Chicago Showdown: Packey McFarland vs. Barney Ross

Two of the greatest technicians of the first half of the 20th century. So who takes it?

Let's make it at a catchweight of 138 pounds to ensure Packey doesn't come in weight drained trying to make the lightweight limit.

 

Well, I'll get my opinion in first.

I think this bout would predominantly be decided by who is able to establish their best punch. For Ross, that is the left jab. For McFarland, that is the right uppercut to the body.

Ross tends to leave his left flank quite exposed in his eagerness to establish the jab and this would give Packey quite a sizable target to aim with with his right uppercut.

In order to land it though he has to find a way to consistently get past the Ross jab. This would be a problem, for though McFarland was quite good at subtle shifts of the head in coming forward, Ross had a really quick jab and could double and triple up on it like a piston.

I think McFarland would have some success doing it, especially early, for he had really twitchy toes and could move around at a quick pace, but once he tires a little and isn't as sharp with his footwork, he might find it hard to get in often enough to pile up points and win the decision.

McFarland had some other good tools, like a good overhand right which he'd slip in occasionally after he got his opponent thinking the right uppercut was coming, and he also had a pretty good range finding jab, and he'd have employed it and had some success with it, and it would give him the opportunity to get in close where he'd land the rights, but will it be enough?

I don't think so. Ross will back up his great jab with left hooks and the straight right which will keep Packey wary of moving in behind his jab, and his greater handspeed will allow him to get in first and tie his man up to avoid retaliating shots.


Ross 8 rounds to 7 in an intriguing fast paced chess match. :good

 

Maybe Barney wins it, but no way would it be easy. We're talking about a guy here that beat Jack Britton, Freddie Welsh, Owen Moran, Jimmy Britt, Cyclone Johnny Thompson, Harlem Tommy Murphy, Leach Cross, Young Erne and drew with Mike Gibbons when making a comeback 2 years after retirement. He lost once in over a 100 fights facing a deep, deep level of competition. Packey was one of the greatest.