Fighters who never got the respect they deserved

[Mr Mitts]

There is only so much room for superheroes. Those who are spectacular hog the most memory. Young, exempli gratia, was a truly great boxer who did not excite audiences. He excited me for his defensive prowess, but not the normal TV audience. The same can be said for Wilfred Benitez. Even when you lose to top shelf ATGs it does not help perception. Wilfred fought a squad of ATGs and many excellent fighters as well. His defensive skills were ethereal. Won his first pro title at age 17.

But the best pick here so far IMO is Servo. 99% of boxing fans never heard of him. He fits the title of the thread more than anyone else.

[Willow The Wisp]

Packey McFarland 70-0 with 50 KOs (1904-1915)

Got squeezed out of a title shot by circumstance and avoidance.

Joe Gans became ill and Battling Nelson refused to fight him.

If he could have defeated either he would be higher on everyone's important list.

P.S. In his last fight, two years after he quit fighting, he jumped from LW to MW and fought Mike Gibbons to a NWS Draw.

The same Gibbons who went 1-1 with Harry Greb.

Packey McFarland of course, is in the IBHOF. Although he never fought for a world title, McFarland made a lot of money. In April 1912, it was reported that he had earned $200,000 since becoming a professional boxer eight years earlier. He made, by the age of 24, $110,000 from boxing matches and $90,000 from theatrical appearances.
After retiring from boxing, McFarland became a very wealthy man in the contracting and brewing business and served for a time as director of the Joliet National Bank.
McFarland remained close to boxing. He tutored a young Barney Ross and was appointed to the Illinois Athletic Commission by Governor Henry Horner on January 27, 1933.

$200,000 in 1912 would equate to $6,461,000 today. Pretty good for a contender. Who says that big money for little guys is anything new?

[QueensburyRules]

Not true. JJohnson and Wills had an agreement to fight but the (New Jersey, I believe it was) commission wouldn't allow it.

- - There you go to the undeniable truth as to State and Local Boxing Commissions disallowing certain fights depending on the political environment.

See Jack Dempsey squared and then cubed...

[travestyny]

- - There you go to the undeniable truth as to State and Local Boxing Commissions disallowing certain fights depending on the political environment.

See Jack Dempsey squared and then cubed...

False. I never said it had anything to do with politics, because it didn't.

As for Dempsey, see NY (after Muldoon), Montreal, Chicago.

[Willie Pep 229]

- - Wills came around at the end of their careers much like Marciano vs Ez, Archie, and Walcott.

Ducked by JJohnson first.

Can't agree. Johnson had no obligation to fight Wills, while JJ was champion. Wills wasn't ready and there were three black fighters ahead of him.

You want to jump on JJ for ducking you use Jeanette, Langford, and McVea to make the point.

Wills belongs to the Dempsey saga.

Maybe he got robbed maybe he got lucky.

The side of the story no one wants to mention:

If Wills had fought and lost to Dempsey in 1922 he would today go almost unnoticed.

The way it was, he got to play "the uncrowned champion" in New York for five years.

Big money fights, celebrity appearances, and lots of ink.

If he fights Dempsey in '22 and loses, he makes less money overall.

[Willow The Wisp]

Can't agree. Johnson had no obligation to fight Wills, while JJ was champion. Wills wasn't ready and there were three black fighters ahead of him.

You want to jump on JJ for ducking you use Jeanette, Langford, and McVea to make the point.

Wills belongs to the Dempsey saga.

Maybe he got robbed maybe he got lucky.

The side of the story no one wants to mention:

If Wills had fought and lost to Dempsey in 1922 he would today go almost unnoticed.

The way it was, he got to play "the uncrowned champion" in New York for five years.

Big money fights, celebrity appearances, and lots of ink.

If he fights Dempsey in '22 and loses, he makes less money overall.

A valid point. Wills did very well for himself throughout his life.

[travestyny]

Can't agree. Johnson had no obligation to fight Wills, while JJ was champion. Wills wasn't ready and there were three black fighters ahead of him.

You want to jump on JJ for ducking you use Jeanette, Langford, and McVea to make the point.

Wills belongs to the Dempsey saga.

Maybe he got robbed maybe he got lucky.

The side of the story no one wants to mention:

If Wills had fought and lost to Dempsey in 1922 he would today go almost unnoticed.

The way it was, he got to play "the uncrowned champion" in New York for five years.

Big money fights, celebrity appearances, and lots of ink.

If he fights Dempsey in '22 and loses, he makes less money overall.

This is silly. And what happens if Wills wins...? What does that do to his legacy? What does it do to Dempsey's legacy?
That's why you take the match.


By the way, we've already known that JJ approved of fights with Jeannette, Langford, and McVea while champion....all taken away through no fault of his own.

[Willow The Wisp]

Getting this thread back on track;

I made a thread about Leonard Morrow, the "California Kid" a few years back. He was one of those super hot/super cold fighters (Bob Satterfield, Jimmy Young).
He deserves another mention.
A pedestrian 30-8-1 mark....which included blowing away a Prime Archie Moore in 1 round, and wins over Murderers' Row member Bert Lytell, Jimmy Bivins, Arturo Godoy, Willie Bean.

If I could go back in time to manage him properly (!!!), I might have a HOFer on my resume.

[QueensburyRules]

This is silly. And what happens if Wills wins...? What does that do to his legacy? What does it do to Dempsey's legacy?
That's why you take the match.


By the way, we've already known that JJ approved of fights with Jeannette, Langford, and McVea while champion....all taken away through no fault of his own.

- - Only time he could fight them in defense of his title was when he was luxuriating in Paris while the French Authorities were trying to make these fights, hence they stripped him and had Langford and Jeannete fight for the title in an epic stylistic matchup won by Sam.

[billeau2]

- - Only time he could fight them in defense of his title was when he was luxuriating in Paris while the French Authorities were trying to make these fights, hence they stripped him and had Langford and Jeannete fight for the title in an epic stylistic matchup won by Sam.

And pray tell what is more luxuriating to a fighter than a punch in the face? Especially a nice French one with butter Herbs de Provance?