Tommy Gibbons vs. "Philadelphia" Jack O'Brien Who Ya Got?

mcvey · Sep 28, 2008

Senya13 said:

O'Brien offered Burns to lay down, or he'd not meet him at all. Burns agreed to it, but desided to double-cross O'Brien, and told manager Tom McCarey about it before the fight. McCarrey told the referee Charles Eyton before the fight started to announce "For good and sufficient reasons I will call off all bets on this contest." But he didn't tell him the reason so that Eyton could deside the bout without being affected by knowledge it was a fake. I doubt Burns said anything to O'Brien when they went to the center to greet each other (although Burns claimed that he did), the referee or the seconds would have heard it and figured it out there and then. Everyone was puzzled about the reason until next day when the club's management made an announcement about the reason why all bets were called off. LA Herald had no idea about the reason, neither did Eddie Smith in Oakland Tribune or R.A. Smyth from SF Call. Smyth said the referee thought the bets were called off because the betting odds looked bad or something, although 5 to 4 in O'Brien's favor doesn't look particularly strange, he looked to be in good shape.

Next day there were several announcements.

1907-05-10 Los Angeles Herald ( page 8 )
Click to expand...

I'm satisfied you have the inside information on this S.

mcvey · Sep 28, 2008

Seamus said:

Classic Johnson apologist reaction. Even if all the above were true, a lack of professionalism is a major flaw in a fighter.

He carried more excuses into the ring than any other champ in history.
Click to expand...

What do I do now Seamus? Challenge you to a duel ? I don't apologise for Johnson ,I think he was a pretty shitty individual.BUT, if you think a trained ,focused Johnson would have trouble with O Brien,we really have no where to go with this topic. I can't think of an excuse Johnson proffered ,apart from saying he laid down to Wilard.For the record I think he was legitimately kod by the "Tall Pine".Johnson was a loafing ,lazy, arrogant,arse hole,he was also,in my view ,one of the greatest fighters that ever put gloves on.

janitor · Sep 28, 2008

Seamus said:

Classic Johnson apologist reaction. Even if all the above were true, a lack of professionalism is a major flaw in a fighter.

Click to expand...

This is not an unfair viewpoint but you have to put the fight into perspective. Johnson was looking for a quick buck to cover his gambling debts and set up a "false title fight" in effect.

It would be like if Lennox Lewis held a 10 round title fight against Chris Byrd and Byrd had to get a knockout to win.
Click to expand...

Mendoza · Sep 28, 2008

Gibbons is one of the more under rated guys out there. I think he a shade better than O'Brien for two reasons.

1 ) Gibbons took a much better punch.

2 ) His ring record didn't have any upsets in it.

mcvey · Sep 29, 2008

Mendoza said:

Gibbons is one of the more under rated guys out there. I think he a shade better than O'Brien for two reasons.

1 ) Gibbons took a much better punch.

2 ) His ring record didn't have any upsets in it.
Click to expand...

And his fights were on the level.

Ramon Rojo · Sep 29, 2008

Don't know these guys.

Brian123 · Sep 29, 2008

Ramon Rojo said:

Don't know these guys.
Click to expand...

Here's a couple of links:

http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/obrien.htm

http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php?title=Human:11254

Log in or Sign up

Tommy Gibbons vs. "Philadelphia" Jack O'Brien Who Ya Got?

mcvey VIP Member

mcvey VIP Member

janitor VIP Member

Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. Full Member

mcvey VIP Member

Ramon Rojo Active Member Full Member

Brian123 ESB WORLD CHAMPION Full Member

Log in or Sign up

Forums

Tommy Gibbons vs. "Philadelphia" Jack O'Brien Who Ya Got?

mcvey VIP Member

mcvey VIP Member

janitor VIP Member

Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. Full Member

mcvey VIP Member

Ramon Rojo Active Member Full Member

Brian123 ESB WORLD CHAMPION Full Member