Is there any good reason why I shouldn't rate bob fitzsimmons as the goat?

It's a tough call, I'll make an analogy with another sport if I may. For most of the second half of the 20th century and indeed to this day many people feel that Christy Ring was the greatest hurler to ever live- [ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christy_Ring[/ame]

He retired as an inter county hurler in 1963 and unfortunately there is very little footage of him playing. In more recent years some have argued that DJ Carey and Henry Shefflin are better than Ring, unfortunately it's very difficult to prove either case as there is so little footage available of Ring and most of those who saw him during his peak are now dead and unable to compare him with modern players like Carey and Shefflin.

Whilst boxing may not suffer from such a drastic shortgage of video footage, it does suffer none the less and I think it's incredibly difficult to make a call on who was the goat when there's very few recordings available of the early fighters.

 

Yes, I did. I didn´t mean you especially and clearified that later.

I agree with the first part, not so much with the second but that´s just me.

 

Marciano looks as good as Monzon does on film, imo

 

Yeah, about right. Neither looks special to me though. But that has to do with their style I think.

 

This is very impressive. I just don't like it when people pick him to knockout men like Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis.

 

Why? Because of his size? I mean, he hanged in there with people of similar enough class. And quite successfully.

 

Lineal HW champions and other all time greats do knock each other out. It has been known to happen on occasion

 

No doubt Fitzsimmons could drop either, but to bet against them rising and returning the favour with interest is a little left of field.

 

Interesting old thread this.. worth bumping

 

He's my #6:

1. SRR
2. Greb
3. Langford
4. Armstrong
5. Charles
6. Fitz

I could see any of my top 4 as the GOAT, but no one any lower, based on my criteria. So, for me, as insane Bob's HW record is for a natural MW, he doesn't have the scale or quality of ATGs beaten thaat my top 5 do.

That notwithstanding, it is refreshing to see Fitz get his dues on this thread, I can't recall any all time lists that rank him higher than I do, whilst most either rank him lower or not at all. His achievements are well worth a top 10 slot, imo.

 

Interesting stuff.

 

Think you nailed it here mate: