1956 panel's ranking on top heavyweights

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by mrkoolkevin, Apr 6, 2019.


  1. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

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    Look Magazine gathered a panel of experts, which included Nat Fleischer, Harry Grayson, George A. Barton (ref/Minnesota Tribune), Tom Laird (for S.F. news sports editor), Abe Attell, and Tim Cohane (Look Magazine's sports editor). The final tallies ended up with Louis surprisingly low and Marciano surprisingly high. And I guess Tom Sharkey may have been held in higher regard back then (consistent with Nat's 1949 list).

    1. Jack Johnson
    2. Jim Jeffries
    3. Jack Dempsey
    4. Bob Fitzsimmons
    5.Rocky Marciano and Jim Corbett (tied)
    6. Joe Louis
    7. Sam Langford
    8. John L. Sullivan
    9. Tom Sharkey
    10. Max Schmeling
     
  2. Cecil

    Cecil Boxing Addict Full Member

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    It’s fascinating how perceptions change over time.
     
  3. reznick

    reznick In the 7.2% Full Member

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    Kind of surprising that someone as contemporary as Marciano ranked so highly compared to Louis who was a spot below.

    I feel like Louis’s last fight etched some kind of sentiment towards him as a fighter that may have been over dramatized in the heads of these list makers. It was the first time seeing a great champion get knocked out badly at the end of their career. And it’s almost as if they didn’t know how to handle it.
     
  4. BitPlayerVesti

    BitPlayerVesti Boxing Drunkie Full Member

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    Of the rankings being different from how they are viewed now, how the **** is Rocky oddly high?

    Not Fitz, Corbett, or Jeffries?

    Jack Johnson also rated Tom Sharkey, he was well regarded.
     
  5. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

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    Seems like Harry Grayson is likely one of the people most responsible for Louis' lower-than-expected ranking.

    Gil Smith, In the Sportlight, Leavenworth Times, Sept. 9, 1952

    Writing in “The Heavyweight Division” for Packard Sports Library, Harry Grayson, veteran NEA Services sports editor, says “No more than eight modern heavyweight champions are worthy of ranking, and I would put them in this order:”
    1. Jack Dempsey
    2. Jack Johnson
    3. James J. Jeffries
    4. John L. Sullivan
    5. Gene Tunney
    6. Bob Fitzsimmons
    7. James J. Corbett
    8. Joe Louis
     
  6. The Undefeated Lachbuster

    The Undefeated Lachbuster On the Italian agenda Full Member

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    Interesting that Baer nor Wills broke the list, especially Baer, he was more highly regarded back then than he is now
     
  7. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Fitz above Louis. Magic.
     
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  8. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

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    What makes you say that about Baer? The members of the American boxing press had huge man-crushes on him but nobody ever thought he was some kind of ATG.
     
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  9. The Undefeated Lachbuster

    The Undefeated Lachbuster On the Italian agenda Full Member

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    Just general reading, nothing standout comes to mind other than a newspaper article that asked "how would ali do against the past greats" which featured Marciano, Louis, Dempsey and Baer
     
  10. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Indeed, I suspect that Wladamir Klitschko will creep up the lists in coming years.
     
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  11. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    Corbett above Louis even !
     
  12. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    I thought he was disparaged as a bum for most of his career - and more so after he lost the title !
     
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  13. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    I've never read that Johnson thought that much of Sharkey.
     
  14. BitPlayerVesti

    BitPlayerVesti Boxing Drunkie Full Member

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