One reason why I rate Jim Jeffries verry highly among the great heavyweights.

When researching boxing I have noticed the records of the obscure fighters such as Finnegan are best found on the ledgers of the more famous fighters.

 

See my earlier post.
Can't find a photo of Finnegan anywhere, surely one was taken when he fought Jeffries?

 

OLD FOGEY...You mention box records are imprecise, and I personally know that it is a true fact...In 1950-1952 I saw Ray Robinson fight Bobby Dykes,at the Coney Island Velodrome,N.Y. It was in the summer, at this old outdoor arena..It is not listed in any record of boxing I know of...They only list Robinson vs Dykes,Nov.8,1950 in Chicago...I know it was at the Coney Island Velodrome,in N.Y. that I saw the bout...
If anyone on ESB can shed light on this oversight, I can then get back to sleep.B.B.
P.S. The OLD Coney Island Veledrome,was where James J Jeffries fought Bob Fitzimmons in 1899...Hoping ESB can shed some light on my question of Robinson/Dykes, N.Y.

 

Burt---I hope you take this right because I am in the same boat--I am sometimes embarressed when an old friend's name slips away from me for a few moments before I can recall it--but could your memory be playing tricks on you? Are you confusing Bobby Dykes with Billy Brown? Brown fought Robinson at the Velodrome in 1950.

I can believe fights with guys like Jack Finnegan or Johnny Davis might have slipped through the cracks, but it seems very unlikely that a high profile fighter like Robinson in 1950 would have had any "lost" fights.

 

I am certainly not trying to teach anyone to suck eggs here.
I have Ray fighting Billy Brown on Sept 4th NY 1950 ,don't know which arena.
Ray fought Dykes on Nov 8th 1950 NY, again which arena?

 

The Nov 8th 1950 fight, according to the New York Times, was at the Chicago Stadium, in Chicago.

This is the headline from the NY Times, Nov 9, 1950:

"Robinson Defeats Dykes at Chicago"

"Welterweight champion gains split decision in 10 round non-title encounter."

The fight with Brown was at the Velodrome in New York.

Frankly, I wasn't in either Chicago or New York in 1950, so I have no dog in the hunt. I just offered a suggestion. Perhaps I shouldn't have.

 

For me, the rare video clip of his trainign where he shows off his footwork, plus the testmonials I've heard from credible sources at the time is enough.

I rate Jeffries number 8 in my top ten heavyweights of all time

 

Old Fogey,,No my memory is intact...I positively saw Bobby Dykes against Ray Robinson at the Coney Island Veledrome in the summer...I recall sitting in the last row of the outdoor arena, waiting for Robinson who was late for the bout to show up..About 20 minutes late we looked down to see Robinson arrive in his Fuscia colored Cadillac,depart the car to enter the arena...He won a deciscion over Dykes...Incidentally, according to box rec, Bobby Dykes was a southpaw, and I am sure he fought orthodox...I know I saw Robinson/Dykes fight at Coney Island Veledrome, as sure as I amtyping this post..
I hope some one can verify my statement,out there on ESB...B.B.

 

Here's part one of Robinson-Dykes. Right at the outset, the television announcer makes reference to the Illinois State Boxing Commission. At :52, he discusses Robby's earlier match with Billy Brown at the Coney Island Velodrome.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLka0hGIJWY[/ame]

 

Okay. Well, like I posted. I wasn't there. One other possibility. Could you perhaps have seen an exhibition? That wouldn't be listed in most record books.

As for boxrec, they do make errors.

 

O.F. I am sure it was Bobby Dykes I saw Against Ray Robinson..I have seen Bobby Dykes and Ray Robinsion,on box/rec stating the fight was in Chicago,Nov.8,1950...No it was a real bout I saw ,not an exhibition bout...As i posted before,I believe contrary to Box Rec that Bobby Dykes fought orthodox style...I feel that I am involved in the "Bermuda Triangle", mystery, except I KNOW what I saw that day...Something is bound to turn up...A relative of Bobby Dykes, who passed away in 2006.? B.B.

 

All right. Good hunting and keep us posted.

This all sounds like the plot of an episode of that old John Newland TV show, "One Step Beyond".

 

O.F.,Well I have won half of the battle..I just watched the Robinsonvs Bobby Dykes bout in Chicago,1950, just posted by Lobotomy...And I was right and boxrec is wrong...Bobby Dykes was an orthodox boxer, NOT a SOUTHPAW as boxrec lists...And I will try and verify what I POSITIVELY saw in New York, the fight between Robinson and Dykes, NO,2...I need Sherlock Holmes now,or Dr. Watson....B.B.