Jimmy McLarnin's resume

McLarnin's amateur record (sent this to Tracy Callis to be added to his CBZ page):

1921
Aug 27 George Ainsworth (Nanaimo, BC, Canada) W4

1922
Jan 5 Clifford Wallace (Vancouver, BC, Canada) W3
Jan 13 Fred Colclough (Vancouver, BC, Canada) W3
Jan 20 Fred Colclough (Vancouver, BC, Canada) Exh 3
Jan 27 James Nelson (Vancouver, BC, Canada) D3
Feb 10 Hutchison (Vancouver, BC, Canada) D3
Feb 22 Young Corbett (Vancouver, BC, Canada) D3
Apr 10 George Ainsworth (Vancouver, BC, Canada) W3
Apr 14 Arnold Bertram (Vancouver, BC, Canada) L3
Jul 18 Clifford Wallace (Vancouver, BC, Canada) W3
Dec 4 Hector McDonald (Vancouver, BC, Canada) W4

1923
Feb 16 Walter Peterson (Vancouver, BC, Canada) W3
May 25 Mickey Gill (Vancouver, BC, Canada) L3
Aug 15 Mickey Gill (Vancouver, BC, Canada) W3

 

If I remember correctly Jimmy had an edge in the weights in a few of his major fights.

 

Mannnnnn this guy's insane.

Coming up from Fly, beating two top 10(arguably 5) at the weight, then moving along to beat the best FWs, LWs and WWs of his time. Along with a plethora of guys among the best contenders in history like Glick, Patrolle, Mandell ect; the guys a legend. I have him at #16 P4P.

 

I'd use that description of HW Evander Holyfield anyway.

 

According to Rasta Gooly ,he was," a paper champion".

 

Rasta Gooly says Petrolle was," only a gatekeeper."

 

Incredible fighter. Of the three (Ross, Canzoneri and Jimmy) I think they all probably belong top 20-25.

 

I agree, hard to split as well. I have McLarnin at #16, Ross at #17 and Canzoneri at #19. I've redone my list lately coz of the Mexican thread and listening to Fleaman's podcast.

Top 3 era ever imo.

 

Where is Fleamans podcast?

I’m not sure where I rate those three but they all feel roughly top 20. I think Ross was the greater of the trio with Canzoneri second and McLarnin third.

 

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Just asking a historical type question here....was he in the middle of a time when there were no great black WW's like Joe Walcott or
Henry Armstong? He seemed to fight a lot of Jewish boxers (hence his nickname "the Jew Killer" ) at a time when white ethnic boxers
were at their height: Italian, Jewish, Irish.

There are few black fighters on his resume...I noted a couple....why was that? Not many around?

Just asking...I'm not muckraking.

 

I think it was just most of the top fighters at that period, that he faced, were jewish, Irish, Italian etc. Like Canzoneri, Ross et al.

I don't think there were any racial 'preferences' for opposition.

 

Interesting question to which I'd like to know the answer too.

 

Only insofar as racial rivalries helped build up the gate. Regarding McVey's inquiry, Young Jack Thompson was an African-American of the period who twice held the welterweight title. He lost a highly disputed decision to McLarnin in the Garden. McLarnin broke his hand. At the time, Jackie Fields was coming up against the NBA deadline for a title defense. Based on his strong showing against McLarnin, Thompson was given the title shot against Fields because Fields couldn't wait for Jimmy's hand to heal. Thompson and Fields had fought twice previously with Fields winning decisions so Fields probably thought he could beat him again. How wrong he was! Thompson won the decision by a comfortable margin on May 9, 1930 in Detroit. You can read a more complete account of Thompson's career during his championship years in The One Is Jack Hurley, Volume One. Hurley was co-manager of Thompson at the time.

 

Had a quick look as I'm going to a party in an hour.
Welterweights .Only end of year rankings
1930
3. Mclarnin
4. Young Jack Thompson
10.Sammy Jackson
1931
2.McLarnin
No ranked black contenders
1932
2. Mclarnin
5.Baby Joe Gans
1933
Champ Mclarnin
8. Baby Joe Gans
1934
Champ Mclarnin
No black contenders