I've never seen Carter fight, so for those of you who have, could you discribe what he was like and what his style was? Also, where do you rank Carter All Time at Lightweight?
Thanks for the video Sweet Pea, nice finish from Carter. Where do you place him at 135? First 3-time champ at the weight, took the crown by stopping Ike Williams, fought to a draw early in his career with Saddler, wins over Art Aragon, "Bud" Smith, Lauro Salas (twice), Don Jordan, Paddy DeMarco, fought to a draw with Tony DeMarco, etc.
Carter was a good, workman-like technician with a big right hand. His one major weakness was that he tended to be too "professional" in some fights, and didn't really show intensity when he needed it. That's how he blew his title on close decisions to Lauro Salas (really just an overblown clubfighter) and Paddy DeMarco (a once-good contender, then past his prime), when both fought the fight of their lives while Carter fought at the same measured pace throughout. When Carter was in top form, he was a damn good fighter though. I don't think Carter could make the top 10 of all time lightweights, but he might have a spot in the top 20. He is underrated IMO.
my2sense, I think Carter at "top form" could beat anybody at 135. "Could" is the key word here. He is terribly under-rated today.
Nat Fleischer did a long piece on Carter in a 50's Ring magazine ,Carter had just "lost",his title,but had a rematch agreement.The headline of the article wass "A Dangerous Habit",without stating definitely that Carter threw the fight Fliescher strongly implied that he did ,and not for the first time .Carter caught a severely weight drained Ike Williams at the right time and stopped him ,Carter was a solid pro ,but owing to his" managerial connections"often did not fight to his true potential.I would put him outside the top 15 Lightweight Champs, a careful look at his record ,espsecially when he was "winning and losing " the title ,is more illuminating.
Carter was thoroughly corrupt which makes rating him somewhat difficult. I like him as a stylist though.
I was just gunna say that me and Sweet Pea were discussing him not too long ago and he shared that video he posted on the subject. Good finisher he was, not the greatest of arsenal's at his disposal while in center ring though, and if i remember correctly (been a while since i watched him), his inside game not the best either. But accurate at his own game, which was similar to someone like Ike williams, though not as skilled imo, waiting to pick his own shots, and then finish, risky gameplan, but he executed it well at times.
One of my favourite fighters as it goes. Punching technique was brilliant. He also had a pretty big head, physically.
Its very difficult to rate a man who loses a decision to a part time fighter who doubles as a garbage collector,[Johnny Cunningham],and has a record of 59 fights with 43 defeats and only 12 wins,yet can beat the likes of Demarco and Williams ,[albeit a weight drained one].Carter was the victim of his managers,and Boxing ,and the public the victim of them both.
Well Jimmy Carter is most ranked as a bottom five President..oh that Carter! Maybe top 20 but no way no how top ten!
