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Some fighters there is enough film of to make some kind of conclusion. Other fighters there is too little or nothing to make a conclusion.
Any modern fighter we can see and judge fairly according to our own norms. But certain fighters from the past have only legend supporting them, and the entries in their record.
We can see how Jefferies fought, and Fitz, and even Corbett. Whether or not there is enough film record to make a decent determination, might become debatable with oldsters like these.
We can make a fair determination of Willie Pep, but can the same be said of Benny Leonard, for instance?
Only a few jerky minutes of Sam Langford exist.
Dempsey and Tunney, on the other hand, are complete enough.
How about Ketchel? There must be about half an hour of him.
No one will ever know how Joe Gans or Barbados Walcott looked in the ring. We might gain some hints in those they influenced.
It is a curse of history that one of boxing's best who lived and fought during the early golden age of Hollywood, left behind no film record of himself in action. Harry Greb is by far the most notable pug never captured in action, who could have been. But there are plenty of others.
A bout between Greb and Mickey Walker was actually filmed and then disappeared. Find that in film in decent condition, boys, and you will be millionaires!
Any modern fighter we can see and judge fairly according to our own norms. But certain fighters from the past have only legend supporting them, and the entries in their record.
We can see how Jefferies fought, and Fitz, and even Corbett. Whether or not there is enough film record to make a decent determination, might become debatable with oldsters like these.
We can make a fair determination of Willie Pep, but can the same be said of Benny Leonard, for instance?
Only a few jerky minutes of Sam Langford exist.
Dempsey and Tunney, on the other hand, are complete enough.
How about Ketchel? There must be about half an hour of him.
No one will ever know how Joe Gans or Barbados Walcott looked in the ring. We might gain some hints in those they influenced.
It is a curse of history that one of boxing's best who lived and fought during the early golden age of Hollywood, left behind no film record of himself in action. Harry Greb is by far the most notable pug never captured in action, who could have been. But there are plenty of others.
A bout between Greb and Mickey Walker was actually filmed and then disappeared. Find that in film in decent condition, boys, and you will be millionaires!
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