Heavyweight year-end ratings, 1880-1891.

I think LPR was pretty near dead by the 1880's, especially the late 1880's. Jem Smith is the last fighter I know of I could call an LPR specialist. I think even he had more fights with gloves, but his style was very much more wrestly, and he seems to have been significantly better at boxing under LPR than with gloves.

I honestly don't think the difference between fighting under the rulesets of early gloved and late LPR are that different. Early gloved matches tended to be more leniant on LPR tactics anyway. The closest modern equivelent would probably be amateur vs professional boxing. You get some Audley Harrisons and Rocky Marcianos who are only successful in one. But there's a lot of correlation between success in them.

 

When is that from?

 

George Fryer/Freyer will need researched. Apparently he was amateur Heavyweight champion of England in 1881. He was also going to be in the Billy Madden contest Mitchell won, but didn't attend due to a cold.
http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/32628
https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/charlie-mitchell.622951/

 

Sporting Life - Saturday 02 June 1883
STUART'S BOXING COMPETITIONS AND EXHIBITIONS
The final heats of these contests took place at the Alexandra Rink, Nottingham, on Tuesday last, before numerous company. J. Cooper was the winner of the local competition. In the penultimate heats of the open competition (under 10st 4Ib) Ching Ghook, of London (black), beat Walter Pickard, of Bradford, the contest being very equal, as was also the draw between George Wilson, of Leicester, and Will Atkins, of Nottingham, the former gaining the veridct. Atkins is now forty-three years of age, and has been before the public over twenty years. In the final heat Wilson beat beat Ching Ghook, after some excellent sparring. Alfred Kilbride of Bradford (the winner of Mr. Madden's Competition at Leicester), was also entered for the competition, but was not down to the weight. Some exhibition sparring between Edward Carter V. Alf Kilbride, Young Halford v. Prussian (W. Sherriff), Alf Greenfield, of Birmingham v. George Fryer of Nottingham; and J. Collins (Tug Wilson), of Leicester, v. W. Springall, of London, completed a grand display of science; Springall and Greenfield also showing to great advantage

 

Matt, these are very interesting. Thanks for sharing them.

I have one query - McAffery was unranked in 1881 but 9th in 1882. What did he do to earn this placing? According to Boxrec and Cyber Boxing he only had 1 fight in 1882, which he lost by 3rd round KO to another unranked fighter Harry Gilmore.

 

HI Matt, did you consider including Pete Nolan in 1886? He had a draw and a win over Burke (#5) in the year.

 

I have to congratulate you guys making this reaearch.
This is quite difficult.