Barney Ross: should he be higher up the lightweight lists?

Ridiculous? Why? My list is based largely on accomplishments. You can't tell me Hearns achieved more for his time than Jimmy McLarnin.

 

gans
leonard
duran*
ross*
whitaker


*could go either way.....i think duran takes it h2h but i respect ross' opposition more

 

That's a fantastic little musing. Resume only it means nothing as many will be quick to jump on, but head to head it demands some sort of consideration as long as one takes all points into account. E.G. Arguello was not fully developed as a Featherweight and IMO was substancially better and stronger a bit later on up in the weights. He was however a maturing fighter when at Feather, whether a Duran is pretty much peak and fully developed at 135.

 

It is well within my rights to slap you with a white glove and challenge you to a duel of swords - however - I am mildly intoxicated, and feel you may defeat me.

 

When reviewing Ross retiring Billy Petrolle, I can understand old-timers asserting that nobody could have beaten Barney in his prime. Because he was a triple crown champion, swept three from future MW title claimant Ceferino Garcia (the last time with a broken left hand), got the best of Battalino, McLarnin, and Canzi, while also standing up to the very best that a peak Armstrong could lay on him at the end of his career, I have no quarrel with those sentimentalists who rate Ross P4P tops all-time. He was THE boxer of the 1930s as far as I'm concerned, and a P4P match for anybody in history between 1931 and 1938. He avenged a draw against undisputed WJW Champion Frankie Klick (that Ross deserved) by officially capturing Klick's crown in their rematch. The only other blemish during that stretch was his split decision middle bout with Babyface, but Barney took the rubber match by UD.

His class and boyishly enthusiastic demonstrations of admiration and respect exchanged with his fellow competitors represent the best of sportsmanship in boxing. When I see those photographs of Ross and McLarnin, or Ross and Armstrong at the end of an arduous battle, arms around one another's shoulders like playground kids, beaming at each other with boyish respect and admiration at what they'ed just shared and achieved together, those may be the finest portraits ever taken in a boxing ring. Robinson, Ali and Pep may have represented high art in boxing, but Ross, McLarnin and Armstrong gave it high and scrappy spirit, and nobody was truly a loser in such performances.

In military conflict, and in his triumphant recovery from the aftermath, he proved the size of his heart to be far too immense to contain within the puny confines of a boxing ring. What chance could gloved fists ever have at stopping a scrapper who bullets, grenades and morphine addiction couldn't defeat?

 

I consider Benny Leonard to be the first fighter to exhibit advance modern technique(which doesn't mean he'd beat Roberto Duran in my ultimate dream fight).Barney Ross would've beaten Joe Gans(nobody ever had more guts than Ross);not to take anything away from Henry Armstrong,but Ross was over the hill when they fought for the welterweight title.There is some evidence for that in Armstrongs's next night for the lightweight title against Lou Ambers.

 

Just a word or two about Barney: He was universally loved and admired in the game. He personified gentleman. All the hardened types in Stillman's Gym or at Madison Square Garden couldn't wait to shake his hand and schmooze.

He was always so generous with his time -- no airs, a big, warm grin -- made everyone comfortible -- made dad's look good in front of their sons, acting as if they were fast friends.

He was all class.

 

Ross is number 1.