How do you rate Marcel Cerdan?

Top ten ATG I don't know, I would not balk at it but the MW division is just SO deep. Boxing historian Herb Goldman rates him #5 all-time but that's the highest I have ever seen. Top 15 for me.

 

This is the theory, but on the contrary Cerdan roasted a bunch of talented fighters whose names do well to exist.

WWII did its job of swallowing many a boxers chances. The Navy boxing squads, of which Cerdan frequented, were packed with decent fighters, many of whom he crushed like Larry Cisneros.

When WWII restricted Marcel from moving over to America and mixing with the big names he was marooned for four of his best years. Cerdan bided his time until he broke into America with great wins over Georgie Abrams, Anton Raadik and Laverne Roach.

Cerdan's front cover has Tony Zale on it, but the previously noted chapters were just as fine, and this is the point; history does not read the entire book.

As a fighter he was a technical guru and gradually took away the threat and then the defences with a unique combination of a stellar guard and hectic offence.

Cerdan made the transition from Welterweight-Middleweight quite far into his career and there are many of the opinion that he was better in his lighter, speedier form.

 

Very high. Tier3 alongside Archie Moore and Barney Ross equalling a ranking between 7 and 10.

 

I think a lot of him. Had he come to the States earlier, his legacy today would have been held in higher regard. No offense, but Americans generally underrate many European fighters, and Cerdan is no exception.

He made a great impression when he knocked out the highly respected Harold Greene in Madison Square Garden, and then later took the title from the slightly faded but still formidable Zale.

I'd say he falls outside the top 10, but only because the middleweight division has been historically so laden with talent - brimming with it, in fact. Still, Cerdan from what I've seen and read, had the ability to crack that elite group had he won the title earlier and not been injured against Lamotta.

He's the kind of fighter I could see giving Ray Robinson a lot of trouble.

 

Gotcha, thought you meant much lower. I have him higher but you know what they say about opinions...