Any other fighters besides Tyson that were historians of the game?

James Toney.

 

Ray Leonard always seemed pretty knowledgeable when discussing past fighters. I don’t know if he is a true historian though

 

José Torres?

 

Toney cited Ezzard Charles, Archie Moore and i think Walcott also

 

Tyson having virtually uninhibited access to Jacobs and Caytons extensive film archive might have something to do with his knowledge of boxing history.

As for your statement of Ali not knowing who Dempsey was, well Ali met Dempsey many times and in fact one of Alis famous quotes refers to the Manassa Mauler "I am the astronaut of boxing. Joe Louis and Dempsey were just jet pilots" so Ali perhaps knew more than you believe.

 

Bernard Hopkins mentioned thing’s occasionally, and Tyson Fury seems well informed.

 

To be fair, he did fight all of them.

 

A lot generally know their eras or perhaps their weight classes. Some might say Fury, because he’s educated on the heavies, but I got the impression he doesn’t know/care about too much else outside the most famous names. I think that’s the case with many fighters, especially from America. Michael Nunn actually has a keen interest and good knowledge of history over a wide scope of weight divisions. He’s into Monzon, Jofre,Harada, Olivares, Zárate, Arguello, Little Red etc; etc;

Carlos Zárate and Alfonso Zamora are two others. They really know their stuff. Zárate is encyclopedic on Mexican boxing, Latino boxing in general really and is educated on Harry Greb too.

 

what?? if this is a joke I don't understand lmao

 

Several years ago, on Setanta’s boxing show, alphabelt holder, Darren Barker had never heard of Harry Greb in a general discussion on boxing.
He’s now a regular commentator on DAZN.

 

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Despite his 'no film' schtick, you can find old interviews where he talks of studying smaller guys like Ricardo Lopez and obscure old school fighters from years gone by.

Tyson Fury is another one who studies old timers a lot more than he lets on.

 

Also, pretty sure 'Iceman' John Scully actually used to post here so he counts.