Who would you rank higher all time @HW, Billy Miske or Eddie Machen?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by McGrain, Oct 7, 2013.


  1. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

    112,965
    48,027
    Mar 21, 2007
    Remember, this is just at heavy, Miske's activities below the weight shouldn't impact your thinking.

    Eddie Machen - relevant probably from when he spanked an ancient Nino Valdes behind Johnny Summerlin in '56 all the way up until '66 when Joe Frazier managed to stop him in ten. That's a decade during which he recovered from total mental collapse to challenge for a strap against Ernie Terrell (LPTS 15). Tended to lose to the best he met (Patterson, Liston, Terrell, Folley, Johnson, Johansson) but has a solid W resume (Summerlin, Valdes, Holmes, Maxim, Baker, Jackson, DeJohn, Quarry) although some of his better names were compromised by age or greenery.

    Billy Miske - Miske is most famous for his losing effort against Dempsey, although he is credited (possibly erroneously) with a draw with Dempsey from earlier in their careers. Beat Fred Fulton, Bill Brennan, Jack Dillon and Battling Levinsky, amongst others. Like Eddie, he tended to lose to the best, apart from Dempsey he was beaten by Kid Norfolk, Harry Greb and Tommy Gibbons.



    So which one of these failed challengers would you rate higher on your HW scale?

    Thanks for your help
     
    McGrain, Oct 7, 2013
    McGrain, Oct 7, 2013
    #1
  2. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

    97,723
    29,073
    Jun 2, 2006
    Do you know , this is a very hard one, I hope you get some input that will help me out with it.:oops:
     
    mcvey, Oct 7, 2013
    mcvey, Oct 7, 2013
    #2
  3. Senya13

    Senya13 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    12,968
    2,411
    Jul 11, 2005
    The votes I've seen listed were

    Dempsey: J.H. Ritchie (Minneapolis Journal), Minneapolis Tribune, St. Paul News, Otto Floto (Denver Post), Ed Smith (Chicago American), United Press, International News Service

    Miske: Louis H. Gollop (Duluth News Tribune)

    Draw: George Barton (Minneapolis News; or Dempsey by slight shade), St. Paul Pioneer-Press, St. Paul Dispatch, Larry Moore (Duluth Herald), Associated Press
     
    Senya13, Oct 7, 2013
    Senya13, Oct 7, 2013
    #3
  4. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

    112,965
    48,027
    Mar 21, 2007
    Nice, thanks.
     
    McGrain, Oct 7, 2013
    McGrain, Oct 7, 2013
    #4
  5. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

    58,748
    21,578
    Nov 24, 2005
    Question's too hard.
     
    Unforgiven, Oct 8, 2013
    Unforgiven, Oct 8, 2013
    #5
  6. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

    112,965
    48,027
    Mar 21, 2007
    It certainly seems to be!
     
    McGrain, Oct 8, 2013
    McGrain, Oct 8, 2013
    #6
  7. LittleRed

    LittleRed Boxing Junkie Full Member

    8,850
    239
    Feb 19, 2012
    I have no clue.
     
    LittleRed, Oct 8, 2013
    LittleRed, Oct 8, 2013
    #7
  8. Anubis

    Anubis Boxing Addict

    5,802
    2,039
    Jun 14, 2008
    Excellent challenge. My first impulse is to say Machen, simply since Eddie had time the Thunderbolt didn't the luxury of. But Miske was only dropped and stopped in his challenge of Dempsey, and consistently handled big and tall guys like Burke, Morris and Cowler. He came out on top in his series with Brennan and Fulton.

    Today, I'm going with Billy, but I can make a compelling case for Machen in another mood with further reflection.
     
    Anubis, Oct 8, 2013
    Anubis, Oct 8, 2013
    #8
  9. mattdonnellon

    mattdonnellon Boxing Junkie Full Member

    8,617
    1,884
    Dec 2, 2006
    I think I'll go with Miske but of course it's close. The decider for me is Eddie never won a big one v's a peak opponent.
     
    mattdonnellon, Oct 8, 2013
    mattdonnellon, Oct 8, 2013
    #9
  10. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

    61,507
    46,056
    Feb 11, 2005
    I prefer a Miske versus Maske thread.
     
    Seamus, Oct 8, 2013
    Seamus, Oct 8, 2013
    #10