How would he do against- Max Schmeling Jack Sharkey Primo Carnera Max Baer Jimmy Braddock John Lardner wrote (Newsweek 1956): "Tommy Burns has come down in tradition as one of the minor heavyweight champions, but it's likely he was better than anyone who has held the title since Gene Tunney, with the exception of Joe Louis and, perhaps, Rocky Marciano.
good question..... Max Schmeling TKO 9 Tommy Burns- Similiar to mickey walker fight Jack Sharkey 15 unanimous Burns- However if sharkey doesnt show up in top shape, burns has a chance to pull an upset. sharkey at his best with his size, strength and oustanding skills would be too much for the charging burns. sharkey was a very good inside fighter, so burns would have alot of issues in dealing with sharkey. Max Baer TKO 2 tommy burns- I would fear for tommy's life in this one the second baer lands. If baer doesnt clown around and we put him against a motivated Baer, this could get ugly for tommy. Primo Carnera TKO 13 Tommy Burns- Tommy never proved himself against a man of carneras size and skill. Carnera would enjoy 11" height advantage on burns, he would literally have to leap up to hit primo and a near 100lb weight disadvantage. Tommy had heart and would do the best he can, but Carnera would controll tommy with his jab and toss him around in the clinches. Tommys work would carnera's midsection but that can only get him so far...primo would wear tommy down with his size/strength and finish a gallant tommy with an uppercut in round 13. tommy gets up and the ref stops the fight
I'd pick them all to beat the wee man, though there would be no muggings aside from Baer. I agree with Q that Burns would be in the **** there.
"Tommy Burns has come down in tradition as one of the minor heavyweight champions, but it's likely he was better than anyone who has held the title since Gene Tunney, with the exception of Joe Louis and, perhaps, Rocky Marciano". Lardner
Another nutsoid old-timer quote. A man often becomes a famous writer because he is a gifted wordsmith, not because he has a balanced point-of-view. I would favor all of the five champions of the early thirties to defeat Burns.
You have it about right I think Suzie,Burns was actually rated a very good inside fighter boxing writer Bohun Lynch said he hadnt seen his equal ,it must have been a monumental shock to both Burns and Lynch when Tommy got in with Lil Arthur ,he was handled like a baby in the clinches.
While i agree that the champions should be favourite, i dont think being an underdog was anyh probolem for Tommy, he was used to it. His chin and heart was far too good to be blown out early by anyone, although Bear did have the potential to do it. He could easily lose to any of them but he could also beat them if he was to do it would be as follows: Schmelling: Schmelling was a great counterpuncher, but Tommy was a slick fighter. While Max is similar to Jack Johnson, i dont think he has anywhere near the clinching power or more importantly the ability to land the uppercut at Will. Tommy meanwhile would keep coming forward and landing. Dare i say it, but he is a lot better than some fo the middewieghts that we learned on another thread stopped Max with a cut ear. I think Tommy does beat Schmelling in this one. Max Bear - `A tough fight obviously but if anyone could but the party going baer off his game it was Tommy. If Tommy wins, he relies on slick accuarate punching and implements a plan like he did against Hart. I think he could pull a one off upset like he did against hart. Carnera. A good fight, but Carneras size will not help him. He is too slow. His good reach advantage meanst nothing against tommy who used to giving up reach. Primos power could not dent Tommeys proven chin. A good close fight, but Tommy would be too slick for Primo, just like he was too slick for any of the bigger slower fighters he faced, although Primo was admittedly better than any of them he had previously faced.
