Tony Canzoneri vs. Ike Williams

Canzoneri was a mixed bag; you put your hand in, you don't know what's coming out - you sign a contract to fight Canzoneri, you don't know which strategy he'll use. Sometimes to his detriment, Canzoneri would box the boxers and fight the fighters, always striving to the be the best in every field. I think Williams has him beat every which way, however, although that's not to downplay the fantastic Canzoneri, who was (if we say Emile Griffith was the 'boxer who could fight'), the archetypal 'fighter who could box'. Williams was just a bit quicker, a bit more powerful, a bit of a better boxer, a bit of a better puncher... Canzoneri would likely survive the fifteen round distance and infact give Williams the hardest victory of his career; but it's Williams who was the better lightweight. There's no particular styles jigsaw, Williams was just a bit better.

 

Action all the way in this one.

As Manassa pointed out, Canzoneri could dig himself into a hole sometimes with his stylistic agenda, which could hazardly change round-by-round - boxer or attacker; both was best.

Williams stuck to his guns and was V. good at everything. Williams has the blazing fists, Canzoneri the looping left and shotgun right. Both men could punch, but delivery was very different.

What Canzoneri has going for and against him is his 'Jazzy' style of fighting. He could play possum brilliantly, and then turn a fight around with his pet right. He was also brilliant at anticipating the range of attack, and used good lateral movement to make you over-reach and then eat one.

Some things would work against Williams, some things would not. All the time, Ike would be chipping away at the stocky trickster. Canzoneri would lose some rounds big by employing the wrong tactics, but his sly ways always played a big part, even in his lost battles.

Canzoneri at his 22/23 year old best would have a helluva fight on his hands, but has an uncanny ability to set up round stealing punches, and a great sense of movement to simmer Williams furnace-like fists.

Williams may be the safer bet, but Ted Spoon has much faith in Canzoneri's see-saw style.

 

I see this being a close and competive fight with Williams getting the nod he hitter harder was physically stronger and had faster hands.

 

I also like Ike.Tough call though.

 

wow a great one.

Ike would take this one. why? because he was the smarter fighter with a better speed.

 

I don't think Williams was necessarily smarter. Canzoneri was very tricky. If anything, Williams was the more straight-forward of the two, and the least adaptable.

In the end though, Williams has the right combination of strength and speed at all ranges to deal with most things Canzoneri throws at him.

 

There are very few Lightweights I would pick over Williams,Leonard,and Gans is about it.But Canzoneri is a bit special in fact he has the better resume,imo,in a 3 fight series ,I think he would take 1 of the victories ,but the other 2 would go to Ike he had a bit more power,and was tactically sounder ,I dont think he was a better boxer than Canzoneri,but he applied his abilities more consistantly,Canzoneri lost some fights that reports suggest he should have won ,so Ike to take 2 out of 3 .

 

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I like Ike here. But Canzoneri was an awkward ****er so it wouldn't surprise me if he got the nod.

 

These are my thoughts on the match-up.

 

Some great posts here.

 

Excellent thread we got here.

I pick Ike too, not for any particular reason, I just think he wouldn't **** about and take the fight straight to Tony, in a way he hasn't seen before.

 

Ike was one of the strongest lightweights ever. I believe he knocked the iron chinned Kid Galvian down while still a lightweight