Sorry, I just wondered if you had any more info on the quote below. "The Wanganui Herald/Wanganui Chronicle. Six-ounce gloves were used. Laing was recovering from what may have been food-poisoning and was advised not to fight until he had fully recovered. Years later a Slavin supporter admitted to slipping something into Laing's bevy days before the fight. The claim is debunked? Fine, that's all I wanted to ascertain. I presumed you knew when the fights took place ,I was really explaining why I don't give credit for fights that happened outside the prescribed time scale. I don't pretend to be up to speed with the era. But judging from Box Rec and CBZ ,[who else can I go by?] the list isn't that special whose ever picks you go by!
Certainly not a sterling bunch. My try; 1--Jackson 2-Godfrey 3- Childs 4-Armstrong 5-Felix 6-Byers 7-Klondike 8-Martin 9-Griffin 10- CC Smith
I agree. If there was any time when a champion drawing the color line, would be of minimal consequence, then it was between Jackson's prime and Martin coming on the scene.
This is really an important observation,imo. It doesnt excuse the color bar of course, but it does indicate that it's application probably was not of any great significance during that time slot.
Maher beat Smith, Godfrey, Klondike, Butler, Craig, Stevenson, Harris easily,Choynski beat Godfrey, Wilson, Smith, Wilson, Jack Johnson, Childs and so forth so the middle tier white heavies were a step ahead at that time.
Thanks. We are few sports apart on Griffin. His record is very good, and holds over Harris Martin ( your #8 ) and Jack Johnson ( When Griffin was past his best ), along with a draw with Childs, who you place at #3 While the group isn't a good one, they often had to fight for peanuts. Jackson, I think could have been a transformative sports star had he faced and beaten Sullivan He was a stereotypical type at all, rather he was well liked by the press, and a gentleman. Using your top then, mine would be 1 ) Jackson - Way above the rest 2 ) Griffin 3 ) Godfrey 4 ) Childs 5 ) Armstrong Spots 6-10 are interchangeable for me.
Part of the challenge is that their records are so poorly known. Quite a few fights, including Griffin Vs Childs only being known from mentions in records years later.
Agree on Jackson. I stayed with the OP'S criteria, fights in the 1890's. My Martin was Denver Ed nd I don't share your appreciation of Griffin, his draw with Childs was over 4 rounds, I think, and at an early stage of his career, Johnson wasn't much when he beat him and a young Jeffries beat him, not a bad fighter but not great either.
I think they were actualy better in the 1880's, Jackson, Godfrey, Hadley, Wilson, McHenry Johnson, cc Smith etc.
