What if Ring Magazine rankings had existed during Jack Johnsons career?

Lots of errors in the Black Dynamite series BTW.

 

TONS! But hey, in many cases it is the lone source for details.

 

1909
1 Johnson – W Ketchell ND O Brien, Ross, Ketchell, Kaufman
2 Tommy Burns – No Fights
3 Ketchell – W O Brien, Papke ND O Brien L Johnson
4 O Brien – ND Ketchell, Johnson, Flynn, Stevenson L Ketchell
5 Lang – W Fitzsimmons, Squires
6 Fitzsimmons – L Lang Then retired
7 Kaufman – ND Ross, Johnson
8 Langford – W Klondike, Schreck, Dixie Kid D Ferguson ND Jim Barry
9 Hart – W Tony Ross L Schreck
10 Ross – D Schreck, ND Kaufman, Johnson, L Har
11 Schreck – W Hart, D Ross L Langford
12 Flynn – W Willis & Others ND Papke, O Brien
13 Twin Sullivan – D
14 Joe Jeanette – McVEy, Ferguson & Others
15 Sandy Ferguson – W Barry, Jeanette & others L Jeanette D Langford
16 McVey – W Jeanette, Bary & Others L McVey
17 Martin – ND Gunboat smith – Then Retired.
18 Papke – W Kelly, L Ketchell ND Klaus, Flynn
19 Hugo Kelly – W Thomas, L Papke ND Klaus
20 Dixie Kid –W Battling Johnson, Jeff Clarke & others L Langford
21 Eddie Smith – W Donvan then retired
23 Donovan – W Kelly & Others ND Blackburn L Eddie Smith
24 Mike Twin Sullivan - W Martin, D Gardner & Others
25 Jimmy Gardner – W Sullivan & Others
26 Joe Walcott – D Smith, Sawyer Others
27 George Cole –W Fitzgerald & Others
28 Jim Barry – W Gunboat Smith & Others L Ferguson, McVey ND Langford
29 Jim Stewart – W Smith & Others ND Sullivan
30 Terry martin – W Conolly ND Sawyer
31 Tom Thomas W Bartley Connolly, & Others
32 Tom Sawyer – D Walcott, L Martin
33 Bartley Connolly – L Thomas, Sawyer,
34 Blackburn – Arrested and taken to Jail
35 McKinnon – D Sullivan L Gardner W Sailor Burke
36 Klaus – W Williams ND Papke, Flynn & OThers
37 Jack Williams – L Klaus
38 Gunboat Smith – W Martin & Others
39 Tom O Neil W Young Mahoney, Young Peter Jackson
40 Peter Jackson- W Willis, L Gunboat Smith, Tom O Neil
41 Jeffords – L Nat Dewey then retired
42 Young Mahoney – L Tim O neil
43 Willis – W Mustain, Geyer L Jackson, Flynn
44 Fred Cooley –ND Jack Williams then Retired
45 Dan Flynn – W Sailor Bourke, L Twin Sullivan, Klaus
46 Willie Lewis – W Sailor Bourke & Others L Papke
47 Sailor bourke –L McKinnon, Lewis, Flynn
48 Kid McCoy - Retired
Langford is clearly starting to improve but his biggest wins so far are over Ross and Schreck. It is worth noting that Schreck was apparently badly overweight and out of shape in their fight, apparently.

Denver Ed Martin retires, without really ever becoming a top 10 contender. A little surprising to me.

Jeff Clarke is really struggling to become a name, he cant get any wins, even against lower 30 ranked fighters.

Jack Blackburn was arrested and taken to jail. It is interesting that for a long time, he was the same age size and ability level of Langford. I wonder how great he could have been.

The Retirement of the Giant Jim Jeffords brings the end of the career of a solid journeymant.

It is absolutely sensational, that JOhnson has beaten all but 1 of the top 10 fighters, and has beaten 5 of the next 10 fighters. Has there ever been a fighter that has shown this level of dominance over his contemporaries? It is certainly no wonder that those who lived through Johnsons time not only thought of him as unbeatable, and the best of his time, but also the best of all time. That is phenomnenal dominance. I am interested to see what some of his harshest critics say about his level of dominance up this stage of his career.

