Midget Wolgast - Beautiful Boxing

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by roughdiamond, Apr 26, 2019.


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  1. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

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    Awesome highlight by HaNZAgod of one of my favourite fighters, top 5 Flyweight Midget Wolgast.

    Enjoy.

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    roughdiamond, Apr 26, 2019
    roughdiamond, Apr 26, 2019
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  2. Tippy

    Tippy Member Full Member

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    Such a talent. Really glad there is a few fights of his available, he did so well at so many different things, fighting out far jabbing and moving to an up close hands down or to his face aggressive style, he was really just dynamic overall as a fighter. If i'm remembering correctly he had trouble with drinking or food (or both) and had some weight fluctuations effecting him with some lackluster performances attributed to that (may be remembering that incorrectly though)

    And that left hook is great, quick on the counter and accurate.
     
    Tippy, Apr 27, 2019
    Tippy, Apr 27, 2019
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  3. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

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    Yes, in his bout with Small Montana (the only films one you can get now, as the other was removed for some reason) Wolgast had to seriously cut weight to defend as a Fly. He was a natural Bantam then, and he still looked impressive.

    Wolgast is one of the earliest switch hitters I can think of.
     
    roughdiamond, Apr 27, 2019
    roughdiamond, Apr 27, 2019
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  4. timmers612

    timmers612 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Wolgast did things that Pep might have envied!
     
    timmers612, Apr 27, 2019
    timmers612, Apr 27, 2019
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  5. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

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    Definitely one of the fastest ever, that's for sure.
     
    roughdiamond, Apr 27, 2019
    roughdiamond, Apr 27, 2019
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  6. BitPlayerVesti

    BitPlayerVesti Boxing Drunkie Full Member

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    I need to look into this guy properly at some point
     
    BitPlayerVesti, Apr 27, 2019
    BitPlayerVesti, Apr 27, 2019
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  7. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

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    What the heck is up with the crazy feet flailing?
     
    robert ungurean, Apr 27, 2019
    robert ungurean, Apr 27, 2019
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  8. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

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    Top 5 Flyweight in my book.
    Extremely dynamic fighter.
     
    roughdiamond, Apr 27, 2019
    roughdiamond, Apr 27, 2019
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  9. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

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    He wasn't the most fundamental / textbook, though he was extremely skilled and fast as ****.
     
    roughdiamond, Apr 27, 2019
    roughdiamond, Apr 27, 2019
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  10. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

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    Midget Wolgast was weight drained here also.
     
    roughdiamond, Apr 27, 2019
    roughdiamond, Apr 27, 2019
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  11. Songshadow

    Songshadow Dogged & Relentless Full Member

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    I was just reading up on the world flyweight boxing champion called Wolgast, Midget? He was active from 1925 until 1940.
    He was very fast with his gloves, and I have just seen a few videos of his fights listed on the net.

    Did you know that he has also been inducted in the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the Helms Boxing Hall of Fame.
    He also had around 200 bouts to his credit, and I am in awe.

    While watching some of these old flicks I learned that the Police would go around stopping the filming of some really important fights if they thought they should by their own reasoning.
     
    Songshadow, Jun 27, 2019
    Songshadow, Jun 27, 2019
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  12. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    The Midge was a whiz. A joy to watch this guy.
     
    Saintpat, Jun 27, 2019
    Saintpat, Jun 27, 2019
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  13. Rumsfeld

    Rumsfeld Moderator Staff Member

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    The vastly varied ways he disguises his forearm angles to set traps is sublime. It's almost like his forearm movement/positioning alone is more effective than commonplace feinting tactics of today, especially at mid/close range, but even outside he had a strange rhythm with his forearms. Fascinating to watch.
     
    Rumsfeld, Jun 27, 2019
    Rumsfeld, Jun 27, 2019
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  14. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

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    Yes, I noticed that to in the highlight video. He frequently grabbed the opponents hand / arm after throwing / moving. Amazingly nuanced stuff.
     
    roughdiamond, Jun 27, 2019
    roughdiamond, Jun 27, 2019
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  15. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

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    Midget Wolgast made a meteoric rise to the top of the flyweight division, winning a world title at the age of nineteen. Wolgast enjoyed fighting as a boy and engaged in many school-yard brawls, often with bigger kids. Unfortunately, his fighting instinct also led to his expulsion from public school for striking a teacher, but he returned after six weeks of reform school.

    After he left school, Wolgast got a job installing hardwood floors. To learn more about fighting, he also became a janitor at a local boxing gym. The lure of the ring proved strong, and Wolgast began to train in secret. He caught the eye of trainer/manager Jimmy Coster, who coached him for six months before putting him in the ring for the first time. The fifteen-year-old Wolgast decisioned Al Ketchel in the October 8, 1925, match and earned $12 for his efforts. He adopted the name Wolgast in honor of popular Philadelphia boxer Bobby Wolgast, and
    "Midget," obviously because of his size. By 1928, he was ranked as the ninth-best flyweight in The Ring's annual ratings.

    In 1929, Wolgast compiled a record of 16-0-1 (plus two NDs), including victories over ranked contenders Phil Tobias and Ruby Bradley, and his ranking rose to number two. In late 1 929, the New York State Athletic Commission declared Willie La Morte's flyweight title vacant, and Wolgast, now jointly managed and trained by Hall of Famer Chris Dundee and Jimmy Coster, was paired with Black Bill on March 21, 1930, for the New York version of the world title.

    Wolgast scored consistently with left hooks in the second, third, and fourth rounds, but Bill battled back with body shots in the fifth and sixth. The fight again went Wolgast's way in the seventh, and though Bill fought back desperately, opening a cut over Wolgast's eye in the final round, the decision and the title went to Wolgast.

    From 'The Boxing Register International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book'.
     
    Last edited: Aug 20, 2019
    roughdiamond, Aug 20, 2019
    roughdiamond, Aug 20, 2019
    #15
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