Brilliant article on the original showman Ike "The Belfast Spider" Weir

GPater11093 · Jul 22, 2010

Surf-Bat said: ↑

Extremely flattered at this debate, as I wrote and researched this article on Weir.

I rate Young Griffo as one of the top 5 greatest defensive fighters ever. The others are Willie Pep, Nicolino Locche, Wilfred Benitez and Pernell Whitaker(my opinion).

As to who was greater between Griffo and Weir, it's hard to say. Griffo is one of those fighters like Wilfred Benitez; an incredibly gifted natural talent who's full potential was never reached due to lax training habits. Griffo just didn't care all that much if he won or lost. He was more out to prove that you couldn't hit him than anything. His three bouts with George Dixon are classic Griffo: he came in fat and out of shape and was more intent on defense than offense. At times he made Dixon look silly, but making a fighter look silly is not the same as beating him, right? One of their 3 draws should have gone to Dixon, one to Griffo(who FINALLY decided to mount some OFFENSE!) and one was a genuine draw. That's what I've deduced from the write-ups anyway.

Back to Griffo-Weir. Ike had the superior offense and was the harder puncher. Griffo was stronger, had a slightly better defense and fought the greater opposition(Joe Gans, Jack McAuliffe and George "Kid" Lavigne), although Ike fought top flight opponents as well. Ike was a much more consistent battler too. If Griffo had taken his career more seriously I think he would be considered today to have been the hands-down greatest fighter of the 1800s. Yes, better than Fitzsimmons, Dixon, Gans, Walcott....ANY of them. He had that much talent. Just not the brains.
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Good stuff, your article definitly enlightened me about Weir.

You have a very high opinion of Griffo, interesting to see that. Seems to me abit like a Wilfred Benitez, phenomenly skilled but lacked the desire to be the best.

El Bujia said: ↑

Good to have you on the board, Surf.:good
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Definitly.

Surf-Bat · Jul 23, 2010

Thanks GPat. I'll definitely be sticking around for awhile:hat

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Brilliant article on the original showman Ike "The Belfast Spider" Weir

GPater11093 Barry Full Member

Surf-Bat Boxing Addict Full Member

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Brilliant article on the original showman Ike "The Belfast Spider" Weir

GPater11093 Barry Full Member

Surf-Bat Boxing Addict Full Member