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

Jack Johnson’s natural strength and grappling know would have to stand him in good stead.

The way he could lock guys down, turn and smile at the spectators whilst randomly thumping his opponent as and when it pleased him.

Also, Jack had one of the best, tightest uppercuts I’ve seen - able to rip it through at extremely close quarters with plenty of power behind it.

 

It was a street/tavern fight after all!

 

Been too long since I saw it, personally. I’ll load it up later today when time permits.

 

I know a guy who was in a halfway recovery house and shared a room with Bert. He told me Bert used to KO drug dealers on the street and snatch up their cash. He had him sign a KO card for me.

 

Read his Bio. Very good book. The author stated for a long time Robert Ryan Robert Mitchum and Jack Palance ( Vladimir Pohlaniuk) were the 3 toughest guys in that business. I do know Mitchum got the win over a known HW boxer in a bar fight. Don't know the name off the top of my head.

 

I would not want to tangle with Bert Cooper in the ring or on the streets. That's an amazing story

 

Nothing crazy about that, Cobb smashes him in a straightener

 

Jack Johnson got easily taken down and pinned by a wrestler in a mixed fight

 

There was a guy who claimed he was Sonny Liston's son that used to say he knocked out Bert Cooper in a street fight, used to mention it in his comedy stand ups.

 

The Guv'nor?

 

For me there's two people that I think rank ahead of everyone else when it always comes to this conversation:

Danny Hodge: Golden Gloves Champion, 7-2 Professional Boxing record, 3 time NCAA D1 Champion, never taken down in college, double tendon grip strength, two time Olympian having gone to his first Olympics at 18 years old with no international experience, Olympic Silver Medalist in Freestyle Wrestling etc He fought in Boxing at 190 pounds and I'd put him against any boxer in their prime in a street fight whether it's Tyson, Klitschko's, Foreman, Liston, Sullivan etc

The other one is former Undisputed Cruiserweight Champion O'Neil Bell, a talented athlete having excelled at football and being a State Champion Wrestler. Many stories of Bell being involved in street fights even when he was Champion.

Some others that are worth a mention:

Butterbean - I know people on this forum hate him but his size and power in a street fight would be very worrying, he's also competed in MMA and got a couple of submission wins so has the grappling advantage.

Mark Potter - Fought at a domestic level in the UK then went the unlicensed route, fought a couple of fights in MMA, had very explosive and powerful hands and probably could have gone further with MMA.

Dillian Whyte - No stranger to a street fight and also had a Kickboxing/Muay Thai background.

Lucas Browne - Worked as a bouncer for years before he was a professional boxer. Has MMA experience too.

Unlicensed boxers like Lenny McLean and Roy Shaw could have given many pros a lot of trouble on the street or in your local boozer.

 

Yeah, I’ve seen that footage. Can’t recall the details of how long it lasted or the exact rules.