As some of you know, I'm the research writer. So my question to the fans is, which fights would you like me to go back and research using the next day local reports and give you a detailed description and discussion? Which fights would you like to read more about?
Hopkins/Mercado I Hopkins/Mitchell Gatti/Solomon Bowe/Tubbs Marciano/LaStarza I Ali/Norton II and III Dempsey/Willard Ali/Liston II
Great topic. I suppose fights that major interest like Schmeling-Louis 1 and other huge upsets like Foreman-Frazier
The 1940's middles and Light-heavies. Jack Chase, Shorty Hogue, Archie Moore, Holman Williams, Lloyd Marshall, Cocoa Kid, Charley Burley. A lot of these guys are a mystery and are about mysterious fights - plus a lot of their fights were in Calafornia where there was serious shenanigans at that time. But if you're looking for new subjects that are non-heavy for a new series then you must consider Greb and, most especially, Langford. These two more than any other could benefit from the Pollack treatment, in my opinion.
If you can get Baltimore, MD, USA newspaper(s), early Joe Gans fights would be nice, there's about a dozen of them with "Exact date unknown" comment.
The fights I'd most like to learn more about: Sam Langford vs Jack Johnson Joe Gans vs Sam Langford Henry Armstrong vs Sugar Ray Robinson Willie Pepp vs Sugar Ray Robinson (amateur fight) When I say learn more about these fights, I wish I had footage of them so I could watch.
There are interesting and conflicting reports about this one as far as the crowds reaction goes. Some people remember then two being booed for what was essentially an exhibition, others remember a crowd appreciative of Robinson's gentleness with the crowd's favourite, Armstrong. Sure would have been a sight to see. I wonder if John Garfield was about for this one?
Interesting, I've got the Sugar Ray Robinson autobiography somewhere, I can't remember what Robinson says about the Armstrong fight. I do remember him saying Louis and Armstrong were his idols and that he had very mixed feelings about facing Armstrong. I think he also disliked Zivic for beating Armstrong and wanted to seek revenge for Armstrongs defeat at the hands of a very dirty fighter. Whose John Garfield?
Yeah, It seems that Robinson was actively seeking a match with Zivic far to early than was good for him for this particular reason. There were plenty who thought that fight was coming to early for him anyway. A proper gentleman who posts here sometimes (not nearly enough) who was ringside New York for so many of these fights. He also saw Marciano, Liston, Foreman in training and is able to compare them all hitting the heavy bag via eyewitness accounts. ESB Classic's most valuable treasure, basically.
Ali-M. Foster Lyle-Shavers Dokes-Page(amateur) Vysotsky-M. Green(amateur) Bivins-Burley Sanchez-Escobar Davis Jr.-Pryor(amateur) Shavers-Young ll Eddie Gregory-Matthew Franklin Harry Greb-Gene Tunney
Be interested to hear about some of the lightheavy bouts of the 70s- Foster-Finnegan Conteh-Finnegan Ahmuada-Fosyer Galindez-Ahmuada Conteh-Saad Muhamed I
any Smokin' Bert Cooper, Mitch Blood Green, or Floyd Jumbo Cummings fights, i know its old shool but i'm hopin you have access to top secret archives, i just really like hearing baout fighters out of the norm and guys no one really talks about other than little snippets of info
Oscar Bonavena-George Chuvalo Sammy Angott-Willie Pep Joey Giardello-Gene Fullmer Clemente Sanchez-Kuniaki Shitaba Emile Griffith-Gypsy Joe Harris
Definetly Salvador Sanchez's only loss against Antonio Becerra. I think he would have even more of a legacy, if there was a good reason why he lost. A broken hand, robbery or anything like that. I've never read anything on that fight, and sadly I don't think it was taped, or if it was, it's incredibly rare. A good report would be nice.
Kid Gavilan vs Ray Robinson 1 & 2 Ezzard Charles vs Moore (any of the three) Ezzard Charles vs Lloyd Marshall 1 & 2 Barbados Demon Joe Walcott vs Sam Langford Barbados Demon Joe Walcott vs Dixie Kid Joe Gans vs Jack Blackburn
