In which fight did the two contestants enter the ring with the highest ever total/combined number of pro bouts (documented by BoxRec) under their belts?
I would say the last fight between Jack Britton and Ted Kid Lewis, on Feb.7,1921 would qualify...jack britton at that time had about 300 bouts. kid Lewis in 1921 had about 250 fights, for a grand total of about 550 fights...boggles the mind B...550 total fights ...b.b.
Hell of a question. Off hand, I'd speculate that the final match between Britton and Kid Lewis might be a candidate. Greb-Flowers III had some impressive experience behind it, as did Stribling's career ender with Rosenbloom. (That's a fluid website though. It's not the same as having a resource in fixed book form.) Billy Bird was 203-60-16 when he squared off with 275-75-40 Len Wickwar.
Both you and Burt of course thought of Britton vs Lewis... which I believe is the most "experienced" world title fight ever, with a total of 523. But you got it right with Bird (203-60-16-2NC = 281) and Wickwar (275-75-40-1NC = 391) with an amazing total of 672 fights. I think we can safely say, that this is one record that never will be broken!
That's one of my better trivia guesses then. (I was sort of "winging it" on the fly when I tossed that out, not really applying intense mental energy to the question. I just wanted to offer a quick reply before Deacon Hascup reasserted his iron fisted rule of trivia mastery.)
Here's some rare footage of a late career Wickwar (in the trunks with the light stripes) getting knocked out in nine by then reigning BBBofC LW Champion Eric Boon, for Boon's 31st consecutive win. http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=24270 This was one of 16 fights the 28 year old Wickwar had in 1939. When he lost to Bird, he was 26, and Bird was 38. (Bird actually competed for three years after Wickwar hung up the gloves, and didn't quit until less than a year before he died at 52. So far as I can determine, Bird had the first 30 year career entirely within the 20th Century, competing from 1920 to 1950.) Wickwar had 31 fights in 1938, 40 fights in 1937, 48 in 1936, 50 in 1935, This content is protected (is this also an all-time record?), 49 in 1933, 50 in 1932, 41 in 1931 and 44 in 1930.
Thanks, hh... I had a feeling, you probably would be able to answer Doudenum's question. I'm a bit surprised to see Joe Grim this high on the list! 53 fights in 1902 alone is amazing - and I wonder why BoxRec lists only 27 bouts for him that year, if you have 53? I mean, you're one of the editors... so why not put in those missing fights that can be documented?
