Who is the most underrated heavyweight Champion between 1920-1970?

"at least Jeffries had a prime Sharkey thrown in there, as well as Ruhlin"

Both of whom were absolutely slaughtered by old man Fitz. What difference did "prime" make?

In fairness, also, Layne, Matthews, and LaStarza were "prime." Not that it put them on the same level as Charles or Walcott.

 

I'm most likely going to be done after my next Jack Johnson book.

 

Regarding Layne decisioning Charles in their second bout, it was a very controversial decision. Referee Dempsey scored the fight two rounds for Layne, one for Charles, seven even.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?n...1hOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YgAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4490,3022777

 

apollack, if it ends with Johnson, you did a fantastic job.

If you get the itch to write again, I'd be interested in your stuff even if it isn't necessarily part of the 'In the Ring with ...' series.

 

Thanks so much. We'll see. Working on Volume II of Johnson right now.

 

I think that Willard would be a good subject for one of your biographies, in the sense that a lot remains to be uncovered. That might be a logical place to end it.

There are a surfeit of Dempsey biographies, but it might just be worth doing if you focused on his pre title career.

There is no very compelling reason why you could not go all the way up to Jimmy Braddock. Anybody later than that, and I do not think that it would be an effective use of your time.

 

If you are you have created an exceptional body of work .. I was always a bit concerned that Hart and Burns would burn you out ... I'd sue love you to make it through Dempsey but realizing that mean a Willard and two Dempseys most likely it is four years of your life and we should all be grateful with what you have accomplished which is terrific ..

 

Ezzard Charles.

 

It depends where these guys are rated. It's hard to make generalisations.

I'd say Ingemar Johansson.

Max Baer and Max Schmeling are underrated by most people nowadays.

 

first name came to my head too brother

 

That's a good call. I think he does get some recognition though. Ezzard is universally appraised as being a p4p giant and his heavyweight accomplishments play a part in that.

 

Schmeling. Defeated two all time top 15 p4p fighters in Louis and Walker (who had come off a disputed draw against Sharkey considered the best HW) defeated them both emphatically.
Got completely hosed in rematch with Sharkey. Defeated several top contenders of the era including hall of famer Young Stribling (only man to KO him). Steve Hamas (Only man to KO him) Johnny Risko (only man to KO him in his prime)
Denied chance to become first two time champion in history against Braddock a fight he likely would have won.
I don't rate Schmeling in my top 10 but he is around 15.
Schmeling was the only man to defeat Louis in a 15 year span. Louis never fought a preliminary bout and had come off back to back ko's of former champions so I don't buy the argument he was "green."
He then had wins over arguably the two best heavyweights of the era at the time he fought them in Walker and Sharkey.
Of the 5 men to hold the title post Tunney and Pre Louis he is the clearly the best and his 32-1-1 streak leading up to the Baer fight (if credited with the Sharkey win) is far more consistent than most other champions listed.

 

No he wasn't.

Patterson was ranked in the top ten ,[including his title tenures,] for a total of 12 times.

Evander Holyfield was ranked in the top ten ,[including his title tenures,]16 times!
Missing only the end of 1994 for what would have been 15 consecutive years!
Now that's impressive!

 

Evander is actually a guy whom I think is underrated today. Excellent credit to boxing.

 

I agree, if he had been around from 56-61 Floyd and Ingo would not have got a sniff of the title.