I don´t think there is much between the top middles of the 30s, all around the same level. I picked Zale because I think after all of them were done he proved himself to be the best of the bunch. Not by much though.
I would not argue with anyone who picks Louis over any heavyweight,though for me is number 4 all time . [I think Dempsey takes him out quick]. I have read that Blackburn said Johnson would have beaten Joe ,but this is unsubstantiated,as far as I know. I just hear about how susceptible Johnson's chin was and ,really, I don't buy it. To be honest I would not be surprised if the kd against Ketchel was fake,Johnson said it was ,but he told so many conflicting stories ,it is hard to sort the wheat from the chaff. Some versions of the fight appear to show Jack falling before the punch lands. Gunboat Smith said the kd was fake,and if it was I think Jack's chin would go up in many peoples estimation. Frankly, I think Louis crucifies Jeffries. A pin point heavy duty puncher against a rugged durable fighter who did not have great defence. This is a recipe for a thrashing, especially given Jeffries toughness and courage.
Jeffries vs Louis Louis is such an offensive machine, Jeffries isfairly hittable. Now Jeffries was durable but he never faced someone with the size and destructive power combination of Louis. I see him taking a fearful one-sided thrashing before being stopped. Fitzsimmons vs Lewis I had this match up on the Fitz that help the Light-Heavy title. I think the mobile Lewis would be able to out-manuever Fitz and stay away from the heavy artillary and land solid counters and establish his strong jab on Fitz to take a UD. Ketchel vs Steele I like Steele here. He is a very nice boxer-puncher to watch. Really nice straight punches and puts combo's together well. Ketchell is strong and fast, but I like Steele being able to counter Ketchell down the pipe with hard combiantions and able to keep Ketchell off for a UD, in a rematch thought Ketchell IMO would KO him. Walcott vs Ross Ross IMO is one ofthe most versatile fighters I have seen. Nice jab and combinations and he is an aggresive technician. Walcott seems to be a sort of small guy who comes in and out with fast combinations and hits very hard. Ross had an excellant chin and can stand in and land hard counters on Walcott, his jab will be a big fator in limiting Walcott's rushes and Ross should win a UD. Gans vs Canzoneri Gan's is a brilliant boxer-puncher, howevr Canzoneri was a brilliant aggresive counter-puncher. I see him coming forward and forcing leads from Gans and able to counter him with the left hook and follow up combos. Gans can have some sucess with the jab like Ross but Conzoneri should be on-frm countering and take a very narrow UD/SD. McGovern vs Armstrong McGovern is abit of a Tyson of the day, gets inside and unleases hard combos and can enerally knock anyman out. I like Armstrong to get inside and really take away the power for McGovern and outwork him. Armstrong has a solid chin and if hit can take it. McGovern vs Brown Brown despite being so tall had a solid chin. I thin with his height and reach he can keep McGovern off and take a UD.
I havent got time to add up these scores yet, but the 30s seems to be on their way to a decent upset. The form of Canzoneri, Ross and John Henry Lewis has been surprisingly good. If anyone wants to think about nominating an era for match 4, i will put somthing up in the next day or so.
Heavyweight--Louis vs Johnson (or Jeffries) 4-1 Lightheavy--Lewis vs Fitzsimmons/Langford 0-6 Middle--Steele (or several others) vs Ketchel 3-3 Welter--Ross vs Walcott 3-1 Light--Canzoneri vs Gans 2-3 Feather--Armstrong vs McGovern 4-1 Bantam--Panama Al Brown vs Frankie Neil/McGovern 3-0 Current Score - 1930s 4 vs 1900s 2 Draw 1 This looks to be one of the closest matches. The match seems to turn on the result of the Ketchell vs Steele, Canzoneri vs Gans and Ross vs Walcott fights. All very close and arguable both ways.
Can I change my pick for Fitzsimmons to win by KO againt Lewis, used the wrong 'version' of Fitz. a primed Fitz is aggresive and can take Lewis out.
John Henry Lewis is very underrated. One of the premier boxers of all time. He could dish it out too. He was a complete fighter.
When I was a very young boy 7-8, I lived next door to a trainer of the great John Henry Lewis..I never saw him, but i used to spar with some of JHL stablemates,almost every night...One of the guys was named Tommy Jones, a welterweight of that time...i remember going all out and they would roll with the punches and laugh at my efforts to hit them solidly..The trainer made me eat a salad with oil every night,a habit I still have today...I still have an old rubber mouthpiece, the trainer gave me...It is now petrified solid.....
Heavyweight--Louis vs Johnson Louis- I take Johnson because he was just so dominant in the early 1900s, and he was extremely confident of beating Louis. I think he frustrates Louis, and causes some serious problems for Louis, but I think he needs more than 15 rounds and Louis ends up with the nod on points. Lightheavy--Lewis vs Fitzsimmons – Fitzsimmons KO6 Middle--Steele (or several others) vs Ketchel – I am a little worried about this pick, but I go with Ketchel. Welter--Ross vs Walcott - Walcott. I must say, I am a little surprised that so many have picked Ross to beat Walcott. Walcott is the better fighter, imo. And I am not sure why he is seen as being inconsistent by so many. I think he wins by KO. Light--Canzoneri vs Gans – Gans is too good. Feather--Armstrong vs McGovern – McGovern is good and this would be brutal, but I think Armstrong was the better fighter. Bantam--Panama Al Brown vs Frankie Neil – Panama Al Brown This match turns on the middleweight, lightweight and Welterweight battle. All 3 could go either way.