Thread: If You Have The Time

Some wonderful soul has uploaded the 1931 title fight between Tony Canzoneri and Kid Chocolate. This is two of the top 25 or 50 fighters of all time dead in their primes. A hotly disputed split decision.

Canzoneri is the naturally bigger man. If you don't know much about him, think Roy Jones. Canzoneri does a bunch of things wrong, he leads mostly with his face, but he has otherworldly reflexes.

Kid Chocolate is probably Cuba's greatest fighter. How good was he? Somebody named Ray Robinson modeled himself on the Kid.

Three things just take one's breath away watching these two. First is the sheer complexity of movment. The feet, hands, shoulders and upper bodies are all always moving and moving in arcs. No straight lines for these two. The second is the speed. Now the footage is a little quick. But when these guys move? They are lightning. Lastly is the ebb and flow. No two rounds look alike and every time one seems to assert control the other guy explodes.

The quality of the film is not anything close to today, but if you pay attention this is a real treat! Don't be discouraged by the clinching in rounds 1-2. It really picks up!

Great post. I read somewhere that he sparred with Jack Johnson? Little bit of a weight difference there. I had some old VHS tapes with Kid Chocalotte footage but the video you posted was probably even better quality. Thanks for that.

Originally Posted by frasd

Great post. I read somewhere that he sparred with Jack Johnson? Little bit of a weight difference there. I had some old VHS tapes with Kid Chocalotte footage but the video you posted was probably even better quality. Thanks for that.

As near as I can figure Chocoloate was always messing with larger men. Absolutely fearless and incredibly successful.