 

1910
1 Johnson – Jeffries
2 Tommy Burns – W Lang
3 Ketchell – W Flynn,Lewis,Smith ND Langford
4 O Brien – ND Kaufman, W Schreck
5 Lang – W Squires L Burns ND Kaufman
7 Kaufman – ND O Brien, Lang, Ross
8 Langford – W Dixie kid, Flynn, jeanette, Clarke ND Flynn, Ketchell, Jim Johnson
9 Morris – W Hart & Others
10 Hart – L Morris Then Retired
11 Ross – ND Kaufman, Johnson, Sullivan & others
12 M Harris W Cotton, Overby L Langford ND Jeanette
13 Overby – W Schreck L M Harris
14 Schreck – ND O Brien L Tom Overby
15 Flynn – L Langford ND Langford
16 Jack Twin Sullivan – ND Clabby & Others
17 Joe Jeanette – ND Harris, Stewart L Langford
18 Dan Flynn – W Ferguson, Harris X 2, Sullivan, Barry
19 Jim Barry – W Ferguson, Steward L Flynn
20 Sandy Ferguson – L porky Flynn, Jim Barry
21 McVey – W Steward, Jim Johnson & Others
22 Dave Smith – W Papke & Others
23 Papke – W Lewis, Twin Sullivan & Others L Smith
24 Hugo Kelly – W Sullivan, Klaus
25 Kyle Whitney – W Dixie Kid, Walcott, others
26 Dixie Kid – ND Lewis & Others L Whitney
27 Eddie Smith – D Moran
28 Donovan – ND McGann & Others
29 Jimmy Gardner – W McKinnon, Klaus D Sullivan L Claus
30 Klaus – W Jack Sullivan, Gardner L Gardner, Kelly
31 Mike Twin Sullivan – L Papke, Flynn W Jim Stewart, ND Bourke & Others
32 Schlossberg – W McKinnon ND Lewis & Others
33 Willie Lewis – W Sailor Bourke & Others L Ketchell, Papke
34 Sailor bourke – W McKinnon & Others L lewis
35 McKinnon – W Walcott, Mantell, Martin L Sclossberg, Sailor Bourke
36 Joe Walcott – McKinnon, Whitney
37 George Cole – W Hawkins & Others L Dixie Kid
38 Jim Stewart – W Overby, Salinas Jack Burns L Jack Sullivan, Jim Barry
39 Terry martin – W Sawyer L McKinnon
40 Jimmy Sullivan – W Thomas & others
41 Tom Thomas – W Costello & others L Jimmy Sullivan
42 Tom Sawyer – L Martin, Mantell, Fitzgerald, McKinnon
43 McGoorty W Young Mahoney & Others -
44 Bartley Connolly – McGoorty, Sullivan then retired
45 Fred Palmer – W Jack Williams then retired.
46 Jack Williams – L Fred Palmer
47 Salinas Jack Burns –W Willis, L Barry, Ferguson, Stewart, Lang
48 Willis – W Gunboat Smith L Salinas Jack Burns
49 Gunboat Smith – l Barry, Willis w Geyer & Others
50 Tim O Neil – W Mustain L Burns
Number 51 – Young Mahoney has been dropped from the rankings.

These rankings are really amazing me. It is amazing the number of fighters in the same vicinity that fight each other and generally find their level. Even obscure fighters who seem to catch a good fighter on an off night, always seem to meet other fighters at around about that same level. I am starting to get more and more confidence in this type of rankings system. I think it tells us a lot about the level of many of these fighters.

Most interesting and surprising, is still the struggling of the black dynamite to break into the top 10. Langford is on the fringe of the top 10, and on a good win streak, but not really beating those top 10, and when he does meet them, it is usually a ND. McVey and Jeanette are barely top 20 at the moment. Some Good wins, but against poorly ranked fighters.

Jack Johnson’s dominance is nearly unfathomable. With Marvin Hart retiring, he has now beaten every single top 10 fighter, plus the previous champion Jim Jeffries. Has anyone else ever previously held such a distinction? That Dominance is astounding.

Another astonishing career is Philadelphia Jack o brien still hanging around no 4. He has lots of NDs, but he has an underated record, even as a heavyweight. Definitely one of the underated ones on ESB.

Jeff Clarke’s struggle to break into the top 50 is amazing. I know he will improve, but he is really losing and drawing to a lot of lower contenders. He has had plenty of chances to win fights against them.


By the way, I am not sure what to make of the Twin Sullivans. I have an awful feeling that i may have mixed a couple of their results with each other along the way, but you guys will have to allow me that one. It is too hard to go back and change things.

