How's he fair against the rest of the White Hopes? Specifically Gunboat Smith, probably the best of them. Does he fight Johnson for the title? How's that fight go? How does his career end? Does he take on Dempsey, Wills or Langford? Does he win? Does he lose? How good was he and how good could he have been? Also, who got the better of his fight with Willard?
I think McCarty ( 19-4-1 ) was a top level talent when he died at age 21, so yes, he could have fought a who's who of the heavyweight divison. Luther was big at 6'4", with an 80" reach, but unlike most big men of the time, he had good speed and skills, along with some power. If you look at the records, McCarty did better than Jack Johnson did vs Kaufman, Willard, Flynn, and Moran. It seems like McCarty was on the rise before he died. I suppose he can be viewed as a could have been. I think Gunboat Smith at his best was more accomplished and better. But did we ever see McCarty's best?
He was the best of the young White Hopes,and may have done to a dissipated Johnson ,what Willard accomplished,tragic that he died so young.
In many ways he is the Ike Ibeabuchi of his era. He was a tremendous talent and properly directed would have got better. Physicaly he would have filled out another 10-20 lbs making him into a beast like Harry Wills. There are too many unknows to make a confident prediction but if there was any white hope worth following it was this one.
Ironiocaly McCarthys death desposed of not one but two promising white hopes. Arthur Pelkey was the second most promising of the bunch but after he killed McCarthy he just went into the tank.
Him and Dempsey would have had ATG trilogy's to determine who was the best of the era.....BOTH DUCK harry wills.
McCarthys manager claimed that Johnson McCarthy was already inked when McCarthy died. How is that for a what if?
This content is protected Thtas his manager with bis hands on his head in sheer despair Decent article on the guy as well http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/w1102-tcandlr.html
