Tommy Ryan breaks down the top fighters of 1907

I respect Ryan above all other commentators at this time. Here are some of his thoughts on the top men in all divisions in December of '07.



"Among the little fellows there seems to be considerable doubt. I refer to the men of the 105lb division. But even at that figure few of them care to take the chance. Most of the bantams want to come in at from 107 to 112 pounds, which fact alone sends them out of that class into the next one above. JOhnny Coulon seems to be the best of the boys that can make 105 legitimately and fight at that figure.

Of course, there is only one Abe Attell. He stands out in a class by himself and indeed I sincerely believe that ther are few lightweights who can beat him..

The same classification is possible among the 133 pounders. Tehre is but one Gans, a might fighter of the rarest class and skill, a man so old he should ne be classed a retired veteran, but so well preserved that he is able to easily dispose of anybody sent against him.

From the light to the middle limits is a ***** combination of freaks and misfits. Were Joe Walcott as good as he were five years ago he would send any mother's sone scampring to the nearest woods in deepest fear. He was the dandy of them all, an, like Joe Gans, could step out into the two weight classes above his own and whip heavyweights - a most remarkable man.

The same is true of the present day heavight division with Jim Jeffries in retirement. Tommy Burns, a good fighter, is a joke as a champion.

Really, I must consider this fellow Johnson as a sure enough black peril. I dount if there is a heavy today that can stand him off. Kauffman doesn't shape up well but may turn out to be something with some more time on his shoulders. Schreck, through bad training methods has proved a disappointment, and there your listends.

Not so among the middleweights. Just look at the array of high grade fighters that could be throwinto a tournie and put up dazzling, even fights that would send the fighting bug into spasms of delight. Here si the way I will have to place them:

1 - Jack Sullivan. One of the greatest fighters that ever lived, and probbaly the hardest man in the ring to whip. I counsel any of them to keep their hands of this bald headed chap.

2 - Hugo Kelly, the Chigao Italian, a particularly good and wiling fighter, but one who will have to fight more aggressively to become a real popular idol.

3 - Bill Papke, the Sping Valley wonder, of whom i have heard so much but know so little. He is a great man.

4 - Young Ketchell, the young Butte man, who sparng into such prominance by drawing with and beating Joe Thomas out on the Pacific Coast, two exceptional performances.

Just think over the possibilities among this quartet of star fighters!"




The big winners here seem to be Gans, Attell, Walcott and Sullivan with Kauffman and Burns coming off worst.

 

Do you know what I mean? Ketchel was the coming man in the hottest division in the sport, which he cleans up, as you say.

I've heard Ketchel described as overated on this board. This article indicates the reverse is true.

 

Ryan's opinion is that he was a good fighter but a joke "as a champion". He did not see Burns as a great HW champion. He seems to rate him lower than many, but broadly, he was correct.

 

Based upon the article, who do you guys think Ryan would have labelled the p4p #1?

 

Even the footage we have denotes him as the most violent in-fighter caught on film, for me.