Your top ten Welsh fighters/wtf is going on with the Welsh?

Well **** me, I thought Jones was a Scouser. I must apologize for lumping him in with them.

 

Very much cultural I would say.

High participation per capita.

 

You can never have too much Guinness or Whiskey. Well you can but you know what I’m trying to say.

 

There's a distinct line with them. The line between too little and far too much.

 

Dai Dower deserves a mention for Welsh Boxing.

Also, shameless self-plugging for my thread on Welsh Boxing history resources below. Welsh Boxing has so many characters, and stories, it's ridiculous. Wales already had the 'Boxing' culture with their 'Mountain fighting', which was took very seriously culturally - even the smallest towns had their own Champions. I don't think it's totally ridiculous to say that they are massively responsible for the development of the modern 'scientific' Boxing style / archetype (by that I mean the strong 'ring general' and sometimes 'slickster' we've come to know nowadays), which spread through Britain and the USA (with the Arcel - Dollings link etc). If I remember correctly, the first three Lonsdale belt winners were actually of Welsh origin. I don't think it's coincidental that guys like Driscoll are some of the best looking old-timers on film either.

https://www.boxingforum24.com/threa...welsh-mountain-fighting.648053/#post-20424338

 

Percy Jones as well ... Had a nice career going before he enlisted in the war .. I think he was 23 or 24

 

Ok, Welsh boxing history fascinates me. Lawrence Davies wrote three fantastic books which go back to mountain fighters and bare knuckle and there’s also one which I loved on Jack Scarrots booth boxing. I think that it’s fascinating because in Wales, boxing was banned at a time and then condemned. It wasn’t really considered a “noble” profession but I think Jim Driscoll went a long way to changing that perception. Tough lives lived in the Welsh valleys then. Something about breeding tough men through hard times and necessity. British fighters that aren’t English have always had to do that extra bit more to gain acceptance and respect too. Hunger can be a dangerous thing.

Anyway, here’s my (relatively) rough top 10:

1. Jimmy Wilde
2. Freddie Welsh
3. Jim Driscoll
4. Joe Calzaghe
5. Howard Winstone
6. Percy Jones
7. Tommy Farr
8. Jack Peterson
9. Colin Jones
10. Tom Thomas

Eddie Thomas narrowly missed out. He did a lot more as a trainer/manager than as a fighter he he was a very accomplished pro too. A huge personality. They’ve also had Dai Dollings - one of the greatest trainers of all-time and one who’s still criminally not in Canastota (for what that even matters any more).

Driscoll looks better/prettier than Welsh, and was viewed as a genuine sensation whereas Welsh never had that praise but he won the head to head and has a superior record. It probably gets tightened up between those two due to Welsh farting around a lot in newspaper decision losses when his main focus was to not get KO’d and lose his belt. His title shot was overdue so he was actually past it by the time he won the title. Driscoll could have been champ but had a prior commitment to a children’s charity otherwise I think he may have beaten Attell officially with the title on the line. Wilde is the clear #1. Arguably/probably the greatest fighter of all-time under 118 pounds. Calzaghe is tough. He was great and he rose to the occasion but a lot of his prime was underwhelming. I like that he eventually won every belt but it’s hard to ignore staying at home being content with fighting fighters barely (if at all) in the top 10 in the watered down era of 17 divisions. I am OK with Calzaghe being at #3 too and ahead of other great British so I could go either way there. Helps his cause that I’m a big fan of him. Some wins get underrated like Brewer, Mitchell, Veit for example but we’ve also got to put into perspective Lacy wasn’t as good as hyped up to be and in reality he was just the product of pro US hype who wanted an exciting KO star. That was my take. I picked Calzaghe to win that fight easily. But the Kessler one I wasn’t sure. That was a 50/50 for me.

Buchanan I would probably put three or four. Lynch I’d put maybe five or six but I could see a case for either one being number three. I’m far more versed on Buchanan’s career (my all-time favorite British and simply one of my all-time favorites period) and I also really give him credit for being a true globetrotting fighter who went to hostile places and got major wins. He was taught to box like Howard Winstone but he turned it even better. Winstone was a quality fighter. Probably wins the title (I know he won a vacant title later but didn’t get full undisputed/Ring recognition) in most other eras. Three times he faced a prime Saldivar and in the first two fought great. His career was remarkably consistent and he had longevity. For me, definitely a top 15 all-time Brit.

 

They've got their own sweet share of **** all tbh mate

 

Only kidding.

Liam Williams is a good fighter. Massive punch, solid fundamentals and horrid style to deal with. With the right guiding hand, I think he could be something devastating. He has the talent, he just hasn't been led in the best way IMO.

Jay Harris is a tough mutha****er as well, definitely one to watch in my eyes. Hope he turns out to do something intriguing because he showed one helluva chin and some massive bollocks in the Martinez fight. And Martinez is an absolute animal.

 

Gipsy Daniels?
Had a lot of losses, but wasn't even a heavyweight yet KO'd Schmeling in a round.

 

that's the thing, there were loads of Top Fighters who were very good or as good as.

whom might never have been world champions, but were good enough to cause the odd sensation and upset and were just on the fringe,,,

it's a tough old game and to get to the Top, as you reach it, and/or excel further, might be the difference of Management & Ownership verses tough Titty.

Wales always had a rich & capable stock of top fighters as far as I know.

 

Also, a tiny bit of trivia. Wales is the only country in the world which has a town were there are three boxers with statues. Johnny Owen, Eddie Thomas and Howard Winstone in Merthyr Tydfil. Driscoll has his own statue in Cardiff. I believe there was a petition for a Freddie Welsh one in Pontypridd. Nothing for Wilde, oddly.

Philadelphia has two. Joey Giardello and Joe Frazier. Rocky doesn’t count.