Which of These Men of Color Could Have Been Lineal Champion, with no Color Line?

I think a very good point.

 

I have read the Times of London on site contemporary reports on the two Cribb-Molyneaux fights. I don't recall a mention of this mob story. Doesn't mean it might not have happened, only that a top source doesn't mention it. Cribb dominated the return completely.

I am not disputing anything because who knows. This is in one of those shadowy corners of the past of a relatively obscure event (a boxing match in the early 19th century) and few primary sources.

 

comments after reading the other opinions:

Favor--Wills and Jackson (I strongly favor Wills to beat the 1918-1919 version of Willard and I think he should have gotten the shot before Dempsey as he had been a contender for several years before Dempsey made any stir in the division. I would slightly favor him over Dempsey in the early 1920's. I favor prime Jackson over the aging and out of shape Sullivan and also over Corbett.

Good chance--Langford. At least a toss-up if he gets a shot at Burns, but Johnson was the top contender, not Langford. Could he have beaten Johnson for the title? I wouldn't favor him, but he had a good shot from 1912 on. Willard? Langford ko'd Bill Tate, who was about the same size, so I don't think it automatic that Sam was too small to handle Willard. I wonder how Jess would have liked it to the body and would he have been able to get leverage against the much shorter Langford?

Possible at right time but they would have to be lucky in timing--Jeannette, McVea, Godfrey, Gains

Unlikely--Bab Armstrong, Denver Ed Martin, Frank Childs

 

Great thread. Most of what I have to say has already been said but I really enjoyed reading through the give and take.

Just to add my 2 cent, Jackson could have nipped a title at the very end of Sullivan's career but remember that Goddard, a poor man's Sullivan, gave Jackson all he could handle. It's just that Sullivan was too depleted by his lifestyle. Langford was probably too small to beat Burns, who was quality enough to hold off the greater but smaller fighter. Wills had a great chance of beating Willard and Dempsey.

 

Wills was actually in his prime for much of Willard's reign and had most of his biggest career victories .. his he does against a prime Dempsey I don't know but feel he would have defeated Willard.

 

My source is luke G Robinsons book, Richmond unleashed. He extensively footnoted and sourced. It's in there somewhere I'm sure of it.

 

Okay. I still have a copy of the rematch report, but the first is from memory, but I noted at the time that it said nothing about a mob storming the ring. But, like I say, sketchy reports, so I can't say what is accurate. The Times reporter might have been a Cribb fan and so brushed the "riot" under the rug.

On the other hand, what is the primary source for the riot story? Was someone there or are the footnotes of secondary sources? The Times reporter was present.