Heavyweight project for Heavyweight posters.

Yes.

 

how the **** do you guys know so much??!

 

This is a really tough era to rate, even at the top end. When you look at their records, Tunney actually has a very good argument to rate number one! And Schmelling is another who has an outside argument as the best also.

Off the top of my head (and i am sure it would change with thought and inserting some i have forgotten),

1. Tunney (i know the excuses but facts are that he won 19 of 20 rounds against a Dempsey who beat one of the top boxers on the list).
2. Dempsey
3. Schmelling
4. Sharkey
5 Langford
6. Willard
7. Wills
8. Baer
9. Carnera
10 McVey
11 Braddock
12 Jeanette
13 Loughran
14 Godfrey
15 Jack johnson (controversial, and probably shold be in the previous era, but i think that solely on his post willard career, he still deserves a spot in the top 25).
16 Pualino Uzcuden
17 Greb
18 Ed Bearcat Wright
19 Clarke
20 Young Stribling
21 Gibbons
22 Schaaf
23 Mickey Walker
24 Firpo
25 Miske

 

Lasky at his peak was the #2 rated contender, for whatever bearing that would have.

He was also a relativley important figure because he was a big draw with the jewish community.

 

This is a bloody good thread. I don't feel I can contribute anything new though.

 

As for Fox, he is a case a bit like George Godfrey or Cleavland Williams.

A fighter who receives incredible endorsments from contemporary fighters journalists and trainers, but dosn't have the paper record to match them.

An enigma.

 

Using your top 25, ( and adding in Carnera who blongs ) I'll give 15.

1. Dempsey
2. Tunney
3. Langford
4. Schmeling
5. Wills
6. Baer
7. Jeanette
8. McVey
9. Godfrey
10. Willard
11. Carnera
12. Gunboat Smith
13. Greb
14. Gibbons
15. Miske

 

Yes I did miss Sharkey and Gains. New list.

1. Dempsey
2. Tunney
3. Langford
4. Schmeling
5. Wills
6. Baer
7. Jeanette
8. McVey
9. Godfrey
10. Willard
11. Carnera
12. Gains
13. J. Sharkey
14. Gunboat Smith
15. Greb

 

I think Floyd Paterson should get a run here. I know that he still did some good work after 1960, but at the end of 1960 he was a reigning world champion, and he had probably had his best wins and done his best work.