Special mention to the retirment of Marvin hart, who went out as a top 10 contender. It is a shame he couldnt beat Mike Schreck in two attempts. As Hart Johnson would have been a good fight. Also a shame that Schreck dropped the ball himself and didnt get a crack at Johnson, but it certainly isnt Johnson's fault. These two guys were bona fide top 10 fighters, imo.

 

1911
1 Johnson – No fights
2 Tommy Burns – No fights
3 McVey – W Langford, Lang, Lester
4 Langford – Jeanette, Lang, O Brien, Ross, L McVey
5 O Brien – L Langford
6 Lester – L McVey
7 Lang – W Lester, Squires L Lester
8 Al Palzer W Kaufman L Moran
9 Flynn – W Kaufman, Capponi & Others ND Morris
10 Kaufman – L Flynn, Palzer
11 Morris – W Schreck & Others
12 Ross – W Ferguson L Langford ND Jeanette
13 M Harris – L Ross
14 Overby – D Smith
14 Schreck – L Morris, W Cox
15 Jack Twin Sullivan – ND Ross, Flynn, Jeanette
16 Joe Jeanette – L Langford ND Barry Ross, Flynn, Sullivan
Bombadier Billy Wells – W Moir, Flynn & others
17 Dan Flynn – W Fergson, Salinas Jack Burns, Moir & others L Wells ND Jeanette
18 Jim Barry – W Gunboat Smith & Others L Jeff Clarke, Pelkey ND Jeanette
19 Sandy Ferguson – L Flynn, Barry, Ross
20 Dave Smith – W Clabby, Thompson, Rice, Lester L Papke
21 Rice - W Thomas, Howard, Thompson, L Smith
22 Johnny Thompson – ND Kelly, Klaus W Papke L Dick Rice, Dave Smith
23 Bob Moha – W Papke D Sullivan, Dillon
24 Papke – W Dave Smith L Johnny Thompson, Bob Moha
25 Hugo Kelly – W McKinnon & others
26 Kyle Whitney – D Jeff Clarke & others
27 Hilliard Lang - W Willie Lewis ND Gibbons KO Brennan
28 Willie Lewis – W Dixie Kid, others L Klaus ND Bourke & Others
29 Dixie Kid – W Carpentier & Others L Lewis, McCloskey
30 Thunderbolt Eddie Smith – ND Ash then retired

I wonder if this year will start to tell us something. This is the first year that Langford has moved in as one of the top contenders, and it is easily his best year. He is now starting to clean up the contenders. But interestingly, Johnson has taken a year off fighting, to get married, after the Jeffries fight. Understandable. He finally got his big pay days, and like Dempsey, Corbett, Fitz and others did not need to fight as often, as he had already proved himself. It was up to the challengers to mount a case

McVey has finally started his rise. And he actually beat Langford for the Australian Heavyweight title. Both have now earned top 10 status by beating Lang and lester (who isn’t talked about much) . Yet Tomme burns is badly chastised for defending against Lang. It is a strange world.

Jeanette really is no more than a top 20 fighter, it appears. This surprises me, as I alwas thought him the underated of the three, but clearly not. I wonder if he will hold a higher ranking than Jim Johnson when Jim meets Johnson. Johnson is currently unranked but I think not.

Jeff Clarke does not seem to be able to break in to the top 30, but he is getting a fair few NDs. I must say though, most seem to be Newspaper Decision losses according to Boxrec, but does seem to be improving yet.

Rankings have been stopped at 30 for this year, meaning Joe Walcott is not able to hold onto a ranking, in his retirement year.

Big Al Palzer is a very interesting move into the top 10. Another who has size, but is never really talked about. I get the feeling that there would have been quite a bit of buzz around him

 

By the way, this was the first year Johnson had off, but if he was going to fight someone, according to the rankings, it should have been either (i think i am right in saying) the commonwealth champion in Burns to be rematched, or the Australian Champion Sam McVey. I tend to think Burns may have had a better case for a rematch than i have ever previously thought, though i do see the difficulties with his claim.

 

Matt--with boxing restricted pretty much to Britain, Ireland, Canada, Australia, the British West Indies, and the US, I think you are overlooking the Australia and British champions. A regional championship like that would have been a big deal back then.

