Who is the “Tavern Brawl” “Street fight” “Straightener” GOAT here on Classic? What’s your case?

It has to be Maske.

/thread

 

I don't think we know enough to be able to tell who the best is.

There's almost zero footage of any elite boxers in streetfights. And even if there was, I doubt we'd learn much.

If we're artificially precluding them from using either purpose-built weapons or hitting each other with pool cues and bottles, all we can say is:

It might make sense to favor guys who got into real streetfights (and won) over those who haven't.

Bigger is probably better. Meaner is probably better. Being a violent criminal is probably an advantage.

The guys with grappling training, or other MMA-like things, may do better.


So guys like Liston, Sullivan, Dempsey, Tyson (only guy on the list who beat another pro boxer in a streetfight, as far as I know), Rahman, Cobb, etc. No way to tell beyond that broad generalization, IMO.

 

Foreman

 

Yeah cos George never had a street fight…

 

Zivic has to be up there. He got in more street fights with his brothers growing up than he had in the ring.

 

Figg probably breaks the thread's rules and starts sabering people. So maybe he's the barfight champ.

 

Bill the Butcher Poole probably cooks all of em

 

Larry Holmes had a gorgeous drop kick off the top of a car as his finisher.

Nothing says ‘street fighter’ like a guy who jumps people off car tops.

 

Chuck Wiggins & Bobby Gunn

Jack Dempsey & Billy Conn

 

He was also a very good wrestler in high school. And he had a legit mean streak.