I am trying to shore up my understanding and knowledge of the early 1900’s, and got this idea from @JohnThomas1 doing the 1980’s from a mag....well I don’t have any 1920 ratings to look at and delve into so I tried to craft my own. This is based on my admitted limited knowledge so take it easy on me, but I would definitely be interested in feedback and learning....so here is my initial P4P ratings from 1920-1929. 1 Harry Greb 2 Mickey Walker 3 Gene Tunney 4 Benny Leonard 5 Sammy Mandell 6 Jack Dempsey 7 Fidel LaBarba 8 Panama Al Brown 9 Tommy Loughran 10 Young Stribling 11 Kid Kaplan 12 Bud Taylor 13 Joe Dundee 14 Tiger Flowers 15 Harry Wills 16 Frankie Genaro 17 Pancho Villa 18 Sid Terris 19 Izzy Schwartz 20 Bushy Graham/Maxie Rosenbloom Any thoughts?
I'll take a shot 1. Greb 2. Tunney 3. Leonard 4. Walker 5. Dempsey 6. Gibbons 7. Loughran 8. Villa 9. Flowers 10. Britton 11. Al Brown 12. Kid Lewis 13. Sharkey 14. Dundee 15. Stribling 16. Wills 17. Rosenbloom 18. Kid Chocolate 19. La Barba 20. Lew Tendler I'm surprised you didn't put guys like Kid Chocolate, Jack Sharkey or Tommy Gibbons Im still mulling over if Dempsey's accomplishments in the 20s deserve a spot that high Edit: Rocky Kansas might deserve a mention
First thanks for a list....2nd I am an amateur and maybe even an amateurish amateur lol.... Kid Chocolate (I don’t pretend to have a great grasp but am working on it) was only really rated in 28-29 and I felt he was more successful in the 30’s and/or a fringe guy that bridged 2 decades. Sharkey was the man in 29 but from 25-28 he was rated about 3-7 as a HW, and if I went to 25 he was in my next group Gibbons I had right there with Sharkey on the next group but felt like a good portion of his was in the teens and early 20’s. I am not opposed to him being higher that is kind of why I am trying this exercise....pre 1940’s I am not comfortable with my understanding just yet.
I am sure I have a lot to learn, but I feel your placement of Villa is probably more fair than mine....so far that is the one I am least comfortable with
All fair opinions, though Sharkey was also a promising contender after he beat Wills. Gibbons also beat Greb in 1920 so that alone (not to mention the heavyweight contenders he beat) would warrant a place IMO. Btw I find it HILARIOUS that you didn't put Ted Kid Lewis considering we had a member recently put him in their top 10 all time P4P. Though some of Lewis' best work was in the 1910s
Lol but seriously there are still some good names that you have floated and others we have not hit yet Delaney, Berlenbach, Canzoneri, Benny Bass, McClarnin, Fields, Kid Berg, Kid Norfolk, Braddock etc Pretty solid era
Riiiiiight Braddock existed before the Cinderella comeback, I forget that sometimes Canzoneri did his best work in the 30s so I left him out (but then again I put Kid Chocolate soooo), McLarnin also did his best work in the 30s but he might have an argument for top 20 for his win over Villa Extremely solid era
I know earlier stuff better TBH. Tommy Gibbons was very good, I think I'd put him over Stribling. Though the 20's was getting into the later part of his career. I don't think Wills did much in the 20's, I'm not sure I'd include him honestly. Who did he beat in the '20s, Kid Norfolk and an out of shape Firpo? Sharkey did fight Wills, Dempsey and Godfrey in the 20's, which are some of his biggest fights.
Appreciate the input...I will take another/deeper look at Sharkey and Gibbons as well as Dempsey and Wills. Someone like Dempsey got a boost historically but didn’t fight at all in 24-25 and then declined and is likely a bit high based on 3 years of work. A large portion of this was developed using some of the ring ratings from 24-29 partly because I am not as familiar with this era, but I would like to be. Because of that some of the fighters who fought in the earlier part of the decade or guys who spanned the teens and twenties may have been pushed back to far. That’s my next step. In Between I wanted some input on my first opinion so I can weigh that, and then see if my 2nd look supports my first surface thoughts or the criticism of it? And to what degree.
Would you believe i have been building up to posting some old old P4P lists that KO manufactured? So i can help a smidgen with this one - April 1924 1. Gene Tunney 2. Harry Greb 3. Mickey Walker 4. Jack Dempsey 5. Benny Leonard 6. Frankie Genaro 7. Pancho Villa 8. Johnny Dundee 9. Abe Goldstein 10. Harry Wills 11. Tiger flowers 12. Mike McTigue