A few who should have cracked the top ten:

Peter Felix
Jack Palmer
Bill Squires
Gunner Moir
Colin Bell
Iron Hague

plus Bill Lang was underrated

Colin Bell--seems a fair contender--54-16-3 (36 ko's), victories over Gus Ruhlin, Gunboat Smith, Tom Heeney, drew with Sam Langford and Battling Levinsky

Bill Lang--From the Johnson fight in 1907 through the Burns fight in 1910, he was 16-3 with 15 ko's, stopping all the top Aussie fighters and old Bob Fitzsimmons. He probably should be rated in the top five from 1907 to 1910. His only losses were to the champions, Johnson and Burns.

None of these men, of course, were outstanding, but they beat the best in their regions and were worthy of being in the top ten in my judgement.

 

Dont think Bell beat Ruhlin, I could never find any proof. Moir, Hague, Palmer never beat anyone and Curran, Roche, Mike Williams had as much claim as them and beat nothing either. Wells was clearly a step above that bunch. Everytime they stepped up they were trashed. I think i rated Felix and Lang for short periods. I'm from that neck of the woods so I dont think I'M underating any of tham but I take the point that Ring itself allways threw in a token regional fighter so if I replicating them-which I wasn't-the fighters you mentioned should be there. When they were good eneough-PRE 1900, I had them in.

 

OLD fogey, checking up on Squires and I think you are right, he would have a low top 10 place 1905 and 06.

 

I think he was the betting favorite over Burns.


Jack Johnson was not the betting favorite over Burns.


Only proves that Squires was exposed as were Gerry Cooney or Michael Grant more recently. Going into the Burns fight, his official record was 19 0f 20 with his only loss on a DQ. Apparently observers who saw him fight were impressed. They found out about his glass jaw the hard way when he stepped up in class.

*the evidence of Bell's win over Ruhlin sure seems shaky (site and date unknown-and was Ruhlin ever in Australia?) but a win over Ruhlin in 1910 wouldn't have meant all that much anyway. Just a name from the past. His draw with Langford, and his win over Gunboat Smith, both of which have historical verification, would be his impressive performances.

 

1912
1 Johnson – W Flynn
2 Tommy Burns – W Bill Rickard
4 Langford – W Barry, McVey, Dan Flynn
3 McVey – W Barry, L Langford X 3
4 Luther McCarthy W Flynn, Kaufman, Morris ND Willard, Stewart
5 Jim Flynn – W Mclachlan & Others L Johnson, McCarthy
6 Leo Houck – W Smith, Frankie Houck & others
7 Eddie McGoorty - W Smith, D Thompson, Levinsky L Leo Huock
8 Dave Smith – W Thompson, Clabby & others L McGoorty
9 Colin Bell – W Doran & Others L Doran & others (pre ranking)
10 Dan Flynn – W Doran,Barry, Dixie Kid L Langford
11 Pat Doran – W Lester & others L Bell, Lester
12 Bill Turner – W Lester
13 Lester - W Thompson, Doran L Dave Smith, Cyclone Thompson, Doran, Turner
14 Andy Morris – W Barry L Pelkey, White & others Pre Ranking
15 Willard – W White & Others ND Pelkey & Morris
16 Pelkey – W White, Morris & others ND Willard
17 Sailor White – W Barry, Morris L Pelkey, Willard
18 Jim Barry – W Lang L Langford, Mcvey, Flynn(allX2), McMAhon, Morris, White ND L Mccarthy
19 Lang – L Barry

20 Al Palzer – W White, Wells ND Ross
21 Dave Mills – W Charlie Miller
22 Charlie Miller – W Kaufman L Flynn, Mills
23 Kaufman – L Miller, McCarthy
24 Al Kubiak – ND Ross & Smith
25 Morris – W Keating & Otheres ND StewartL McCarthy, Kubiak
26 Joe Jeanette – W Griffin, Ross ND Clark, Jim Johnson
27 Ross – L jeanette
28 Bombadier Billy Wells – L Palzer, W Kennedy, Rodel
29 Gunboat Smith – W stewart and others ND Sullivan, Morris
29 Jim Savage - W Kennedy L Gunboat Smith ND Al Kubiak
30 Kennedy – ND Steward, Levinsky & others L Wells, Savage
31 Sandy Ferguson – L Kennedy
33 Overby – W Griffin, Harris ND Jim Johnson
32 M Harris –W Carleton, L Ferguson, Overby

He isn’t fighting the greatest level of fighter, but it is interesting that Tommy Burns still hasn’t lost a fight and he is technically the commonwealth champion, which is a higher title than the one that Langford and McVey were fighting over.

