Barney Ross vs. Tony Canzoneri II (33 min. version now on Rareboxing)

That's kool. He is a big favorite here rightfully so. Ross has always been my guy though followed by Amber's. Just how the styles appeal to me.

 

FORMER BOXER DAVEY DAY, 78
Kenan HeiseCHICAGO TRIBUNE
Davey Day, 78, a 1930s and 1940s Chicago boxer, fought for both the world welterweight and the world lightweight championships. He was born David Daitch.

A longtime resident of Oak Lawn, he died Tuesday at home.

A 1972 Tribune article summarizing his career called him ''a wisp of a guy who produced more than a little thunder and lightning with his boxing gloves in the 1930s and 1940s.''

''Day was a good one,'' the article continued, ''unfortunately best remembered for two of his losses. He fought valiantly before going down at the hands of Henry Armstrong for the world welterweight championship in 1939. And he had a shot at the lightweight crown, only to be beaten on the eve of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville by Sammy Angott, a hometown fighter.''

Mr. Day, who began his professional boxing career in 1931, had boxed first in the Tribune-sponsored Golden Gloves tournament. He was a stablemate of boxing champions Barney Ross and Tony Zale.

Weighing 134 to 137 pounds in his fights, he was often described as looking like ''a human skeleton.'' His boxing record, nonetheless, shows him winning or drawing 83 out of 89 fights, 40 of them by knockouts.

His last professional fights were in late 1941, before joining the Navy.
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Vintage Boxing Photos Archive
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THE HUMAN SKELETON
Davey Day was a stablemate of Barney Ross. Day was one of the last great Jewish fighters out of Chicago. He was a top-ranking contender for lightweight and welterweight title honors for several years in the late 1930s.
A 1972 Tribune article summarizing his career called him ''a wisp of a guy who produced more than a little thunder and lightning with his boxing gloves in the 1930s and 1940s.''
''Day was a good one,'' the article continued, ''unfortunately best remembered for two of his losses. He fought valiantly before going down at the hands of Henry Armstrong for the world welterweight championship in 1939. And he had a shot at the lightweight crown, only to be beaten on the eve of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville by Sammy Angott, a hometown fighter.''
Weighing 134 to 137 pounds in his fights, he was often described as looking like ''a human skeleton.'' His boxing record, nonetheless, shows him winning 61 out of 74 fights, 4 draws, with 29 of his victories coming by way of knockout.
Day began his career in the 1930s and won most of his early fights. In 1937, he lost to lightweight champ Lou Ambers in a non-title fight, and to contender Al Roth on a 10-round decision (Roth fought for the title that year). Still, Day was a top contender by 1939. That March, he received a title shot from world welterweight and lightweight champion Henry Armstrong, one of the greatest champions in boxing history. The fight was for the welterweight title only; Armstrong knocked Day out in the 12th round.
Despite the loss, Day remained a top contender in the lightweight division. After losing a fight to Hall of Famer Sammy Angott in October 1939, Davey defeated Angott in a 12-round December rematch. Five months later, in May 1940, the two warriors fought for the vacant NBA lightweight championship; this time, Angott won a 15-round decision. Day fought for a few more years, but did not receive another title shot. His last professional fights were in late 1941, before joining the Navy. After serving in World War II, he owned and operated a small taxi company and two luggage stores.
In the 1970s, he served as head boxing coach at the Lake Shore Athletic Club in Oak Lawn.
Day died in 1990. He was 78 years old.

After serving in World War II, he owned and operated a small taxi company and two luggage stores.

In the 1970s, he served as head boxing coach at the Lake Shore Athletic Club in Oak Lawn.

Survivors include his wife, Donna; a son, Joel; a daughter, Renee Svenson; and three grandchildren.

Graveside services for Mr. Day will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Mt. Hope Cemetery, 115th Street and Fairfield Avenue.

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LAT Archives
Oct. 3, 1990 12 AM PT
From Times Wire Services
CHICAGO —
Davey Day, who fought for the lightweight and welterweight titles a half century ago, has lost a bout with liver cancer.

Day, born David Daitch in Chicago, died Tuesday at the age of 78 in his suburban Oak Lawn home.

He had a 74-7-6 record from 1931 to 1941.

On March 31, 1939, Day fought Henry Armstrong for the welterweight crown at Madison Square Garden in New York. The fight was stopped in the 12th round with both of Day’s eyes almost closed by the champ.

On May 23, 1939, Day knocked out Pedro Montanez, the No. 1 welterweight contender, at Madison Square Garden. But Armstrong wouldn’t give him a rematch, choosing to fight Montanez instead.

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I just rewatched it. I love some of the stuff these two do. Canzoneri just has some great, slight and subtle footwork and he was a brilliant counter-puncher. There's lots of subsequent fighters who came later on which had aspects of their game that you can see in Canzoneri IMO. Guys like Walcott, Mustafa Muhammed, etc. Barney Ross was just so good. He reminds me of De La Hoya if Oscar swapped half of his power for double the stamina. He just worked that great jab, set up left hooks and sparingly used his right. Very consistent and clinical fighter with a workman like attitude. Two absolute iron men in here as well. I'm struggling to think of a fight with two better chins at a level this high.

I think it's worth noting that this fight was really close, and could've done the other way if were not for the point deductions. For me, Canzoneri was the greatest of the Ambers/Ross/McLarnin/Canz group.

 

That era from 135 to 147 (from Canzoneri up to Armstrong/Ambers) was just amazing. All of them all-time greats.
Hard to pick one guy as the out and out best. Armstrong was the greatest overall but he hit his peak as the Canzoneri/Ross/McClarnin crew were passing or had passed theirs. So not including Hank it's razor thin between Ross and Canzoneri (as were their fights).

 

I have them both top fifteen with two places between them. As great as it gets.

 

Weight - Ross was up at welter by the time Ambers was winning titles at lightweight.

 

Whole that's a pretty reasonable excuse if it happened more recently, the pair of them were often fighting fighters who were the other's weight. It definitely could've happened.