James Figg (1723) vs. Muhammad Ali (1967)

Savage lookedthe part.

But ol' Bert WAS the part.

I've always had a bit of a soft spot for Cooper.

 

Agree 100%. It's like saying, well, a gymnast is extremely strong and athletic, so he'd have a great chance boxing against Ali on those qualities. Hells no. He'd have a great chance of ending in the hospital.

If Figg were allowed cudgel and sabre it would end only one way.

With the all-in rules of the day and no weapons, he might still be favoured although pretty much every boxer knows how to punch a dude in the nuts so Ali would have a good chance, so long as actual submission wrestling wasn't on the menu.

Pure boxing, well, Figg would get a hole punched through him.

 

Muhammad Ali wasn't dumb enough to fight a man with a cudgel.

 

What's a cudgel?

 

What's a cudgel?

 

One of those bare knuckle champions challenged Frank Bruno and Lennox Lewis to a fight.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Club_(weapon)

 

Bert absolutely decimated him.
Never broke sweat!

 

I have seen that match on youtube. But no, you cant conpare Figg to Joe Savage. It doesnt mean that both were bareknuckle boxers doesnt mean that they trained in the same art. Savage was still a puncher at best under the London Prize Rules. Figg fought without rules during his time (his boxing had kicking and wrestling for Christs sake).

Also, while Figg did promoted himself extensively, he was in no means a “bullshitter”. Five or Eight of his fights are well documented in history books such as Boxiana and Fistiana (or Pugilistica). There are records from outside sources besides Figg such asa the London Journal, William Hogarth, poet John Byrom and Captain Godfrey who wrote accounts of his matches and fighting exploits.

 

I think it was Joe Savage who wanted to fight Bruno and Lewis. For his sake, he better be glad they paid him no attention.

 

Need to review reznicks video of Figg before making an informed decision.

 

I actually own Figg's career blu-ray boxed set, and let me tell you- the man is far slicker than he's being given credit for in this thread. You've never seen a pair of pantaloons move so swiftly and powering such savagery.