Fitzsimmons Against Todays Heavys

Gans was at times criticized for not finishing his opponents up when such opportunities presented themselves. While part of it was because he was a bit too cautious as a boxer (rarely rushing things, unless the contract stated that he must stop an opponent within certain distance, or lose a forfeit), but he rarely scored such impressive knockouts as one might have expected had he actually learned such punching technique.

 

Some contemporary observers compared Joe Gans to no lesser person than Bob Fitzsimmons as a pound for pound puncher.

He often bet on himself and picked the round he would close the show in.

 

You see, Monte Cox in his article cites mostly prime years of Gans' career for examples of spectacular knockouts. But if Gans had really learned this skill from Fitz, it could only be in mid 1890's, when Fitz visited Baltimore and Washington. True, the press coverage of Gans during these years is not as lavish/rich in details as his later years, but you won't find many examples of pin-point knockouts from him during this timespan.

Who bet on the round? Gans?

 

You make sweeping satments about what period of Gans career he scored the most knockouts but overlook the fact that he often wore cuffs and carried oponents.

Perhaps his prime years were the years where he got let off the leash.

 

I was not making statements about a period where he scored most knockouts. He scored lots of them in the 1890's too.
We have a different understanding of term 'fact'. Which opponents in the 1890's did he carry? There are some examples, where he took his time, in order to give the spectators a better show, and played with opponents for several rounds, before going for the kill. Most such fights ended in stoppages.

By prime years I meant more like him at last getting the recognition he deserved. He deserved a title shot since 1897 (having fought probably over 150 bouts and lost only 4, at least three, or possibly all four, of which were debatable), but was avoided for several years by champions and some contenders. He was seen as an outstanding boxer by that point already. Skills, judgement of distance, reflexes, speed, power, stamina, cleverness. Yet, like I said, he didn't score that many spectacular knockouts against solid opposition, of the kind you would expect from a master of pin-point accuracy, as sometimes described.

 

My point is that Gans career is verry murky around the edges and has to be viewed in this light when making general observations.

 

Based on McGovern and Britt fights his whole career is murky? He himself admitted of getting involved in only two fixed fights above.

 

The press at the time acused him of carrying a number of oponents.

Where there is smoke ther is usualy at least some fire.

 

Which press/opponents, exactly?

 

No way.

 

I should point out anyone replying to the OP should really treat the question as Fitzsimmons vs 2008's heavyweights.

 

Lunacy.

As highly as I rate Fitz, he wouldn't last more than a few rounds with the best that 2008 offered. Yes, that includes guys like Chag and Povetkin and Maskaev... He might go a few more against Valuev.

 

Lmao

 

Fitzsimmons wouldn't fight at HW today and he wouldn't need that to make a lot of money.

He'd be the champion of MW, LHW and only God knows how many other in-between divisions.

 

He'd beat Valuev.