How do rank fighters of which there is no actual film footage of their fights, or very limited?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Oakland Billy Smith, Dec 29, 2019.



  1. Oakland Billy Smith

    Oakland Billy Smith Active Member banned Full Member

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    Do you search for and read old contemporary newspaper articles about the fights?
    Do you rely solely on Boxrec?


    The purpose of this thread is not to disparage or discredit fighters of the past....

    But seeing how modern boxing scholars overhyped and over rate certain fighters, while going out of their way to discredit others is highly suspicious to me, and I don't see why it would have been any different a hundred years ago.

    Bert Sugar is a fine example. I've heard his account of certain fights or fighters only to research them for myself and come away with a completely opposite perspective.

    It seems boxing more than any other sport is narrated by men with their own agendas and vendedas, and I simply am not going to assume some coal miner who fought in the 1920s could beat the best fighters if time, simply because some old guy in a funny hat with a cigar says so
     
    Oakland Billy Smith, Dec 29, 2019
    Oakland Billy Smith, Dec 29, 2019
    #1
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  2. It's Ovah

    It's Ovah I'm your huckleberry, that's just mah game Full Member

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    Measuring the fullness of their moustache always works for me.
     
    It's Ovah, Dec 29, 2019
    It's Ovah, Dec 29, 2019
    #2
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  3. TipNom

    TipNom Active Member Full Member

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    You should look at their resume and accomplishments IMO
     
    TipNom, Dec 29, 2019
    TipNom, Dec 29, 2019
    #3
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  4. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Yeah pretty much
     
    George Crowcroft, Dec 29, 2019
    George Crowcroft, Dec 29, 2019
    #4
  5. KernowWarrior

    KernowWarrior Bob Fitzsimmons much bigger brother. Full Member

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    You build evidence over time, listen to opinions, read articles, newspaper articles etc etc, like anything in life gather evidence from as many sources as you can to make a informed decision.
     
    KernowWarrior, Dec 29, 2019
    KernowWarrior, Dec 29, 2019
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  6. Bukkake

    Bukkake Boxing Addict Full Member

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    It's very difficult, when it comes to old-timers with zero footage available.

    For example, how do we rate someone like Nonpareil Dempsey? Yes, we can read the opinions of reporters, who watched him 130 years ago - and we can find, that they thought he was the best boxer of his time. But what does that really mean? Have we any way of knowing, when it came from people who had never seen Canzoneri, Louis, SRR, Pep, etc.?
     
    Bukkake, Dec 29, 2019
    Bukkake, Dec 29, 2019
    #6
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  7. MagicE

    MagicE Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Most so called fans just name drop old fighters to make themselves sound like they know what they're talking about when in reality they've seen very little of their fights.

    It's like some people are trying to prove they're not a "casual".
     
    MagicE, Dec 29, 2019
    MagicE, Dec 29, 2019
    #7