Hi, guys. First of all I gotta say there's tons of quality information on classic forum. Been reading it for quite a while and really enjoyed. I got a few questions. Can anybody help me with this: Big part of legacies of such legendary fighters like Greb, Langford etc. was their willingness to take on anyone, offen on much bigger opponents. Packey McFarland, Joe Gans and Benny Leonard ranked by many as one of the greatest fighters of all time. 1) Have Gans, McFarland, Leonard fought bigger opponents? 2) How do you rate their opposition at higher weights compared to other greats like Greb and Langford? 3) Did they fought just average big fighters or best available? If anyone can provide some links to read, it would be great too. Thanks in advance.
Gans took on Holly, Blackburn, Langford, Walcott, Mike Sullivan, who were all no less than welterweights. Joe Grimm was a heavyweight by that era's standards. McFarland took on Mike Gibbons (uncrowned middleweight champion), Jack Britton (welterweight champion), Cyclone Johnny Thompson (middleweight title claimant), Matt Wells (welterweight title claimant), Ray Bronson (welterweight title claimant). Kid Wagner weighed about 165 pounds.
Thank you for information, Senya. But in some fights you mentioned boxrec gives almost even weights for each fighter: Gans-Sullivan 1 Gans-Blackburn 1 McFarland-Britton 2&3 McFarland-Wells McFarland-Bronson Is boxrec incorrect? I know you're fan of this fighters, so I'm not doubting your knowledge just want to know more.
Gans-Sullivan II Estimated weights for both fighters were 134 lbs for Gans and 142 lbs for Sullivan (San Francisco Call). Gans-Blackburn I I've seen no weights listed in next-day reports I have. Even if we believe that Blackburn weighed 138 (big if), that's still welterweight. Britton became the welterweight champ later. Wells was naturally a welterweight (he was 138 pounds ringside). Wells was a welterweight (I have some doubts that he beat Welsh for the title at lightweight limit, although I haven't been able to find next-day local reports that would confirm or refute that). Bronson II was at welterweight.
Thanks again, Senya. And out of curiosity, I've seen your P4P, You seem to rate great lightweights pretty highly. What's your opinion on H2H matches between those lightweights (Gans, Leonard, McFarland) adding Whitaker and Duran. Simple results would be enough. Who's your best lightweight H2H? Hope I'm not bothering you too much.
A serious answer to that question would require watching Duran and Whitaker to refresh my memories (been a long time). I don't have a finished opinion about how Leonard would do, my research of him is much poorer than of Gans and McFarland. I could go by instinct, of course, but that wouldn't be good. I know I'd pick PM to beat BL and RD. RD vs PW I'm still switching back and forth.
