Was this the greatest fight ever?

[smashup]

Sam McVey v Joe Jeannette - 1909 - Paris.

Just been reading some cool articles about this brutal fight.

Many ringside reporters claim that both men were given oxygen filled balloons to inhale between rounds to keep them going.

The fight lasted over FORTY EIGHT full 3 minute rounds with McVey's face battered to the point where he was unrecognizable , both eyes closed and severely injured and a badly damaged bleeding mouth.

Imagine watching this from ringside and witnessing the state of two fighters after nearly 3 hours smashing each other, there are mixed reports but a few claim between them
They scored over THIRTY knockdowns!

http://www.xlfights.com/Home/Entries/2009/6/27_Questioning_The_Greatest_of_All_Fights_-_Sam_McVey_vs._Joe_Jeannette_April_17,_1909.html

Some original newspaper reports from over 100 years ago

http://www.joejennette.com/JeannettevsMacVey.html

Another report

http://boxingmemories.com/2011/03/17/the-10-greatest-heavyweight-fights-of-all-time-joe-jeannette-vs-sam-mcvey/