Great fighters of the past, what would they have thought of the curent crop?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by janitor, Jan 30, 2009.


  1. janitor

    janitor VIP Member

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    I have often wondered what champions of the past like Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis would have thought of fighters who came along after their deaths like Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis.

    One historic fighter who did live to see the recent crop was Max Schmeling and his views are always interesting.

    So what do you think guys.

    What would your favourite historic fighters have made of the guys who came after them?

    Would Jack Johnson have rated Muhamad Ali?

    Would Joe Louis have rated Mike Tyson?

    Would Sugar Ray Robinson have rated Floyd Mayweather?
     
    janitor, Jan 30, 2009
    janitor, Jan 30, 2009
    #1
  2. Bill1234

    Bill1234 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    What were Max Schmellings thoughts?
     
    Bill1234, Jan 30, 2009
    Bill1234, Jan 30, 2009
    #2
  3. Dempsey1238

    Dempsey1238 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    They think the current heavyweights were bums, and ko them in 1 or 2 rounds at there best. Past there primes, they ko them in 4 or 5.
     
    Dempsey1238, Jan 30, 2009
    Dempsey1238, Jan 30, 2009
    #3
  4. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    That would depend upon their personal relationship.

    Yes. Louis knew a fighter when he saw one (eventually). Gave Ali his due during the comentary for the Terrell fight.

    Yeah, Floyd would have had an admirer in Floyd's flamboyant style - up until the point that FLoyd claimed his ATG superiority anyway!

    I wonder what Dempsey would have made of them? I think he would have loved Mike, but I can only imagine what he would have said about this lot.
     
    McGrain, Jan 30, 2009
    McGrain, Jan 30, 2009
    #4
  5. janitor

    janitor VIP Member

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    Schmeling seems to have been fairly even handed between eras.

    Some modern fighters he spoke glowingly of and rated among the greatest from all eras were Mike Tyson, Marvin Haglar, Ray Leonard, Tommy Hearns and Julio Cezar Chavez.
     
    janitor, Jan 30, 2009
    janitor, Jan 30, 2009
    #5
  6. janitor

    janitor VIP Member

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    Louis seems to have rated punchers verry highly regardles of the era.

    On that basis he would probably have been a big fan of Tyson, Bowe, Lewis and perhaps a few other guys who never quite made it.

    Jack Dempsey seems to have been a bit more even handed between styles but he also liked a good banger.

    Tyson fawned over any surviving old timers so expect Louis and Dempsey to get free tickets to all his fights.

    Jack Johnson liked technical boxers so I dont see him rating any of the curent heavyweights.
     
    janitor, Jan 30, 2009
    janitor, Jan 30, 2009
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  7. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I think Wladimir might have gotten some plaudits. His style is not all that dissimilar from Louis's. He's kind of mechanic, but he's a very good technician for such a huge guy. They probably wouldn't have been impressed by how he reacts under pressure, though.
     
    Bokaj, Jan 30, 2009
    Bokaj, Jan 30, 2009
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  8. janitor

    janitor VIP Member

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    I suspec that Wlad would divide the old timers.

    You would be able to find one that rated him verry highly and another who said he was awfull.

    Dempsey for example seems to have been much more willing to give contemporary fighters plaudits than Tunney.
     
    janitor, Feb 1, 2009
    janitor, Feb 1, 2009
    #8
  9. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    Sam Langford, through his one sometimes good eye, observed fighters in the 30's through 50's, and seemed to think them more dancers than fighters, though he did give Joe Louis his due.
     
    Seamus, Feb 1, 2009
    Seamus, Feb 1, 2009
    #9
  10. guilalah

    guilalah Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Response to Bill1234

    I found a citation of a statement Schmeling made, early in the 2000's, as to who had impressed him:

    This content is protected

    In his twilight years, Max was asked to name the boxers who had impressed him the most down through the decades. “Trying to name them all would be a little too much,” Max replied.
    “But, in alphabetical order, my short list of those boxers who will never be forgotten includes Muhammad Ali, Henry Armstrong, Georges Carpentier, Julio Cesar Chavez, George Foreman, Harry Greb, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, Jack Johnson, Ray Leonard, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Carlos Monzon, Archie Moore, Willie Pep, Ray Robinson and Mike Tyson.

    “But now I want to add, all by myself, one more name: Jack Dempsey.

    Despite all the class shown by the others, Dempsey was not only my own idol, he remains for me to this day the greatest of them all. He was the big daddy. He embodied the complete perfection of a professional boxer.

    “Jack, the ninth of eleven children of an impoverished family of Mormon itinerant workers in Colorado, welded brilliant technique and strategy with a stupendous punch like no other boxer. His punches came packed with the full power of his entire shoulder span. He was a nightmare of an opponent. He hated sharing the ring with anybody else. He appeared to be a fist fighter from another planet. It was no coincidence that they called him ‘the man killer’.“
     
    guilalah, Feb 1, 2009
    guilalah, Feb 1, 2009
    #10
  11. GPater11093

    GPater11093 Barry Full Member

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    good find guilalah
     
    GPater11093, Feb 2, 2009
    GPater11093, Feb 2, 2009
    #11