McVey does have that one win over Langford, as well as the win over Lang and Lester, but he clearly isn’t as good as Langford at the moment, and neither Lang or Lester seems to be top shelf at the moment, or in the same league as Jack Johnson (or a prime Burns or O brien for that matter). I can see why it didn’t seem as if there were any challengers.

Langford has started to emerge as the no 1 contender, but it hasn’t really been as clear as you would think, with the hiccup to McVey. I can see why (without hindsight) there wouldn’t have really been a clear standout number 2.


I am not sure what to do with Jack Lester, his win over Lang seems a total upset (following an earlier defeat), and he has lost to a host of fighters below the 20s. His fall from grace has been the worst of any fighter so far and so his inconsistency.

Jim Barry doesn’t seem to be any better. This year has really been thrown into turmoil. This seems to be the biggest changing of the guard I can find. Interesting that the guys that Langford and McVey beat to make the top 10 have dropped so far, so quickly.

Interesting that the Houck brothers (I assume) weren’t afraid to fight each other. Wonder if the Klits will take note.

Joe Jenette is continuing an impressive winning streak, but really, they are nothing fighters in the scheme of things. He is still struggling to break into the top 30.

There has been more movement in this year, than any other year. That means, there is either greater depth or the retirement of the top ranking older fellows has meant, there is less quality at the top to replace the guys, who the rankings say, despite getting older did not really lose to anything but the very best.

 

1913
1 Johnson – ND Jim Johnson
2 Tommy Burns – ND Pelkey
3 Gunboat Smith – W Wells, Willard, Rodel, Flynn, Morris, Ross, Langford, Miller & Others
4 Langford – W Barry, Flynn, Jeanette D McVey L Gunboat Smith
5 McVey – W Bell D Langford
6 Luther McCarthy W Palzer ND Moran, Flynn L Pelkey then died
7 Jim Flynn – W ND McCarthy, Levinsky L Gunboat Smith
8 Leo Houck – W Borell & Others
9 Jimmy Clabby – W McGoorty & others
10 Eddie McGoorty – ND Young Mahoney & Others L Jimmy Clabby
11 Dave Smith – W Lang & Others
12 Colin Bell – W Doran & Others L McVey D Langford
13 Dan Flynn – ND Levinsky L Langford
14 Kaufman – W Lester
15 Kid Kenneth – W horn, D Lester, Dan Flynn
16 Charles Horn – L Kid Kenneth
17 Lester - W Doran & Others L Kaufman, Horn, Langford,
18 Pat Doran – W Curran L Lester, Bell
19 Kelly Mansfield W Turner
20 Terry Kellar – W Turner
21 Court Oakes – W Turner L Mansfield then Retired
22 Bill Turner – L Oakes, Keller, Mansfield
23 Pelkey –W Morris, ND Burns
24 Fred Mckay - W Tate, Morris NC Peter Maher
25 Andy Morris – L fred McKay, Arther Pelkey
26 Willard – W C Morris L Gunboat Smith
27 McLaglen – W Sailor White then Retired
28 Sailor White – L Mclaglen, Al Reich ND Frank Moran, Charlie Weinert
29 Jim Barry – L Langford
30 Lang – W Curran L Dave Smith
31Frank Moran – W Palzar ND McCarthy
32 Al Palzer – L McCarthy, Moran ND Charlie Miller
33 Dave Mills – ND Jim Barry, Young Peter Jackson
34 Charlie Miller – L Ross, Smith ND Palzer, Willard
35 Al Kubiak – W Logan & Others
36 Carl Morris – W Reich & Others L Gunboat ND Willard
37 Joe Jeanette –W Jim Johnson ND Clark, Wills
38 Ross – W Miller, Smith L Gunboat Smith
39 M Harris – No fights

Burns continues to maintain his spot at the top. He is consistently beating guys in the top 30, which is more than many others are doing, he must be in line for a rematch.

Where did that year come from for Gunboat Smith? Struggling to stay in the top 30, He just had an absolute blinder of a year to rocket into the top 5 and gain himself an alphabet titleshot (against Burns victim Pelkey!) Shouldn’t Burns have been the White heavyweight champion, if such a title was to have any credence?

