The Old Timers....who are your favorites?

[DaxxKahn]

Jack Johnson because not only was he so good in the ring but he was ahead of his time all around, he knew how to promote himself, how to draw a crowd......

Jim Corbett- he ushered in the gloved era as HW champion really, he was the first real boxer that did more then just toe the line as far as HWTs go...too bad he was a racist fuck but aside from that he had a lot of influence on boxing

John Sullivan- Boxings first hw superman

Jack Dempsey the non pareil- Won more fights on skill then brute force...

[Andre]

I never have seen him, but going by his record through out nearly all of the weights imaginable and reports of his fights saying he fought heavies from a much lower weight and that he came out unblemished after a solid career, I'd like to see Len Harveys style.

[Andre]

I never have seen him, but going by his record through out nearly all of the weights imaginable and reports of his fights saying he fought heavies from a much lower weight and that he came out unblemished after a solid career, I'd like to see Len Harveys style.

I would love to see Harry Creb the human windmill in action too.

[eleven]

mines would be tyson or hagler a just love watching the 2 of them fight

[Master]

Stanley Ketchel, the Julian Jackson of his era.
Jack Sharkey who fought two greats Joe Louis and Dempsey.

[Jody Lane]

mines would be tyson or hagler a just love watching the 2 of them fight

Umm, eleven. Did you happen to read the beginning of this section. I don't think Tyson or Hagler fought prior to 1930.

[eleven]

mines would be tyson or hagler a just love watching the 2 of them fight

Umm, eleven. Did you happen to read the beginning of this section. I don't think Tyson or Hagler fought prior to 1930.

lol shit sorry ppl must of missed that bit

[X]

Good post Lyle ...... its tough rating these guys as the sport was so very different then. The fighters fought under different rules, with less specialist training, very regularly indeed.

Your list is a good one ....... I have always been fascinated by Stanley Ketchell but there were some fabulously skilled guys around then .... Joe Jeanette, Harry Greb, Tom Cribb, Gunboat Smith, Harry Mendoza, James Figg and as you say, the incomparable Sam Langford.

[X]

If anyone thinks that its only in modern times that fighters have been touched by tradegy .... check out the life story of the great great Tom Molyneoux (apologies for the spelling)

[Master]

Battling Siki seems a character, more eccentric than Eubanks with a tragic death.

[El Kabong]

I for sure thought Andre would have mentioned Sydney's own Young Griffo (Albert Griffiths). He was quite a fellow indeed, he hated training, he loved drinking, and rumor has it he used to go into a bar much like his Heavyweight counterpart John L. Sullivan and challenge anyone in the house....only what Griffo did instead of beating the crap out of some poor working class guy and taking his money to buy booze like a common bully is he'd unfold his hankerchief, lay it on the floor and say "Any man what can knock me off this kerchief I'll buy a drink for, and anyone that can't buys a drink for me!"

[El Kabong]

Here's some film of Siki
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP69CPRwFjA

Sam Langford
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2jtZ31rOlQ

Stanley Ketchel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzAitWvgkNE

Joe Gans
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML5WLvrc0P8

Kid Chocolate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEh3IBo_RIg

Hope you guys can get past the fact that those aren't the greatest quality, but still interesting.

[Chris Nagel]

Thanks for that last post Lyle. I haven't seen that Kid Chocolate fight until you posted it. Beautiful.

Edit: By the way, I was just looking up how much punches Joe Gans and Battling Nelson threw a round and found this article from cox's corner: Busting The Modern Myth!

The rest of the figures are fascinating as well, such as Sam Langford having more KO's than Tyson and Foreman combined.

[Master]

One thing about reading the Ring was they respected old time fighters and re-told their legendary stories.