Someone still needs to convince me of the greatness that supposedly was Stanley Ketchel. I can't fathom ranking him in the top ten.
Pretty good list, but even though they didn't win championships, I think Charley Burley and Holman Williams deserve spots in the top 15.
I meant that you’re such a huge Bob Fitzsimmons fan that I’m surprised that you would have a problem with a high ranking for him.
Agree wholeheartedly, he was/is still regarded way too high as a all round great MW, not sure if the lifestyle and legend have swayed opinion over the decades, the gunslinger mentality, the fast cars, the brutilising of sparring partners, devil may care attitude, thinking all that has blinded fight buffs as to his true ability and skill level. Of the few fights we can now view courtesy of YT he looks awful !! clumsy, uncoordinated , and downright poor, nether mind the likes of Hagler/Monzon, I cannot see him winning against the likes of Tiger-Steele, and I used to sign up when fighters of his gen, would say how great he was, and when said fighters lived long enough to see SRR and declare " no way would he have beaten Stan " I now realise they were wearing the ole tinted glasses. stay safe guys.
I'm not good at these lists. I wish I was. Tiger should be higher though and you'd need to look into the Murderers Row. I am sure they've got wins as good as any Jake LaMotta or Zale have. Holman Williams and Charley Burley are for two examples better then the majority of 160lbers.
Good post. Middleweight Robinson they were two different fighters. Break it down to pre retirement and post retirement. He accomplished alot after he cameback but that was when he was inconsistent. As you touched on there was that period circa 1949-1952 when Ray was campaigning as a middleweight. He had been fighting 160lbers for years and winning but at this stage he was growing into the division. This version of Robinson I don't pick against. Almost never. He could have beaten a radioactive Gorilla.
ETM, thank you. Radioactive gorilla? That’s a good one! And I agree with you . On his best night , against any other fighter at middleweight on their best nights, I would pick Ray Robinson. And that includes Harry Greb.
Not so sure buddy, you think Robinson could hang tough with the likes of, Tunney- Gibbons- Kid Norfolk- Wiggins- Gunboat Smith- Dillon- Weinhart- ? Thinking Greb would have fought excellent boxers like Ray, the reverse is not the case, Robinson would have not encountered a fighter of Grebs style, so for me it's Greb by decision , he was and remains completely unique in the annals of boxing. stay safe buddy.
I’m sure that would Greb probably could defeat Robby on a given day, but with both at their peaks, I’d put money on Sugar Ray.