Wow, Peter Maher just made an unsuccessful attempt (no decision) to break back into the top 30! And so did young Peter Jackson.

I have always thought that Jim Johnson was better than people thought as a choice for a black heavyweight challenger, but it isn’t supported by these rankings. He doesn’t even look like a top 40 spoit

 

1914
1 Johnson – Frank Moran
2 Tommy Burns – W Battling Brandt
3 Carpentier – L Jeanette (pre rankings) W Gunboat smith.
4 Gunboat Smith – W Pelkey & Others L Carpentier, Langford ND Blackburn, Levinsky, Thompson
5 Langford –W Gunboat Smith, Wills ND Wills
6 McVey –W Pelkey, Wills ND Johnson
7 Jim Coffey - W Lester, Ross, Flynn ND Gunboat Smith
8 Jack Dillon – W Flynn, Levinsky, Moha, Lester & Others
9 Carl Morris – W Fleming, Fulton, Flynn, Kubiak & Others
10 Jim Flynn – w Driscoll & Others ND Levinskey L Cofey, Morris, Jack Dillon
11 Billy Murray – W houck ND Clabby McCoy
12 Tommy Gavigan – W Houck
13 Leo Houck – W Bergin & Others L Billy Murray, Tommy Gavigan ND Dillon & Others
14 Dave Smith – L Clabby, McGoorty W Clabby
15 Jimmy Clabby – W McGoorty, Smith, Chip L Smith
16 Eddie McGoorty –W Smith & Others L Clabby
17 Tom Kennedy - W Tony Ross
18 Tony Ross – L Tom Kennedy
19 Kid Jackson – L Tony Ross, Carpentier
20 Jim Savage – D Porky Flynn & Others
21 Con O’ Kelly - W Curran, Harry Smith then Retired
22 Charles Kid McCoy – W Curran, Then retired.
23 Mathew Curran – L Savage, Jackson, O Kelly, McCoy
24 Bombadier Billy Wells – W Bell and others
25 Joe Jeanette – W carpentier, Bell & others ND Jim Johnson & Others
26 Colin Bell – L Curran, Jeanette, Wells
27 Dan Flynn – W Mckay, Rodel, Jim Johnson ND Levinsky & Others
28 Harry Wills – W Horne, Grande, Jeanette ND Langford L Langford
29 Sailor Charles Grande – w McMahon L Wills, W Jack Lester
30 Bearcat McMahon W Kaufman, Kid Kenneth ND Levinsky, Dan Flynn, Willard L Sailor 31 Charles Grande and Langford
32 Fred Fulton - Fulton L C Morris, W Palzer, Kaufman
33 Kaufman –L Bearcat McMahon, Fred Fulton Then Retired
34 Kid Kenneth – W Pelkey L McMAhon
35 Charles Horn – L Harry Wills, Then Retired
36 Tom McCarthy – W Lester, Savage L Gunboat Smith
37 Lester - L Coffey, Dillon, McCarthy, Grande
38 Pat Doran – W Storbeck, ND Creedon

Well Johnson has really started to wind down his career now, very inactive and his fight with 31st rank Frank Moran, following the unranked Jim Johnson is starting to show up. But the no1 contender would seem unclear. Burns is up there but not fighting the best fighters any more, Langford was just beaten by Gunboat Smith, who would have been the no 1, but he lost to First Carpentier then Langford. You would think that Carpentier would be first in line, particularly with him refereeing the Moran fight, but would anyone take this as a serious threat to Johnson’s Crown? He was the European and technically the white heavyweight champion, so I suppose maybe they would have. To further complicate matters, Langford, it seems was possibly just beaten by Wills, although he later avenged this.

Carl Morris looks to have taken a huge leap into the top 10. It is quite amazing how many guys compete and struggle at a lower level before entering into the top 10. If my theory is correct, it is proof that experience is so important. I guess this makes it hard to see how todays fighters can compete when they never hardly seem to fight the best fighters around, and don’t benefit and learn from their losses.

Absolutely unbelievable effort from Charles Kid McCoy. After retiring from the rankings in 1908, and not having lost a fight since he was upset by Jack Root in 1903, Kid Mcoy reenters the top 30, with a big win over Mathew Curran, who was admittedly seemingly a little luck to be in the top 30. McCoy debuted in 1891 and was 42 years of age. Is this living proof that the 1890s style was still successful. His comeback wins over Jim Stewart and Jim Savage are fighters who were there or thereabouts to top 30 in the world also. Clearly McCoy is not given enough credit, in most all time lists. After this, he went to the army and retired again.

