Here's a couple of links for you. I chat with a lot of people and it astounds me that a lot of boxing fans don't even know his name. I think you should. Jimmy's life - http://www.johnnyowen.com/jimmy_wilde.html http://coxscorner.tripod.com/wilde.html Record fromBoxrec - http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=009023&cat=boxer I'll leave you with this thought: Can you imagine a guy like this, training full time, with a top trainer today?
Jimmy Wilde, is definitely the best flyweight of all time The Internatinal Boxing research organisation say so. Nat Fleischer says so Charlie 'Broadway' Rose says so There is a case for him being the #1 Greatest Boxer of All Time, he defines P4P greatness because he was nearly always giving weight away, he was unbeaten in his first 101 fights, he is widely regarded as one of the most devistating punchers ever, {no matter what weight division} thats why he was called the 'Ghost with a Hammer in his Hand'. he was elected into the 'inaugaral hall of fame in 1960, one of boxings greatest ever journalists called him a puglistic marvel and a fighting genius He only lost 5 fights out of 152 {according to box rec} and 2 of them came at the very end of his career, Pete Herman an American Bantemweight ATG was 28 lbs heavier than Wilde beat him, then Wilde was retired for over 2 years when he fought and lost to another great Pancho Villa. I pride myself on not being biased, but i genuingly think that Wilde should be considered for #1 ATG, he is often in the top 10, rarely outside top 20, but if it was not for the fact he is Welsh he may well be the #1. America is the mecca of boxing and American writers and people obviously would perfer to see one of their own #1 {Sugar Ray or Ali}. I am not saying that list makers would be consiously biased, just American fighters would have been hyped and praised by their own media and people so when it comes to making ATG lists, some people may think, i have to put Louis and Ali above Wilde as everyone says how good they were ? The Mighty Atom certainly has a place somewhere near the top of the tree. PS he did fight in the US many times that is proberbly why Fleischer and Rose knew he was so good.
I thought he lost to Herman...I also thought towards the end of his career Jimmy was weighing over 100 pounds..meaning if Peter was defending his Bantam title he would have been at least a featherweight whilst doing it if the 28 pound difference is correct..quite possibly over that. I have a hard time justifying Wilde at no1 alltime, inside top 10 is pushing it IMO but not unreasonable, outside top20 seems madness to me however because he epitomizes p4p..I think I have him sitting in the mid teens..I admit I dont know a lot about his opponents but often even scholars admit as much because there just wasnt that much to know about them.
Check out the 'Greatest Puncher of All Time' article on Cyber Boxing Zone, i dont know how to do links, Wilde usually used to weight in, in his street clothes including shoes !!! so the weight difference did not appear to be as bad as it really was.
Yeah I know of that..even then he was pushing to make it over 100..But I wasnt aware he was giving away 28 pounds in the Herman fight, which he did lose..Seems a bit much to me. Gotta source?