Tony Zale vs the MW of the last 30 yrs

There were a tremendous number of Australia boxers, notably those who were world-class, going to foreign countries to ply their trade before 1910. But it seemed that there were far less Aussie boxers who were do so afterwards, especially those who were world-class.

Could it be that with Hugh McIntosh and Snowy Baker promoting boxing shows on a comparatively large scale in Australia, fewer Australian boxers were fighting in foreign countries starting in 1908? Moreover, it was becoming much more difficult to stage professional boxing shows in the United States because of more legal restrictions during the first two decades of the 20th Century, especially during the 1910s. In addition to less Australian boxers fighting in foreign countries, a tremendous number of foreign boxers, notably American ones, were fighting in Australia from about 1908 to the early 1920s.

It did seem that there were plenty boxing shows which took place in Australia between the two World Wars. At the same time, the Australian boxers didn't seem to fare well overall when fighting in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s.

During the 1920s, there were a fair number of American boxers fighting in Australia, but few, if any, of them were world-class at the time. Many of the American boxers didn't have any previous experience in 20-round bouts before going to Australia during the 1920s, a tremendous handicap. In the United States during the 1920s, professional boxing underwent a tremendous boom and became legal in a huge number of states, resulting in top American boxers having more opportunities get lucrative bouts without going to foreign countries. During the 1930s, it appeared that a larger number of good American boxers were fighting in Australia largely because American professional boxing took a big economic hit due to the Great Depression.

- Chuck Johnston

 

The fact is when Patrick did step up in class ,against Dawson he was ko'd,and he had 53 fights worth of experience to call on.

Dawson had only another 5 fights under his belt at that time.:think

 

Yes the Marcel Cerdan that I saw in 1946 beating Georgie Abrams was a bit past his prime, and so was Georgie Abrams. Cerdan had about 100 bouts in Europe before fighting Abrams.
Reading Ring Magazines in the 1940s, Cerdan's name was frequently mentioned as a great threat to American fighters after the war...Too bad Marcel as well as Tony Zale and the
wonderful LH Billy Conn lost the prime years of their boxing careers serving their country's during that horrible conflict...
I lost many friends in that bloody war....But don't let anyone kid you. Marcel could FIGHT and would be even money with anyone
of his weight during WW2...

 

Burley Beats Abrams Easily; Only Gets Draw
The Pittsburgh Courier (1911-1950), City Edition [Pittsburgh, Pa] 03 Aug 1940: 16.

Burley wins, gets only draw in blistering brawl with Abrams
The Pittsburgh Press - Jul 30, 1940

EVERY TIME I READ ABRAMS HELD C.B. TO A DRAW I CRINGE AN ALMIGHTY CRINGE!

 

Let there be light...!

 

True.

 

Good body puncher, good left hook. Had a lot of heart. His win over Abrams is impressive.

 

Zale was a baaaad man yet ducked so many of the best of his era? :huh

Tony Zale would never have become champion had he taken on the black murderers row

 

No Cerdan was made for Lamotta. Lamotta dominated Cerdan before Cerdan even got injured, which was due to lamottas strength in the first place

 

Marciano a mediocre fighter?

Funny how Robert judges fighters. Zale draws the color line and ducks the best of his era and Robert calls him a great. Marciano fights and beats the best of his era and doesn't draw the color line, and Robert calls the only undefeated hw champ in history mediocre

Zale can't shine marcianos shoes


Lamotta Burley Charles Moore Marshall booker Williams all smoke Zale

 

I do agree...if he would have fought the row...he would have definitely taken some losses, probably quite a few. Which in turn would have hurt his (Zale's) financial standing.

 

I also agree with this...the limited film clearly shows LaMotta coming out on fire against Cerdan...He wasn't going to be refused in that fight with Marcel...

 

Why are you so fixated on color so darn much.? To the point of paranoia, I say... Does every thread you participate in has to bring up the subject of race ? I am glad Tony Zale who served 4 years in the Navy, lost his prime years, and lived on GI pay,
fought the best money draw fighters to feed his family...=Your eminent highness Suzy Q, believes that Zale should have tackled
a Holman Williams, Charley Burley, Eddie Booker etc, fighters who would have drawn peanuts in 1947-8, compared to his fight with the greatest ring attraction of his time Rocky Graziano, a fight the boxing public DEMANDED to see...S, I was around at that time, and I never heard those long ago days that the
fading 32 year old Zale, fight Holman Williams, Charley Burley, Eddie Booker etc...NEVER ! Give the terrific punching Tony Zale his due after serving 4 prime years of his boxing career in the Navy living on a small monthly stipend, that after he was discharged he wanted to fight the fighter who was a great drawing card and would bring Zale much needed moolah for his family...I, or Tony Zale wouldn't give a damn if some poster named Suzy Q, wasn't happy with my need to fight for as much dough as I could get 65 years later...And after Rocky Graziano a faded Zale tackled another great drawing card Marcel Cerdan
another fighter the public demanded Zale fight...I know S, cause I was around, where were you...?

 

Some of the criticisms of Zale on this thread are a bit ridiculous.

He fought loads of ranked contenders. World War Two did actually happen too.

 

Billy Conn was #1 contender at heavyweight when Zale fought him.