Freddie Steele-Why is he forgotten today?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by burt bienstock, Mar 16, 2010.


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  1. burt bienstock

    burt bienstock Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Freddie Steele is so vastly underated today...His record puts him in the top 10 great middleweights, in history I believe..How do you rate Freddie Steele?
     
    burt bienstock, Mar 16, 2010
    burt bienstock, Mar 16, 2010
    #1
    Lonsdale81 likes this.
  2. WhataRock

    WhataRock Loyal Member Full Member

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    Pretty highly but probably, more out of ignorance then anything else, not that highly.

    He is a bit overlooked, a few guys on here however do talk about him quite often though.
     
    WhataRock, Mar 16, 2010
    WhataRock, Mar 16, 2010
    #2
  3. Bummy Davis

    Bummy Davis Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    How high do you rate him Burt and how would he fair against

    Greb
    Ketchel
    SSR
    Monzon
    Hagler
    B-Hop
    Graziano
    Lamotta
     
    Bummy Davis, Mar 16, 2010
    Bummy Davis, Mar 16, 2010
    #3
  4. dpw417

    dpw417 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    The film of Steele in the fights against Lesnevich and Dundee is flat out impressive. Looks like a life-taker as a puncher.
     
    dpw417, Mar 16, 2010
    dpw417, Mar 16, 2010
    #4
  5. My2Sense

    My2Sense Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    He gets underrated/forgotten today because his championship tenure came to such a sudden and anti-climactic end. Personally, I think that point may preclude him from a spot in the top 10, but I have him rated in the top 15.
     
    My2Sense, Mar 16, 2010
    My2Sense, Mar 16, 2010
    #5
  6. burt bienstock

    burt bienstock Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Bummy Davis,Freddie Steele was an alltime great in my opinion..He is sadly forgotten by todays fickle fans...Consider this...In his first 10 years Steele lost just two bouts....Look at some of his victims....Ceferino Garcia,kod twice,Al Hostak, Fred Apostoli,Ken Overlin,Solly Kreiger,Gorilla Jones, Gus Lesnevich, etc..Steele was almost unbeatable until 1938, when rematched with Fred Apostoli, Freddie Steele fractured his sternum...That very painful injury, ended his career as a great fighter...Think of this..In 125 bouts against top opponents Freddie Steele, ko'd 60 fighters ,while only losing FIVE fights...Great boxer puncher...
    Greb over Steele[or anyone]
    Ketchel over Steele
    SRR over Steele
    Steel /Monzon pick em
    Steele over Hagler
    Steele over B- HOP
    Steele Ko's Graziano
    Steele over Lamotta
    P.S. I think the late 1930s and early 1940s, had the best total middleweights of calibre in middleweight history,,,Steele, Apostoli, Zale, Billy Conn,Ken Overlin, Al Hostak, Billy Soose, Charley Burley,Teddy Yarosz,Solly Kreiger,Georgie Abrams,Young Ezzard Charles, Lloyd Marshall,Marcel Cerdan, etc...Any one of them might have been champ today...What a rich era....
     
    burt bienstock, Mar 16, 2010
    burt bienstock, Mar 16, 2010
    #6
  7. My2Sense

    My2Sense Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    He never beat Hostak.
     
    My2Sense, Mar 16, 2010
    My2Sense, Mar 16, 2010
    #7
  8. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    That's my man. Met him on multiple occasions and had drinks.

    Georgetown Tavern Rules!
     
    Seamus, Mar 16, 2010
    Seamus, Mar 16, 2010
    #8
  9. burt bienstock

    burt bienstock Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    My2sense, I stand corrected.I mistook Fred Apostoli for Al Hostak...On Jan ,1938 Steele fractured his chest sternum in his bout with Fred Apostoli, who Steele Previously defeated...I have read after that injury to his sterum Steele had severe pains on his chest bone from then on...Six months later, the heavily favored Steele was stopped in the first round by the murderous punching Al Hostak...Steele's career ended soon after that loss to Hostak...Thanks for correcting my error.....
     
    burt bienstock, Mar 16, 2010
    burt bienstock, Mar 16, 2010
    #9
  10. Rock0052

    Rock0052 Loyal Member Full Member

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    That era of middleweight certainly had an embarrassment of riches talent-wise. I'm pretty new to the classic game and finding out more about Steele over the past year or so has been a real treat, especially since some of his dominance was filmed and is available. Shame he's overlooked now by many, but those who are fans are so adamant about him I don't think he'll ever be forgotten. I feel he'd be able to beat most middleweights and give a massive headache to those he didn't.
     
    Rock0052, Mar 16, 2010
    Rock0052, Mar 16, 2010
    #10
  11. bodhi

    bodhi Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Agreed, right where I have him too.
     
    bodhi, Mar 17, 2010
    bodhi, Mar 17, 2010
    #11
  12. Boilermaker

    Boilermaker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Not addressed to me i know, but i think that Steele would have to start favourite against Lamotta, Graziano. I personally like his chances against Ketchell also. I think he would be a live underdog (who id probably back depending on the odds) against Robinson and possibly also Hopkins. I think Hagler, Monzon and Greb are probably a little too good.
     
    Boilermaker, Mar 17, 2010
    Boilermaker, Mar 17, 2010
    #12
  13. Sister Sledge

    Sister Sledge Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    He was a very good fighter. Don't know if he could hang with the top tier of Middleweight champions, but he would be competitive.
     
    Sister Sledge, Mar 17, 2010
    Sister Sledge, Mar 17, 2010
    #13
  14. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    Freddie Steele was one of the great middleweights. I rate him highly.
    But I'd probably rate Fred Apostoli even higher !

    I'm not sure why they get overlooked. Perhaps because they fought in an era of disputed "world title".

    I'd expect Freddie Steele to beat Dick Tiger.
     
    Unforgiven, Mar 17, 2010
    Unforgiven, Mar 17, 2010
    #14
  15. GPater11093

    GPater11093 Barry Full Member

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    I know Sweet Pea is a big Steele fan.

    I think he looks real good on film. But I havent really researched him enough to pass judgement on his career.
     
    GPater11093, Mar 17, 2010
    GPater11093, Mar 17, 2010
    #15
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