He doesn't seem to get much mention round here, just wondered where you rate him? He has a good record of 134 - 4 - 2 but I don't no too much about the level of opposition he faced, what do you guys think?
it's tough for jimmy as he had no doubt hundreds of "phone booth" fights that are undocumented. based on what we do know, he should rate in the top 30 or 40 all time, depending on how you're ranking. he could rank higher but i don't know enough about his opposition to give a specific answer
Don't have much film on him i suppose so it's always hard rating fighters like these. He's definetly one of the hardest punchers in boxing ever. I heard he knocked out hvy's.....and he's a flyweight:scaredas:
Yeah theres a fair few stories around about his ''phone booth'' fights and him beating much bigger men. I don't seem to see him in many peoples top 50 at all and just wondered why. His knockout % is pretty impressive too!
A good article: http://coxscorner.tripod.com/wilde.html Some information about his opponents and fighting style. Seems the few fights he lost he was either outweighed or past it like in the Villa fight. Perhaps he is best remembered by the words of former heavyweight champion Gene Tunney who said simply, “Jimmy was the greatest fighter I ever saw.”
:thumbsupgreat quote and tunney was all class. he has a legitimate claim to greatest flyweight ever. i'd have trouble keeping him OUT of my top 50
I think he's collectively overrated, to be honest. He competed against bigger men with success, so he obviously proved his talents, but his resume really doesn't justify his perennial top 20 OAT status.
I'm not really impressed with him from the film footage I'v seen to be honest, I think Benny Lynch was a better fighter in my honest opinion, he's still an iconic and legendary figure in boxing though.
Yeah he seems to have quite a strange akward style, but his movement and ability to slip punches seem very good.
yep thats why he can get away with that style, a ferocious little fighter greatest flyweight ever for me
