Marion Wilson would be fun. Even if he was just talking about 1995, it would be fun. It would help us put the tier b fighters of the 80s and 90s into perspective. Outside the absolute elite this bloke fought everyone.
In Peter Heller's "In This Corner" book, he interviewed quite a number of champions from the early 1900s through the 1960s and Gunboat Smith was one of those. He won the 'White Hope' heavy title in 1914. Gunboat Smith's story was one of the most interesting in the entire book for he gives a lot of background information on that era, and is quite candid in his assessment of some of the fighters he fought. Peter Heller had wanted to give these champs the chance to tell their story as they remembered it, and in their own words.
I read somewhere that Gunboat said Sam Langford was the hardest puncher he ever faced. And he faced a heck of a lot of good fighters, a who’s-who of the era. I’d like to see who he rated tops in categories across the board.
I've attempted my own go at these, but just done it in a way where it's just my picks for them - not what I think they'd say. Definitely not an easy task. This content is protected Best Jab: **** knows Best Puncher: Sam Langford Fastest Hands: Harry Greb Fastest Feet: Harry Greb Smartest: Sam Langford Best Chin: Harry Greb Strongest: Harry Greb Best Defence: Harry Greb Best Skillset: Sam Langford Best Overall: Harry Greb This content is protected Best Jab: Cocoa Kid Best Puncher: Archie Moore Fastest Hands: Bert Lytell Fastest Feet: Lloyd Marshall(?) Smartest: Charley Burley Best Chin: Jake LaMotta Strongest: Jake LaMotta Best Defence: Charley Burley Best Skillset: Archie Moore Best Overall: Archie Moore This content is protected Best Jab: Harold Johnson Best Puncher: Joe Louis Fastest Hands: Lloyd Marshall Fastest Feet: Jersey Joe Walcott Smartest: Archie Moore Best Chin: Rocky Marciano Strongest: Rocky Marciano Best Defence: Charley Burley Best Skillset: Archie Moore Best Overall: Archie Moore This content is protected Best Jab: Barney Ross Best Puncher: Bummy Davis Fastest Hands: Kid Chocolate Fastest Feet: Kid Chocolate Smartest: Bud Taylor Best Chin: Benny Bass Strongest: Jimmy McLarnin Best Defence: Sammy Mandell Best Skillset: Lou Ambers Best Overall: Barney Ross This content is protected Best Jab: Sugar Ray Robinson Best Puncher: Ike Williams Fastest Hands: Sugar Ray Robinson Fastest Feet: Willie Pep Smartest: Willie Pep Best Chin: Henry Armstrong Strongest: Henry Armstrong Best Defence: Willie Pep Best Skillset: Willie Pep Best Overall: Sugar Ray Robinson This content is protected Best Jab: Tommy Loughran Best Puncher: Max Baer Fastest Hands: John Henry Lewis Fastest Feet: Gene Tunney Smartest: Gene Tunney Best Chin: Paulino Uzcudun(?) Strongest: Max Baer Best Defence: Tommy Loughran Best Skillset: Gene Tunney Best Overall: Mickey Walker This content is protected Best Jab: Harold Johnson Best Puncher: Curtis Shepherd Fastest Hands: Floyd Patterson Fastest Feet: Muhammed Ali Smartest: Ezzard Charles Best Chin: Muhammed Ali Strongest: Rocky Marciano Best Defence: Ezzard Charles Best Skillset: Ezzard Charles Best Overall: Ezzard Charles This content is protected Best Jab: Joe Gans Best Puncher: Stanley Ketchel Fastest Hands: **** knows Fastest Feet: Jack O'Brien Smartest: Joe Gans Best Chin: Joe Jennette Strongest: Jack Johnson Best Defence: Jack Johnson Best Skillset: Joe Gans Best Overall: Joe Gans
