Walter McGowan

I think what you guys touched on with McGowan is one thing that you could say about nearly all of the better British stylists of that 60s\70s period... none of them were really safety-first or cautious defensively wary ring-generals despite being pointscoring boxer types\outside finesse fighters first and foremost technically.

Most of them were angry fighters happy to be more aggressive, trade and take risks alongside or alternating with their more disciplined boxing rounds.Depending on fighter and circumstance that could be an asset or a flaw.McGowan is probably one of the ones who arguably would have benefited from being a bit more Wlad or Ottke than Buchanan, especially when fighting Bantam's but that just wasn't how he was interested in fighting.

It's quite interesting to compare the two Mcgowan fights against Chionoi with Ohba's classic bout against a slower version.You can see the potential McGowan had at Fly.

 

Yeah, it's an interesting trait. Nowadays we're willing to get hit with none of the skill.

McGowan definitely looks like he should be a 'pure boxer', but had too big a heart. He made for good viewing that's for sure.

 

He was too scottish.It likely took all of his willpower just to avoid rushing straight in and winging huge haymakers and clubbing hooks.

 

I see what you mean by this,
but if you've got a whole history of settle for second because of English control and rule...

well not only do you want to knock _uck out of a few opponents to let them know they were in a fight, but you also want to show the *******s that are about to cheat you, that; hey take the decision from me but I've just shown you who the winner is and I am happier knowing that you know everbody knows it too!!!

so yes many Scots may have had that mind set,
But I think a lot of the finer great Scots also had a more calculated and controlled approach to achieving the same thing - and I think McGowan was one of them and knew what he was doing.