How great was Jim Driscoll?

Discussion in 'British Boxing Forum' started by Flea Man, Apr 29, 2011.


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  1. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    Wales' greatest fighter? One of the P4P greats? Britains greatest???

    I would say yes to the first two for sure; a consensous win over ATG Featherweight (and that time reigning World Featherweight champion) Abe Attell, a few wins over a battleworn (but very experienced) ATG George Dixon, a Draw with Owen Moran (of which I know little of the circumstances; any info, I.e Greg (!) would be very much appreciated) and success over a few weights (although he never claimed a World title)

    I think he lost his biggest fight though; against Freddie Welsh, where after Welsh started to pull away with it (using dirty tactics and frustrating Driscoll) 'Peerless' Jim was DQ'd for a blatant headbutt to the World Lightweight champions chin.

    Welsh of course, has a glittering resume himself, even if he didn't quite make it in the amazing Lightweight era that preceded him ('Battling' Nelson, Ad Wolgast, Joe Gans etc etc) would the ESB Brotosh forum rank him higher than Driscoll?

    Driscoll was revered in the States for his boxing ability, if someone could post the vid' of him on YouTube on here it'd be very much appreciated (Iphone)

    So what are your thoughts lads? Driscolls resume is quality, but does his lack of a World title mean he isn't quite up there? Or does the fact he deserved the nod against Attell (where only a K.O would see the title change hands) mean he's justafiably rated amongst the 30-40 best there has ever been, and between 1-5 on the British list?
     
    Flea Man, Apr 29, 2011
    Flea Man, Apr 29, 2011
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  2. GazOC

    GazOC Guest Star for Team Taff Full Member

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    I don't think winning a newspaper decision rather than the title matters that much when trying to place Driscoll but I'd still have him below Freddie Welsh, who has a more substantial "body of work", in any case.

    Probably top 10 in Britain but not top 5 IMHO.
     
    GazOC, Apr 29, 2011
    GazOC, Apr 29, 2011
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  3. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    How high would you rate Packy MacFarland, Gaz? Not British I know, but some real depth in there, I find him criminally underrated.
     
    Flea Man, Apr 29, 2011
    Flea Man, Apr 29, 2011
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  4. GazOC

    GazOC Guest Star for Team Taff Full Member

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    Bar his big fights I don't know much about him mate, to beat Britton and Moran was no mean feat. Could have done with there being a 140lb division by the looks of it.
     
    GazOC, Apr 29, 2011
    GazOC, Apr 29, 2011
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  5. GPater11093

    GPater11093 Barry Full Member

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    True

    Dixon was pretty shot, I haven't researched the Moran bout.

    I'd say the Attel fight was a bigger fight for Driscoll. Anyway, its an odd fight both men, fought each others bout and had great success in doing it, however Welsh was frequently fouling throughout and Driscoll lost it and put his head down and charged straight at Welsh like a bull, and pinning him against the ropes. For which he got DQ'd and started a riot.

    As the fighting was going on in the ring between Driscoll and Welsh handlers, Driscoll sat in the middle of the ring crying.

    Nope.

    He's not a guy I have researched that much but I would say he is a top 5 British fighter. My main impressions of him are drawn from his bout with Robson that is filmed, and it is an amazing performance.

    His lack of a world title means nothing, he clearly showed he was better than the reigning world champion, who was considered as a master boxer, yet Driscoll thoroughly out boxed him.
     
    GPater11093, Apr 29, 2011
    GPater11093, Apr 29, 2011
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  6. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    I have him behind Lennox. Driscoll as no.2 alltime British fighter. Then Wilde.
     
    Flea Man, Apr 29, 2011
    Flea Man, Apr 29, 2011
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  7. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    Quality post btw Greg, just what I wanted :good

    Dixon was way past it. I dunno what weight it was contested at?

    On McFarland, good point Gaz :good I will say that neither he nor Welsh particularly impressed me when I first viewed the footage, maybe I'll give it another go and see if I can pick up some more from it :good
     
    Flea Man, Apr 29, 2011
    Flea Man, Apr 29, 2011
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  8. GazOC

    GazOC Guest Star for Team Taff Full Member

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    TBH mate, I can't recall of having seem film of either fighter.
     
    GazOC, Apr 29, 2011
    GazOC, Apr 29, 2011
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  9. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    Welsh Vs MacFarland should still be on YouTube mush :good
     
    Flea Man, Apr 29, 2011
    Flea Man, Apr 29, 2011
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  10. JukeboxTimebomb

    JukeboxTimebomb Well-Known Member Full Member

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    He was offered a big money rematch with Attell but declined because he had already committed to a charity function.

    He was so consistent with his right cross its like a sniper rifle it was so accurate.
    [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LSDYJOFp7Q[/ame]
     
    JukeboxTimebomb, Apr 29, 2011
    JukeboxTimebomb, Apr 29, 2011
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  11. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    He was dedicated to his Church.

    Any chance someone could post MacFarland-Welsh?

    Driscoll was scarily accurate and seems to have a solid dig as well as timing and accuracy
     
    Flea Man, Apr 29, 2011
    Flea Man, Apr 29, 2011
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  12. Gaz S

    Gaz S Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Driscoll didn't want the Welsh fight (Freddie was a lightweight and Driscoll a career featherweight), but only agreed to it if part of the proceeds from that fight were donated to the Nazareth House orphange.

    I have a photo of myself holding aloft the original Lonsdale belt that actually belonged to Driscoll (the first featherweight to win one), when it's trusted guardian brought it to a charity fund raiser I held at my gym last year. It's a great historical artifact in British boxing :)
     
    Gaz S, Apr 29, 2011
    Gaz S, Apr 29, 2011
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  13. Jack Dempsey

    Jack Dempsey Legend Full Member

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    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn8AHW2w8Fs"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn8AHW2w8Fs[/ame]

    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMJTEGc6FXQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMJTEGc6FXQ[/ame]
     
    Jack Dempsey, Apr 29, 2011
    Jack Dempsey, Apr 29, 2011
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  14. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    Gaz S; thanks for the input :good

    Jack, cheers, I'm gonna' take another look at that.

    There is footage of Driscoll in his last fight against Ledoux or summat, gets stopped, shows us less of him than the Lang fight shows us of Fitz :lol:
     
    Flea Man, Apr 29, 2011
    Flea Man, Apr 29, 2011
    #14
  15. Gaz S

    Gaz S Well-Known Member Full Member

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    This (partially) shows how Jim Driscoll's gym looks today. Unfortunately all the original pictures and posters were gone when I moved in, so had to re-kit it myself. (BTW, that's Jason Cook with his trainer Darren Wilson in the photo when they came for some sparring with Gareth Piper (centre).)

    This content is protected




    This content is protected

     
    Gaz S, Apr 29, 2011
    Gaz S, Apr 29, 2011
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