Great fighters there is no footage of?

Harry Greb, Jack Britton, Maxie Rosenbloom, Barbados Joe Walcott, John Henry Lewis, Battling Levinsky, Tiger Flowers, Billy Miske

 

There is footage of both Levinsky and Miske.

As boxing fans we really are spoiled when it comes to being able to see the legendary fighters from the past. We often question and complain why there is no footage of someone like Greb when in reality its remarkable we have footage of any of these guys. What other sport can we say we have such a complete visual documentary record of dating back to 1897?

 

Apollo Creed pre the Rocky fight

 

Bob Montgomery.

 

Theres sadly very little footage of Oakland Billy Smith, another Bay Area legend right up there with Andre Ward, Jim Corbet, James Page, and Joe Choyinski.

 

I heard that there's a bit of footage of Miske vs. Dempsey, but I am unaware of other fights of his on film. Any examples, as well as with Levinsky?

 

Theres four fights of his at least. Thats pretty good for a guy like Smith.

 

There is footage of Miske-Renault and Levinsky-Jim Savage.

 

Better than nothing I supposed, but are any of them complete?
I've only ever found little snippets of one or two rounds.
He had 90 pro fights

 

Having trouble finding those fights online, do they look any good in them? Or do they look crude?

 

Miske and Renault dont look like anything special. Levinsky looks like what youd expect, a boxer who moves around and uses a lot of movement. Savage doesnt look like much though.

 

Interesting, do you think Miske and Levinsky would be able to compete today judging from the footage?

 

Smith vs Andrews is complete in two forms there is a complete kinescope running 33 minutes and a silent film running about 22 minutes.
Smith vs Harold Johnson is complete but thats only a two round knockout
Smith vs Billy Noble is complete but thats only a one round knockout
Smith vs Burley runs 20 minutes
Smith vs Moore runs 17 minutes 30 seconds

In addition to those fights Smith-McBride was shown on the Dumont network and some of that collection has survived although not much from 1954 when that fight was held so there is a slim possibility this fight exists. Smith-Holman was shown on ABC and we have the kinescopes of the fights broadcast by ABC the week before and the week after so it wouldnt surprise me to know that this fight exists as well.

 

Not really. Their toughness would make up for some of their technical deficiencies but neither were as polished as todays boxers but Im sure if they started today they would train differently and look different.