You are assuming that it is revisionism. You could argue that Galico et al were the revisionists, and that people like me are bringing the center of gravity back towards what the fighters and trainers of Carnera's day thought.
You could only argue this by inventing your own definition for 'revisionism'. There is considerable evidence from people, who actually watched Carnera fight live, describing Carnera's poor performances and limitations - his acknowledged, albeit slight improvement over time, notwithstanding. 'Gallico et al' were not retrospectively revising an already established position - they were instituting the position, at the time, as events unfolded.
Now I would have to disagree with your last sentence. Gallico et al are secondary sources. Why would their testimony count for more than the fighters and trainers of the day? I think that if we held the debate on the primary evidence only, that would be to Carnera's advantage, and not to his detractors.
Tommy Loughran as quoted in The Miami News in 01 Mar 1934 "Carnera is exceptionally fast and clever for a man of his tremendous proportions."
Why would the opinions of men like Gallico, be given more respect than those of men like Loughran who fought Carnera, and other respected fighters like Max Schmeling or Benny Leonard? It makes no sense to me!
Jan- You think Jim Corbett can beat Tua, Cmon do you really expect to win these arguments on this topic with your rep? You are a smart guy surely you understand it is fruitless.
It is not always about winning the argument. You win it if you can, but if you can't, then you at least try to shift the center of the argument. Give people some ideas to kick around in the back of their head for a bit!
At the risk of getting off topic, I think that I have given my reasoning multiple primes previously. I am genuinely surprised that this is a contentious pick. A guy who consistently lost when he stepped up to world level, against a guy who was at least the champion at some point, and was obviously good at not getting hit. I assumed that this would look like a somewhat reasonable pick, even to those who didn't see it the same way! If you are making Tua a runaway favorite in most fantasy fights, then it is a triumph of fait over experience!
No he won't. Valuev has been given a more than fair shake, and his resume is legitimately lackluster. Carnera has been unfairly maligned, and his resume has legitimate merit to it!
