Was Abe Simon one of the world title challengers of all-time?

I don't think he looks slow at all, especially for his size. Rather, he looks hesitant, not terribly skilled, and uncertain what to do, especially once he's hit. But when he does commit to a punch his hand speed looks just fine to me.

For what it's worth he also looks ****ing jacked, especially in the colorized version. Dude looks like some kind of hybrid clone of Shrek, Frankenstein, and the incredible hulk.

 

I don’t even think he was the worst challenger Louis fought. Jack Roper probably takes that crown

 

No in a word.

As others have said, he was not the worst that Louis fought, and he actually did a pretty good job in their first fight!

Louis even claimed that it was one of his more difficult fights!

 

The guy deserves better than the ridicule some of you are heaping on him. He went 13 rounds with Louis in their first fight and busted him up pretty good, dishing out more visible punishment than most any of Joe's other challengers by bloodying his nose, reddening his cheeks and raising a mouse under his eye. Simon suffered from acromegaly, a condition caused when the pituitary gland enlarges and produce excess growth hormone. Unless treated it can result in a premature death. I believe Jack O'Halloran had the same condition. Simon defeated contenders Willie Reddish, Eddie Blunt, Gunnar Barlund, and Jersey Joe Walcott, who so many contributing to this forum rate so highly. He was without doubt the toughest opponent Joe faced on his 1941 "Bum of the Month" Club leading up to the first Conn fight. He was considered formidable enough by Mike Jacobs to be given the second shot against Louis over quite a few other fighters. There is some home movie footage of the first fight, I believe. Remember, Louis always did better the second time around.

 

“Was Abe Simon one of the world title challengers of all time?”

Yes he was a world title shot challenger he even made it thirteen rounds with this guy named Joe Louis!

Who was a fantastic golfer and rights activist for African American athletes he also boxed on the side.

 

He was just as good as say Gerry Cooney. People on here don’t like to give old time giants the credit they deserve so they can make it seem like the giants of today are so much better.

In reality, Abe Simon was at least as good as Cooney and perhaps may have rivaled Wlad.

 

I say that Jack Roper May have been a white Ezzard Charles

 

He sounds like a size queen.

 

Scott Frank ? Jean Pierre Coopmans ? Richard Dunn ? I can think of a lot worse challengers than Simon.

 

Not even close. He looks like a Ice Age savage thawed and reanimated. His jab has some snap and his feet move well and balanced. And important to remember, this was his final fight.

 

He certainly was a very hairy man. Possibly more hirsute than Valuev.

 

I wasn't particularly impressed by the guy that fought Charles Martin- himself no great talent- that fell down and hurt himself so badly that he was unable to continue.

 

I would like to think that your posts are joking

 

Jack Finnegan,Jack Munroe,Jack Roper,Jack Be Nimble,Jack Be Quick.