Sell me on Sammy Angott

I might be a bit bias towards Angott for I'm a fan of his. Although, I do agree, he doesn't look particularly great on film. But his resume is pretty great IMO. He was damn near the top of a good lightweight division for almost 6 years. And although Pep was a natural featherweight at the time -- Angott was the ONLY man to defeat Pep before his plane crash.

Resume highlights
- Willie Pep
- Freddie Miller
- Baby Arizmendi
- Lew Jenkins
- Ike Williams
- Johnny Bratton
- Petey Sarron
- Bob Montgomery (3x)
- Drew with Beau Jack
- Wesley Ramey (2x)
- Davey Day (2x)
- Took a 143lb Fritzie Zivic the distance
- Allie Stolz
- Didn't get completely blown out against Henry Armstrong
- Slugger White
- Bobby Ruffin
- Juan Zurita
- Jackie Wilson
- Leo Rodak
- Everett Rightmire
- Milt Aron
- Aldo Spoldi
- Kid Azteca
- Dave Castilloux

Contributors: Surf-Bat

 

Add Jackie Wilson, Leo Rodak, Everett Rightmire, Milt Aron and Aldo Spoldi to that resume. All excellent fighters.

Sammy is definitely an easy sell.

 

Don't know how I missed Jackie Wilson. The others were I just wasn't familiar with.

 

Check out the rankings for 1940. Angott beat EIGHT of the ten guys listed:

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/The_Ring_Magazine's_Annual_Ratings:_Lightweight--1940s

 

Don't know how I forgot Kid Azteca!

 

You were just in a rush :smoke

 

Dave Castilloux!

 

His accomplishment of beating Pep tells me he was special, in a negative, Jimmy Youngish sort of way. I think that in the balance he was more significant than Haugen though.

 

Angott doesn't need any selling. He's a clear atg in the division. It's just further testament to how deep the divisions history is.

 

Champions and titlists:

- Willie Pep
- Freddie Miller
- Lew Jenkins
- Ike Williams
- Johnny Bratton
- Petey Sarron
- Bob Montgomery (3x)
- Slugger White
- Jackie Wilson
- Leo Rodak

As far as which guys he beat who at one time or another fought for the world title, hey, we're not gonna do ALL of your homework for you. Lookitup!

 

A couple of articles about Angott for anyone who's not read them

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/weblog/news.php?p=11540&more=1

http://voices.yahoo.com/sammy-angott-battling-lightweight-champion-7411520.html

A Obituary

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vxxeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=o18NAAAAIBAJ&pg=2601%2C4032161

Angott also in a number of HOF's including IBHOF, Philly, NIAISHF & Pittsburgh's Dapper Dan HOF.

The Nickname Clutch certainly gives an indication of the type of fighter he was but as list above shows, the opponents he fought & beat certainly portray a fighter who is worthy of being recognised by boxing history.

 

First man to beat Willie Pep.That, in itself, stands out for me.

 

Angott may not have been the most dynamic, exciting performer in his time, but he gets my total respect for that accomplishment alone. He was a tough, cagey, negative sort of fighter who you could pretty much classify as a spoiler, but what a spoiler he was!!