Is Tommy Gibbons a top-20 LB4LB Great?

What, is the p4p abbreviation not good enough for you?

 

No. He was a great fighter.

But when I make my top 175lb list of all time I come up with

1. Ezzard Charles
2. Sam Langford
3. Archie Moore
4. Michael Spinks
5. Bob Foster
6. Billy Conn
7. Gene Tunney
8. Harold Johnson
9. John Henry Lewis
10. Harry Greb

HM: Tommy Loughran, Jimmy Bivins

How is he supposed to make top 20 p4p all time when he struggles to make top 10 175lb lists? In fact, I don't even think he is top 50 p4p. Doesn't mean I don't think highly of him. There were a lot of great fighters out there.

 

Well I view Harold Johnson as a more complete version of Tommy Loughran..with an equal or better left jab.

Tunney, I can see being rated higher. However, It's also true Tunney drew with a 19 year old tommy loughran, and never granted him a rematch. So do we really know if Tunney was that much better than Tommy? Gene also lost twice to a 162lb Harry Greb despite beating him 3 times. Gene was fantastic, especially h2h, but so was Foster, Spinks, Conn, Moore, Charles who all have a case for being above him.

I hate to bring this point up..but both Loughran and Tunney drew the color line. This is an issue. Just imagine if Archie Moore drew the color line, and refused to fight Harold Johnson? or Dick Tiger drew the color line and refused to fight Bob Foster?

What is your list.

 

Pretty snobby, but I can respect that.

 

Loughran over Harold Johnson, Michael Spinks, Bob Foster, Billy Conn?

Maxie Rosenbloom over John Henry Lewis is something I question, but don't necessarily disagree with entirely. Maxie often gets overlooked these days so it's nice for him to warrant a mention.


Maske over Harold Johnson, John Henry Lewis? I dont think I have Maske in my top 30.


Good list. I think the major question mark is leaving Harold Johnson out of it. Harold might be top 5 all time in h2h ability..and he has a top resume too.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az5DSG4uFgI[/ame]

 

Do you mind watching his fight with Doug Jones on film, then telling me why you think he is overrated?

 

Great resume, and he is underrated; but you can find at least 20 other fighters in the whole history of boxing with better resumes.

He is in my top 15 all time LHWs, and I probably wouldn't argue with anyone who worked him into the top 10 at that weight.

 

Seamus,

Here is another good one to watch. Full fight is on youtube.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGEaBuH5ywY[/ame]

 

Agreed. Gibbons did not seem to be scared of hiding behind the color line. I also admired that about him. I think he's right around # 14 in my list.