Who disappointed you the first time you saw them on film?

Jack Johnson, holding, grappling, and mauling.

 

Georges Carpentier...His attacks seem amateurish.
Max Schmeling...Some of the punches Baer hit him with, my Grandfather could have avoided.

 

On the downside was Jack Johnson and Baer. I don't doubt that they were tough to beat. They're not much easier to watch, though.

Steele surprised me on the upside. Really looked like a prototype boxer/puncher.

 

these kind of statements always surprise me...

Steele does look great, so does Benny Lynch and loads of American footage from the 1940s and other parts too. In fact last night for the first time I saw Jack Gardner vs Johnny Williams, excellent filming, showing perfectly well how good & capable they were, and thats the point.

Some of these guys look great as we expect them to look for TOP men. So because we see an 'excellent' piece of film that was done right and preserved well, how then can the same intelligent people think the others aren't as good, great or worthy men???

of course they ARE... it's the FILM thats **** not the fighters!

 

Joe Gans.

Joe Gans did not impress me the first time I saw his film. I expect him to look like Mayweather on steriods. What I found was that Gans held his guard low and had this kind of herky-jerky movement for defense. I watch him lean back on his back foot, with his guard down when he gets rushed how his scrables himself around to get back in boxing position. I was expecting the "Old Master" to look like a cross between Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Robinson. Instead, I saw a guy who was not very fluid.

When you have seen a fighter like Pernell Whitaker it is hard sometimes the greatness of older fighters with the less fluid style. They look like they are really "fighting" where todays fighters a "boxing". I am sure it has something to do with the lower protection of fighter back in that time. My perception of his style takes nothing away from his legacy just like Monzon extremely boring fights take nothing away from the fact he is one of the top 5 middles of all-time.

Looking at Marco Maidana he looked sloppy, off-balance, throwing the wrong punches, looping rights against a guy that most would consider picture perfect. However, to the understanding eye one sees the intricate beauty of Marco Maidana inside combinations and defense. Put Broner-Maidana on a film from 1907 and we think Maidana was a tomato can skill-wise.

 

Benny Lynch! That's a guy I really don't like. He looks dangerous as hell, quick, powerful yet I absolutely hate his style. Ack.

 

Felt exactly the same, I guess they are so hyped in ones own head, impossible to live up too.

 

I agree with you wholeheartedly. I expected Steele to look good, but what I saw was a guy who not only was great, but would've transitioned even better to the modern 12 round era.

Still wishing I could find Steele-Overlin footage. I wonder if that even exists...