I like Abe Simon better, but if the fight takes place in Galento's backyard in New Jersey, and he's aloud to get away with murder, then it might be a tough night for poor Abe.
Stick Dempsey in as the referee, and I'd bet the rent on Tony. Putting Jack in charge of Galento-Simon would have made Galento-Nova look like a patty cake waltz. Two-Ton had the better chin, and he could recover if hurt, as he showed in his shot at Louis. A comparison of their records indicates that Tony had better late round power. He had a number of wins over the ten round distance, and far more experience when both were at their best. At the time, Nova was a better win for Galento than Walcott was for Simon. (Lou was red hot, while Jersey Joe had yet to hit his stride.)
Galento had a few surprisingly cute moves given his style and the impression he created as a beer-barrel with legs. I personally believe he would have given Simon far worse than he got, at least from a consistency standpoint, and chopped down the giant later in a contest.
Interesting. I would agree that Gallento was the better fighter of the two despite his conditioning and use of foul tactics. His resume is far more impresive warts and all. Having said that, Gallento was verry dependant on knockouts to win fights. He practicaly never won a fight on the cards in his entire career. Simon was nothing if not durable and he beat some decent fighters on the cards. I also think that Gallento would be at something of a stylistic disadvantage. He would have to come forward against Simon as he did against Max Baer, and Simon could crack. My gut says either Gallento by stoppage or Simon by decision.
Incidentaly, Gallento is totaly responsible for messing up half his era, both at the time and in the eyes of modern observers. After the second Louis Schmeling fight there were two aditional megafights brewing. Max Baer was hitting the comeback trail hard, and Lou Nova was rising through the ranks. The top contenders were Farr, Baer and Nova the latter two emerged as two ubercontenders. They faced off to decide who was going to be the "Gerry Cooney with substance" of the era and Nova won. Nova was now the #1 contender and he took one tune up fight. Then a fat little bartender beat Lou Nova (the media Joe Frazier of his era), and set up a merry go round, where the #1 spot shifted from him to Baer and then back to Nova again.
I'd go with Simon for two reasons. He had a top level chin, and better stamina. Galento was mostly a journeyman with a powerful hook, and a large gut hanging over his trunks.
Simon produced a single eighth round stoppage early in his career, and none past the sixth round after becoming a contender. He was dropped by Jim Thompson, four times by Lem Franklin, and a total of six times in the two shots at Louis. Buddy Baer took him out in three. Simon had 47 total fights. Galento knocked out Otis Thomas in nine, Al Boros in ten, and he had the 14 round TKO over Nova. In 111 fights, Tony was only knocked down once by Louis, a knockdown he got up from to avenge with one of his own. A comparison of their records indicates that it was Galento who had the better chin and stamina, not Simon. Tony took some hellish shots from the Baer brothers without going down, and he lasted over twice as long against Buddy than Abe did before he quit claiming a broken hand. It should also be mentioned that Nova, the biggest win of his career, came immediately after the Louis fight. To me, Galento was the tougher and more resilient of the two.
Galento's skills continue to be very underrated. He claimed a very good amateur record, including middleweight, light heavy and heavyweight champion of New Jersey. He was capable of using excellent feints to line-up that vaunted hook. He may have been a one-trick pony but he was very skilled with that trick.
Galento did have one of the best left hooks I've seen. When you focus on that left hook and not Galento's shape, one must admit that it was a very potent weapon indeed. He actually showed up in shape by his standards against Lou Nova, the best heavyweight prospect at the time, and set back his career in a way from which Nova never truly recovered from. Galento used every trick in the book in that fight and it should be recognized as his best ever performance, regardless of the tactics he used. He was ready to go 15 rounds. This content is protected
Originally Posted by Mendoza This content is protected I'd go with Simon for two reasons. He had a top level chin, and better stamina. Galento was mostly a journeyman with a powerful hook, and a large gut hanging over his trunks. Whew. I'm glad I have no stalker. I agree Galento hit harder, but Simon took a pounding from Joe Louis who bounced Galento out of there much quicker. If we use Louis power as a benchmark vs the same two guys, Simon has the better chin by a wide margin. I also think Simon had more stamina and skills. Simon KO'd Walcott. Did Galento ever beat anyone in that class? IMO, two ton Tony has too many L's on his resume vs non top 5 level guys in his day.
I wouldn't be entirely surprised if Galento had managed to beat Walcott at that point his Jersey Joe's career. After all Al Ettore did, and Galento knocked Ettore out of the ring in a one-sided beating. I'd say that Lou Nova was better than Walcott was at the time Abe Simon beat him. Atleast he was rated much higher.
