Elmer Ray: A top 30 heavyweight of all time

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by SonnyListonsJab, May 27, 2011.


  1. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    What was his final record?

    And his series record record against charles and walcot?
     
  2. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    elmer ray had a good run from 1943-47' during the louis era even beating charles and walcott first time (both on split decisions) and knocking out lee savold but hes no hall of famer since he was KOd 6 times before this run.

    I recon that Ray was good enough to be a belt holder, certainly one of the best contenders who never got a crack at the real title. no beter than say clarance henry, nino valdes, lem franklin, machen, bivins, harold johnson, doug jones, mac foster, leotis martin, dwaine bobick, kallie knoetze who were good contenders beter than some of the weaker chanengers who got a title shot.
     
  3. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Was he ever in the top 3 for his own era? Ring rankings, I mean.
     
  4. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    for a couple of months in 1946 I think he was #1. He was listed in the top ten during most joe louis's time in the army.
     
  5. SonnyListonsJab

    SonnyListonsJab Active Member Full Member

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    Mcgrain,

    Yes at one point Elmer Ray was rated # 1 for a few months in 1946.
     
  6. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Good to know.

    I think not top 30 all time. Hard to give much of a **** after about 25 though so it's not the worst thing in the world.
     
  7. Boilermaker

    Boilermaker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    One of those articles says Joe Louis refused to fight Elmer Ray even in an exhibition. Isnt there footage of an older Joe Louis knocking out Elmer Ray in an exhibition?
     
  8. Bonecrusher

    Bonecrusher Lineal Champion Full Member

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    Top 30 might be a bit of a stretch but he is clearly an underrated fighter.. I wish Louis and him would have squared off then we could really get a feel for how good he was..
     
  9. JAB5239

    JAB5239 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Wasn't Ray knocked cold by Charley Burley in sparring after trying to rough him up?
     
  10. klompton

    klompton Boxing Addict banned

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    I dont get all this revision when it comes to guys like Ray. He had a cool name and some people seem to think he was ducked by Louis so lets rate him very highly. I say based on what? split fights with Walcott and Charles (who he outweighed by twenty pounds) and a victory over Savold (who was no world beater)?
     
  11. amhlilhaus

    amhlilhaus Well-Known Member Full Member

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    marciano frazier was a quality poster.
     
  12. My2Sense

    My2Sense Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Exactly. He was just one of dozens of HWs throughout history that had a couple big wins and briefly scraped the top of the rankings. If he's a top 30 HW, why shouldn't Rex Layne, Lou Nova, Tom Heeney, or Nino Valdes be there as well?
     
  13. SonnyListonsJab

    SonnyListonsJab Active Member Full Member

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    Also beat Top 10 Perk Daniels, Turkey Thompson(should have been a DQ win), Leroy Haynes, Willie Reddish, Obie Walker, Otis Thomas, and Sid Peaks. Not special, but a decent list of fringe contenders and underrated black fighters of the era.

    I also think anytime you beat prime versions over two top 20 heavyweight ATGs, this cannot be overlooked. These are big wins.

    Savold had not not been knocked out in 5 years before the ray fight, Ray left him face first out cold. Savold was the only white heavyweight contender willing to take on Ray.

    I think the "Fear" factor, and him being ducked by so many contenders only adds to his legacy because it shows how dangerous a fighter he was, and that his reputation proceeded him.

    Reading Ray's style in the newspapers, it seems very unique. He was a 6'2 long armed puncher-swarmer. :hey He was immensely strong, and appeared to be tough as ****. Reading up on those "king of the hill" and "wrestling gator" stories makes Ray appear like an absolute beast.
     
  14. SonnyListonsJab

    SonnyListonsJab Active Member Full Member

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    Outside of Rex Layne, how many of those fighters defeated TWO all time great heavyweights?

    And who did Tom Heeney ever friggin beat that was a great fighter? Heeney was a gooftrooper. A waste of a title defense.
     
  15. My2Sense

    My2Sense Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    So if that's your basis, is Rex Layne also a top 30 all time HW in your book? (especially considering that he beat the same two HOFers Ray beat)