"Astonishingly fast, Wolgast was almost untouchcable in his heyday when he was recognised by the powerful NY State Athletic Commision as the best flyweight in the world. Outside of the ropes he was also a remarkable playboy who was linked with, amongst others, Mae West. He bounced around the ring, inventing things as he went, switch-hitting as he pleased, delighting fans and infuriating opponents..." Wolgast seems a little underexposed to me. For those who saw him he seemed a truly special talent, a lightning fast athelete truly gifted in the mould of a Roy Jones or Muhammad Ali, if not quite in the league of these men as a fighter. Goldman ranked him at #7 all time at Fly, Fleischer had him at #8. So high praise. The tiny little bit that appears on Cyberboxing is pretty generic - but the list of his more famous victories betrays no massive names, no stellar rivalries which helped to define what was a long and patchy career. Perhaps this, combined with an apparent derth of footage, helps to explain his lack unfashionable standing... Whilst speedy, his low ko ration (15 of 159 by KO) speaks of a lack of power and the 36 losses tells a story of a carer gone on to long - he lost two of his last ten, fighting as high as the welterweight limit. I've read that he was on the slide as early as his 26th birthday, by which time he had certainly lost his title. Twenty yers later he would lose his life to heart failure, in a boozer no less. Anyone rate this fighter? Anyone consider themselves a fan?
I'm after his fight with Small Montana. I think about 12 min. or so exists. I don't know much about him but he's a fighter I would like to learn more about and 12 minutes of film, although scant, ain't too bad a place to start.
You are right sir, 12 minutes of film would be VERY exciting where such an unconventional fighter is concerned. Might solve a series of mysteries that 12 minutes.