And while we are on the old school fighters, Former Bob Fitzsimmons victim Dan Creedon also fought a 3 rnd no decision fight and failed in his bid to make the top 40. The 46 yr old Creedon was coming off a 3 year break and had just been KOd in 3, 3 years earlier by another Fitzsimmons victim, Starlight Rollins. The old timers were certainly on fire. And if memory serves me correct, Fitzsimmons himself scored two 6 round NO decision fights, presumably he won them, after being banned from fighting in New York.

An interesting point, according to Boxrec Sailor Grande would go on to fight and lose to a guy called Noah Brusso, in the US, it would seem a middleweight or light heavyweight. That name certainly sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

Harry Wills and Fred Fulton both have come onto the scene with an awesome KO record, but both seem to have faltered with their first Tests against top 10 material. Willard is in the same boat, and will actually drop off the rankings its seems (unless I get a burst of energy).

 

1915
1 Willard – W Johnson
2 Johnson – L Willard
3 Moran – W Wells, Sims, Coffee ND Dillon, Willard, Gunboat
4 Jim Coffey – W Sullivan, Pelkey, Flynn, Gunboat L Moran
5 Dan Flynn – W Bell ND Dillon, Cowler & Others
6 Colin Bell – W Gunboat Smith ND Flynn & others
7 Gunboat Smith – W Levinsky & Others. ND Flynn, Dillon L Coffey
8 Harry Wills – W Jim Johnson, McVEy ND Langford
9 McVey – W J Johnson, Ferguson, Clark, Langford L Wills
10 Joe Jeanette – W Pelkey, Langford, ND Jim Johnson, John Johnson, McVey
11 Langford – L Jeanette, McVey ND Wills, Jim Johnson
12 Jack Dillon – W Lester & Others ND Flynn, Flynn, Gunboat & others
13 Carl Morris – W Rodel & Others ND Flynn, Coffey & Others
14 Jim Flynn – ND Ross, Gunboat & Others L Coffey
15 Les Darcy – W Murray, McGoorty, Clabby & Others
16 Eddie McGoorty – W murray & Others L Darcy
17 King – L Darcy, McGoorty
18 Billy Murray – L King, Darcy, McGoorty
19 Gus Christie – W Burke & Others ND Young Mahoney, Miske, Grande
20 Tommy Gavigan – W Cole & Others ND – Greb L Christie
21 Leo Houck –ND Gibbons, Grande & others
22 Dave Smith – W Chip, King L Darcy
23 Jimmy Clabby – ND Gibbons, Chip & Others
24 Tony Ross – Foley & Others, ND Flynn

25 Jim Savage – ND Dillon, Weinart, Reich


26 Mathew Curran No Fights
27 Bombadier Billy wells – L Moran W Rice & Others
28 Bearcat McMahon - ND Morris, Dillon, Flynn, Grande W Gilbert
29 Mike McTigue – W Ko Sweeney & others
30 KO Sweeney – W Gilbert & others L McTigue
31 Fred Fulton – W Kaufman, Pelkey & others
32 Terry Kellar – L Fulton, D Miske
33 Dick Gilbert – L Dillon, KO Sweeney, Tom McMahon, Terry Keller
34 Devere – W Grande L C morris, Gilbert& others
35 Sailor Charles Grande – L Devere ND Houck, chip & others

