Classic Fighters You've Never Lost Interest In?

At which point you'll go on 'ignore'.

 

For me it goes right back to the 1900s through to around 1925, I prefer black and white photos, so really enjoyed seeing the likes of, Walcot, Gans, McGovern, Nelson, Jeffries, Fitz, Sharkey, Ketchell, Papke, Greb, Walker, and numerous others, the way of the old stance, the shorts, the haircuts, their lives seemed so much more interesting and adventurous, Sharkey/ Fitz fight refereed by Wyatt Earp, Ketchell in the same photo as Emmet Dalton, Dempsey riding the rails as a teenager, Jeffries out in the backwoods shooting bear, Fitz shaping metal on a huge anvil, John L pushing those double doors open in a old fashioned salon prior to issuing his challenge, Johnson, hat and goggles on, sitting atop of his automobile, McGovern accompanied on his roadwork by three dogs, Greb having water sprayed on him via George Engels mouth, Langford posing in what looks like a nappie ( diaper ) Nelson attired in a 3 piece suit, bowler hat set at a jaunty angle, with a nose like putty, so yea, give me the old timers everyday of the week.
stay safe guys.

 

Larry was my first favourite fighter. In a house full of Ali fans, I stood my ground against all their influences which wasn’t easy! And I was too young to appreciate exactly what was going on in the 1980 Ali v Holmes clash…I simply saw Holmes using this guy as a punch bag and was loud, annoying and triumphant that night as I celebrated Holmes triumph.

Of course, age and knowledge has taught me that the victory in terms of quality opposition (as Ali was a shadow of a shadow that night) was pretty hollow.

Like you though, I still enjoy watching many of his fights, though now unlike back then I can recognise he wasn’t the flawless, perfect fighter I thought he was in my childhood.

 

I don't really lose interest in any of them, to be boring.

 

Not really, mate. Your posts are excellent. It's good to see a brit perspective too. Like myself, though, you're quite realistic about our boys' limits.

 

Many of the ATG's.
When I study a fighter like Duran
I always seem to find some little
nuance I missed prior.
Or fighters like Aaron Pryor or
Henry Armstrong
whom on a 1st watch one may
get the impression they were
aggressive wild men in the ring,
but watch them closely, one
see's the extraordinary skill
level that went with that aggression,
how easily their aggression flowed
with their defense.
Many of the greats are worth
multiple watches....

 

Either guys who have been in lots of classic fights I want to rewatch, for example Chacon, Boza-Edwards etc or very old time guys who are shrouded in legend like Barbados Joe Walcott, there are always lots of interesting articles written about them by hardcore historians and you can spend an enjoyable few hours researching online.

 

I’ll skip some high-profile guys like Ali and Duran and get in the weeds a bit (either because they were long ago or not quite at the top of the totem pole):

Sandy Saddler

James Scott

Danny Lopez

Pipino Cuevas

Marvin Johnson

Archie Moore

 

Anything to do with St. Paul-style fighters, eg. Mike and Tom Gibbons, Jock Malone, Billy Petrolle, Jimmy Delaney, Johnny Ertle, Billy Miske, Mike O'Dowd, Harry Matthews, Lee Savold, Flanagan brothers, Jackie Graves, etc., etc., etc. Plus a whole lot of other guys who weren't exponents of that style. Just thought I'd throw the St. Paul guys into the mix.

 

Cotto and Toney