The Top Dozen fighters of the 1910's

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Others I considered were Battling Levinsky, Jeff Smith, Lew tendler (better after 1919), Johnny Kilbane. Others missed out because they were better pre decade like Abe Attell or because I already had too many in one division... like Jeff Smith who was great but not as good as Darcy who is the best middleweight of the decade according to most of the contemporaries but some said the thought Gibbons was best.. either way I have two middleweights plus langford who at a time was also a middleweight and Jeff has no hope of beating him.... I also considered Frank Klaus and Carpentier but I think Carpentier hit peak after 1919 and Klaus was a bit too inactive for my liking but a great fighter nonetheless..... I also usually have fighters in either one decade or another but Benny Leonard is no ordinary fighter, in fact it is possible he is the greatest boxer of all time.... possible I said. Jack Johnson is also one I would also have in the previous decade because of the same reasons for Leonard... Lew Tendler... well he will just have to get into my Raring Twenties top Dozen won't he.................. So who is the greatest fighter of this particular decade ? ... McFarland probably, despite never having a title he should have and he is a phenom... so too is Les Darcy, if he had not died age 21 in 1917 he seriously could have become anything between seriously abnormally great to the greatest of all time. Darcy had every attribute and skill needed from impregnable chin and awesome strength to great speed in hand and foot and a cool temperament but unfortunately he died but despite that he is undeniably deserving of his spot.... In the end the best of the decade is in my opinion either McFarland or Langford as Leonard is yet to peak in this decade.

 

Let's keep the discussion civil, by all means put your own dozen up if you like, I will answer everybody except for one person who is below my notice. I will try do one for the 1920's where Harry Greb will be included

 

Well I have Darcy and feel very safe having him there, he would have beat Dillon, I did say I have Greb in the 20's list because I feel his prime begins around 1919 therefore he was not a big force then, I considered Williams of course, I also thought a list here ignoring Joe Jeanette would be scandalous, he is a greatly underrated fighter here. I put Mike Gibbons ahead of Tommy too because lets face it, Tommy is not in the class of Jeanette and langford, still no one would wanna face your lot in a dark alley or in a pub thats for sure, I just think you underestimate Darcy in a huge way, at the time he was regarded in awe and you should pay creedence to contemporary opinion. BUT thanks for posting, thread is up and running... I am now doing the 1920s Dozen and thats a lot harder I am finding, so many cover the 28 -33 gap period like Kid Chocolate and McLarnin and LaBarba etc.

 

One major problem that would have created for me is who do I leave out to put another heavyweight there, already have Johnson , Langford, Jeannette and there is also Darcy who was also Australian Heavyweight champion although really a Middle.... I also think its a bit late coming on the scene in 1919 and lets face it, he is soooooo twenties. Of course he is in that list. Why Jeannette ? well he was a great fighter, I think he pips Sam McVey who I also wanted here and Harry Wills may have been at his best in this decade as well.

 

I did have Herman and Welsh, you really have to if you want a good spread amongst the divisions.. Darcy was more than a prospect though, to say otherwise is to ignore a lot of facts and the judgment of history but I can see it's a waste of time trying to convince you... Americans do tend to think they are the only capable fighters on earth and see Darcy as a threat and glad he died at 21... I am not saying this directed at you as you may be British or from anywhere but there is so much anger in Australia at how our best were ignored, like Darcy we had others who simply could not get a shot at the champs in America... Barney Ross almost signed to fight Jack Carroll of Australia but Maxie Rosenbloom said, no way don't fight Carroll he is too fast and too good.

 

Oh glad you didn't take offence. I will always stick up for Darcy, doubt anyone was good enough to beat him if he lived for 17-18-19 unless he was put in with Dempsey or Willard but that would not take away from a legacy as he is a MW...... Dillon ?... in letters he wrote home Les actually thought Dillon was a bit of a joke and said he would beat him easily, sure Jack was tough but les said he wasn't very skilled and too slow for him..... these were not boasts for the newspapers, he only said this in private letters. I can't remember the others he said the same things about but they were mostly the light heavies.

 

Oh I sent you a PM

 

Posters may not agree that I have all twelve spots right but I dare anyone to tell me the list sucks.