A very impressive fighter, one of my favourites to watch. His career would probably have been better if the second world war hadn't occurred.
I have some Cerdan fights on video, Burt, and I think he has a fine technique. Good, short correct punches and a decent defence. Surprised to hear people not rating him, to be honest. How far do you go back?
ridiculous not to rate him when not only the film footage and his wins against top men are more than enough, but damn near everyone that seen him from Europe, Britain and America raved about him, including Nat Fleischer as early as 1938/39.
rib, too far back...I'm probably the only guy still kicking that shook hands with Ray Robinson BEFORE he turned pro, and after seeing him fight in his welterweight greatness. And I shook his hand about I year after Robinson retired in 1965....Damn, time marches on.... As far as Marcel Cerdan goes, I saw Cerdan's first bout in America at MSG in 1946 when Cerdan won a tough decision over a helluva middleweight Georgie Abrams...A great tough fight that had the audience up on their feet...In the 1940s I and my dad would go about every Friday night to see the bouts at the old MSG, 8th Ave, between 49-50th Street...Then the next day Saturday I alone would go to the famous Stillman's gym on 8th Ave to watch the greatest fighters in the world train...I was in boxing heaven those days....