primo wasn't better (over all) than Schaaf, Risko and Gains? But Primo himself beat Schaaf. Primo beat Neusel, chuck wiggins and don mckorkindale who all beat Gains. Primo beat Nattie brown, laughran, Jim maloney who all beat risko
Well according to many posters on these forums he should be the greatest heavyweight of his era due to his height and size. But, Baer almost killed him and nobody accused Baer of ever being slick. He's a bottom tier heavyweight champion
We would have to rank him above these men because: A. He won the lineal title which none of them did. B. He established himself as the outstanding contender which none of them did. C. He surpasses all of them in terms of depth of opposition. I am impressed by Schaff, but he died at a fairly critical point in the timeline, thus preventing him from advancing further. Risko and Gains never really distinguished themselves from the other contemporary contenders. the rest is history as they say.