Best fighters of the Decade - 1920 to 1929.

I will start with some nominations before I make any lists.

Dempsey, Tunney and Wills are three obvious ones, but what about the rest.

The likes of Harry Greb, Eddie Lawson, Jeff Clarke, Bearcat Wright and several others who didnt get a shot at Dempsey's title.

Or some of the unsuccessful title challengers like KO Brennan, Billy Miske, Georges Carpentier, Tommy Gibbons, Louis Angel Firpo.

Or what about some of the older guys who hung around and were still capable of producing the odd bit of magic like Fulton, Langford, Jack Johnson.

This is one of the most stack decades ever, and i just know i will have forgotten a few obvious ones. Anyone going to have a stab in the dark at putting a top 10 of the decade together.

 

heavys only at this stage.

 

I think that Dempsey, Tunney and Wills are clearly the three standouts, to start the lists. But there are quite a few that think that Greb bested Tunney in their series (until age and eyesight got him). Does this mean that Greb can poke his nose in to make that threesome at the top a foursome? I wouldnt have thought so. I think the ESB consensus would be Dempsey, with Wills and Tunney second (personally i would go for tunney, but i am sure a lot will prompt for Wills). Wills does have his supporters as number one of the decade, but i dont think that it goes far enough to really Challenge Dempsey's grip as the consensus number one of the decade.

 

Schmelling is getting some support, and rightly so, because as Janitor said he did clean up in the 30s. But I dont think he was really a 20s fighter, despite coming with his late run over Uzcuden and Johnny Risko, both of which were great but came in 1929 only. This surely is balanced out by the losses to Gypsy Daniels and Larry Gains in the middle of the decade?

 

I think that is an excellent question. An obvious ommission that i made.

I honestly dont think i know where to put him. Some contemporary views would have him competing for the number one spots. Yet, looking at his record, even allowing for the DQ losses and supposed cuff wearing, it does have to be questioned. In the 20s he has to early round KO losses to Langford. A KO loss to Jack Thompson. Losses to Jack Renault and Sharkey and a string of other losses some questionable. And dont forget the draw with Bearcat Wright who was criticised already for being mentioned on this thread. Of course this is balanced by some impressive KOs of Fulton, Gains and Uzcuden. I am thinking that the best and perhaps most likely position is towards the bottom of the top 10.

Do you see him fitting in somewhere else?

 

I was mostly looking for a heavyweight ranking, but i think you hit on some very, very good fighters. It is one seriously stacked decade, as far as talent is concerned.