Earliest filmed bout that you would actually watch for fun because it's entertaining?

Leonard vs Cushing, the oldest film out there. If you haven't seen it, you should.

 

No but that's why I'd like to see any of his fights. Kind of a holy grail, Harry Greb thing.

 

I think McCarty vs. Al Palzer was filmed for the white heavyweight championship of the world.

 

Yes, some iconic stuff was filmed in Edison’s Black Maria studios.

Being able to see Corbett box just 2 years after beating John L. Is pretty amazing. That footage is getting on for about 128 years old now.

Part of the reason that the footage is so clear is that the platform upon which the subjects stood could be rotated to catch the light coming through the ceiling to best advantage.

It’s too bad Edison only filmed one high profile boxer under those most favourable conditions (And it just had to be the hammy, “I’m ready for my close up Mr De Mille”, James J. Corbett, didn’t it?). Well, he was HW Champ as at the time so I’ll give him a pass.

Just for that little film alone , Peter Courtney’s name will live on forever in boxing history. A very underrated Puny Pugilist who may or may not have been able to fight his way out of an oversized paper bag. LOL.

It would’ve been great to see guys like Jeffries, Fitz, Sharkey etc. examined in similarly clear footage even if only in light or none too serious sparring.

 

If you can find film of Figg, I would watch it transfixed with fascination.

Is that fun?

 

Well, I guess it would be “fun” if you gave a fig.

OMG, I kill me!

No offence intended. The pun was calling me from afar, like the call of the sirens, much too strong to resist with equally disasterous results.

 

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Gold! Curly, probably my favourite but all hilarious.

Stealing from your clip, here’s Hope v Dempsey (I wonder how many ounce gloves Bob was wearing?). The ending - perhaps shades of Dempsey v Flynn 1? Fortunately for Hope, there was no rematch with the Mauler.

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Earliest? Anything with Dempsey I suppose so I suppose the Willard Dempsey fight. Johnson throwing 6 punches a round while manhandling middleweights for 12 rounds isn't in my taste, same with the rest of the folks clinching entire rounds (Jeffries) which is pretty much the scene pre 1919. Some matches with Baer, and anything with Louis I also find quite entertaining not to mention useful for noticing styles and techniques.

 

Any of Kid Gavilan’s fights

 

Louis/ Buddy Baer both fights

 

Spinks/Lopez
Robinson/ Lamotta
Muhammad/ Johnson both fights
Tyson/ Holyfield 1
Holyfield/ Bowe trilogy

 

Sorry bro, I somehow missed this post. I haven’t seen this Billy Edwards footage - interesting - I’ll chase it up. I have an interest in all things antique so that overlaps with my interest in boxing, specifically the old old timers.

Trivia - the earliest born person captured in a photograph was born around 1740 I think - they were photographed in the 1830s when they were allegedly in their 90s.

 

This one is dope.

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