Well Jess Willard certainly came from nowhere. He had been taken off the rankings, and was struggling to ND lesser ranked fighters. Obviously the number of rounds played into his hands, greatly. But he is one of the most unproven world champions. Not only does he have no wins against top contenders, but the champion he beat, had not fought a top contender for years (after an awesome run). Obviously being banished from the US badly upset things here. Just imagine how Johnsons reign could have looked without his legal problems. Truly tragic.
Sad to see Tommy Burns retiring. He retired as the best fighter in the commonwealth, which means that he really was still a legitimate top 10 fighter, despite having no really first class fights for a long time.
Georges Carpentier had no fights for three years, despite being the reigning European Heavyweight champion. I presume this was due to world war I. This must have had an effect on his career. Three years inactivity ruined Ali, Dempsey and Johnson. Surely it couldn’t have done him much good either. He was just starting to hit his straps. I am not sure what to do to his ranking. To be consistent, I think I might drop his spot, since I have dropped everyone else with more than a two year absence.
Amazing. Former Johnson Challenger Frank Moran, comes from nowhere to enter the top 10, just 12 months after meeting Johnson. Despite it being an easy title defence, in hindsight, it was a tough fight.
Finally, Joe Jeanette makes it into the top 10, and Johnson is no longer champion. There goes the myth of Johnson ducking Jeanette. And while Willard was an easy mark challenger it seems, it is hard to see which of McVey and Langford deserved a shot because they were swapping wins with each other.
Go Les Darcy. What an absolute dominance of fighters in the top 10-20 bracket, and certainly easy to see why he was considered the best middleweight in the world. Absolute dominance against many of the best middleweights.
It is quite interesting to see how many middleweights can still compete with the heavyweights, just not the very, very best of them (or at least not usually).

 

1916
1 Willard – ND Moran W Sailor Burke
2 Johnson – W Crozier, Craven
3 Moran – W Coffey, ND Willard, Gunboat Smith
4 Jim Coffey – L Moran W Geyer & Others ND Gunboat
5 Carl Morris – W Pelkey, Gunboat, Levinskey
6 Levinskey – L C Morris, Dillon W Dillon ND Christie & Others
7 Jack Dillon – W Flynn, Cowler & others ND Gunboat & Others L Levinsky
8 Fred Fulton – W Flynn, Flynn, Reich
9 Dan Flynn – L Dillon, Fulton D Reich, Levinsky ND Gunboat, Jeanette & Others
10 Les Darcy – W Crouse, Smith & Others then died
11 Fred Kay - W Magirl, Chip & Others
12 George Chip W Christie, Grande, Magirl ND Greb & Others
13 Art Magirl – W Smith L Chip, Kay
14 Dave Smith – W Bell, Chip, Crouse L Darcy, Magirl, Crouse
15 Buck Crouse – W King, Grande, Smith & others ND Jack Twin Sullivan & Others L Smith
16 Colin Bell W O Donnell L D SMith
17 Gunboat Smith – W Pelkey ND Morris, Coffey, Cowler & Others L Levinsky, Dillon & others ND
18 Harry Wills – W Langford, Clarke L Langford
19 Langford – W Clark, Wills, Jim Johnson, Jeanette L Wills ND Hawkins, McVey, Tate
20 McVey – W Thompson ND Langford, Thompson D McVey
21 Joe Jeanette – W Smith, Ross & Others L Langford
22 Jim Flynn – ND Dillon L fulton, dillon
23 Eddie McGoorty – No Fights
24 Mick King – L Clabby, Holland, Kay, Crouse
25 Willie Meehan – W Norton, Farmer & Others
26 Frank Farmer – L Meehan X 2
27 Billy Murray – L Farmer, McAllister
28 Gus Christie – W Mantell & Others ND Chip & Others D Levinsky
29 Tommy Gavigan – ND Lavin
30 Leo Houck – W Miller & others
31 Jimmy Clabby – L Kay, Darcy W Holland, Smith
32 KO Bill Brennan – W Rodel, Ross & Others
33 Tony Ross – L KO Bill Brennan, Joe Jeanette


Willards first two defences are interesting. Moran is actually the leading contender outside of Johnson, who had just knocked out the next leading contender! Sailor Burke looks like more of an Jack Finnegan type title defence where the challenger was simply a solid journeyman or C level fighter not really expected to cause any problems.

Les Darcy was already one of the great fighters. It is easy to see why he was thought to be Australias greatest ever by those who saw him. He was already a top 10 fighter and while he probably was more of a middleweight, it shows that with age he would have been a definite threat to the heavyweight title, maybe he even would have replaced Dempsey in history, who knows. I find it extremely interesting to see how quickly Darcy came through the ranks, compared to Harry Greb, who is still ND ing with most of the top 20 he faces. Not sure if Burt Bienstock will like this comment!

Lanford and Wills seem to be really dropping, which surprises me. I can actually see now why the black dynamite might not have necessarily been the standout contenders that many think they were.

It will be interesting to see what Willie Meehan does in the rankings, with his results over Dempsey.

Also, if i am not mistaken, this latest rankings is probably the biggest differentiation, with those of Matt Donnelan.