Lets say that I used a time machine to transport the following fighters to the present day and gave you the task of managing them. How would you train them? Which weight class would you put them in? How would you match them? Your objectives are to steer them to titles and also to make them as much money as possible. If you don't like the names I have chosen you may substitute some of your own. The naes are: Barbados Joe Walcott Sam Langford Jess Willard Jack Dempsey Harry Greb Mickey Walker Tommy Loughran Bob Satterfield Rocky Marciano
Not to be a pain in the ass for your thread, but with each man you want to tuck them into the smallest weight-division you can - so 140 for Walker, for example - and then test the waters at the higher divisions. Guys like Walker wouldn't need much managing because he would be ready for absolutley anyone in that division within 20 fights. Then you just see. The money would be there because he would be p4p top 3 within 30 fights and has a fan friendly style.
What you would do with Willard is what was done with Valuev - move him along very slowly and concentrate on improving technical issues as he moved towards the title. He'd grab a strap from somewhere, probably.
yes again as i thought you would hve to match him quite easily though but he wouldnt have been as much a a freak as he was in them days so tahts part of his drawing power gone
Giant American who hits hard enough to kill? I think he'd be okay until "exposed" as they say next door.
yes but he isnt as big as say Valuev who autimacally gets a draw cause hes so big forgot Jess was American so he would have been an alright draw
Willard would of been a promotor's dream in this day and age in the heavyweight division. An American heavyweight, 6'5 at least and powerful. I mean look at the attention Tye Fields got because he was knocking out journeyman and he's big, despite being rubbish. Now combine the fact Willard can take far more punishment and is a much better fighter, and you've got a great marketing tool. Like McGrain said, bring him along slowly. Like in the Tye Fields/Valuev sense. Tonnes of fights, plenty of knockouts and bring him along while honeing his technical skills until he he's ready to pick up a belt. Langford could be very good in marketing sense aswell, because he's powerful, durable, strong, technically under-rated and able to move through the weights. The only trouble is today's 'super-heavies' as they are. Far bigger than that of yesteryear, and combine that with the technical skills, the likes of Wlad and Vitali have more than enough to keep him at bay as he would be ridiculously out-sized. So obviously you've got to try and control his weigh & muscle gain, which is going to be difficult considering he was stocky. I think it would be difficult to keep him at 140, so he may have to settle for 147, look to grab a few big wins and possibly move through the weights to 154 and possibly 160 in the end. Dempsey likewise, a marketing dream. Strong, quick, durable, technically solid, great bob & weave and head-movement, very powerful and with a real killer instinct, and American. Remind you of anybody? Yep, market him as the real 'White Tyson'. Bring him along slowly at the start, knocking out journeymen in style like Mike did and then look to take the belts one-by-one if possible. Marciano because of his size may have to do a different route. I'd probably bring him up in a more low-key environment if possible, work my way through the cruiserweight division with him and look to dominate there before moving up. Think Holyfield/Haye/Adamek. That sort of career path if possible. The likes of Greb, Loughran, Satterfield, Walker, Greb and Walcott I'd follow what McGrain said. Fit them in the lowest division as possible and try to bring them along cautiously but through the rank until they are ready.
