Physically strongest pre-roid boxer?

It depends on the definition… best weightlifter and best clincher are two different things.

 

Richard Dunn

 

Carnera by a long mile.

 

Carnera, circus strongman, okay, but didn’t do him much good against Louis, Baer etc.
For necessary skill and strength in boxing, perhaps Langford, Dempsey, Greb, Walker, Original Joe Walcott and others who conceded inordinate weight successfully, regularly, are more appropriate than the 6’ 6” + brigade.

 

Carnera and Obie Walker both have strong arguments, as far as pure lifting strength goes. Carnera didnt translate well to the ring though. Tom Sharkey is probably the biggest physical freak the pre steroid heavyweight division ever produced, pound for pound

 

Re: "Physically strongest pre-roid boxer?"
As far as I know not many of them were measured in pure physical strength. Boxing books and articles I have read seem to indicate that James J. Jeffries is a pretty good answer to the question.

 

That's irrelevant. As far as pure strength goes Carnera is where it's at. The fact that it didn't translate to boxing merely goes to show that boxing is more about technique than raw muscles.

 

I'm only gonna disagree with Shay cause I know she can't find me and twist me into unnatural shapes, but I'd bet a hundred dollars to a bag of mouldy pretzels that Carnera would have embarrassed Jeffries in any exhibition of strength.

 

You may be right. I had that word "elite" from the poll stuck in my mind, but that may be a different debate. As for the twisting into unnatural shapes, you later mentioned pretzels. Hmmm.

 

Hmm,Primo Carnera was a genetic freak,but I believe Jack Johnson had both the freaky genetics and skills for the era.

 

George Godfrey. Obv the shadow/biggun

 

The physically strongest man who ever boxed would be weight lifter ,Gene Paul Anderson,probably followed by wrestler Georges Hackenschmidt, both were useless as boxers.

 

Useless? - Or just short lived careers / hobby bouts? Is there any description of their boxing ability?

 

It’ll be Carnera, he just didn’t use his strength, if you’re talking about who used their strength the most effectively, it’d have to be Foreman, or if you’re taking guys from the list, probably Jack Johnson.