Fighters who never got the respect they deserved

[Anomalocaris]

Washington state's Freddie Steele.
Sure, he's a Hall of Famer and the geeks do pay homage; but when invested fans rattle off their list of great Middleweight Champions he is seldom mentioned, which is a shame.
Indeed, Steele was arguably the greatest fighter-athlete ever.
Ray Arcel, whose opinion we should all respect, tabbed Steele as one of the best boxers he ever saw. And brothers & sisters, the trainer of Benny Leonard and Roberto Duran and many in-between saw em' all.

A very good shout indeed.

Freddie would give any middleweight who ever lived absolute murder.

[QueensburyRules]

Yeah they, the French, stripped Johnson of his title. Then staged a McVea-Langford title go. It meant little.

Then the French commission recognizing its total lack of actual power, despite its authority, reversed their decision and JJ was still champion.

The power of the lineal title at play. A commission can't deny it, even when they try.

The NYSAC tried the same crap with Dempsey 1922. Threatening to strip him of title recognition if he didn't sign to fight Wills in 90 days.

Kearns brushed off the threat and come the 90th day the NYSAC did nothing (except lose the possible revenue to Dempsey's next fight.)

Sanctioning commissions were as stupid and limited in power back then, as are the sanctioning bodies today.

Yeah, JJ did get stripped and it meant nothing.

- - But it did mean something as the French were putting on bukos more mixed racial matches than NY City. Naturally average American thinks he's better than a Frenchman any day without any measurable foundation to back him up.

[Willow The Wisp]

- - But it did mean something as the French were putting on bukos more mixed racial matches than NY City. Naturally average American thinks he's better than a Frenchman any day without any measurable foundation to back him up.

He was not speaking to the relationship between America and France in any sense...of course. And you know that.
He was speaking to the futility of assigning authority to a multitude of independent groups, who are historically noted for overstepping their boundaries.

It was a great point, so let's not muddle it.

[QueensburyRules]

He was not speaking to the relationship between America and France in any sense...of course. And you know that.
He was speaking to the futility of assigning authority to a multitude of independent groups, who are historically noted for overstepping their boundaries.

It was a great point, so let's not muddle it.

- - Like the Boston and NY authorities nixing the richest fight in history then in the Boston and NY Baseball Stadiums promoted by Harry Frazee who was a major operatic promoter then, ie Wills vs Dempsey.

After that, the $$$ dried up because of danger of putting up the expense of a fight only for the authorities to ban the mixed race bout.

[travestyny]

- - Like the Boston and NY authorities nixing the richest fight in history then in the Boston and NY Baseball Stadiums promoted by Harry Frazee who was a major operatic promoter then, ie Wills vs Dempsey.

After that, the $$$ dried up because of danger of putting up the expense of a fight only for the authorities to ban the mixed race bout.

Why do you keep bringing up Frazee as if this was the only offer out there for that fight?

Montreal, Chicago, NY after Muldoon. Plenty of promoters wanted it. NY Governor pretty much said, "Don't look at me. I'm down with it if the commission wants it." NY commissioners threatened to quit if anyone barred Wills from his shot. Montreal fight was to be put on by Rickard but Dempsey claimed he couldn't get ready in time. Chicago fight...Dempsey broke the contract and walked away. Money was waiting for him...a certified check....and he refused it.

[DeeMoney]

Washington state's Freddie Steele.
Sure, he's a Hall of Famer and the geeks do pay homage; but when invested fans rattle off their list of great Middleweight Champions he is seldom mentioned, which is a shame.
Indeed, Steele was arguably the greatest fighter-athlete ever.
Ray Arcel, whose opinion we should all respect, tabbed Steele as one of the best boxers he ever saw. And brothers & sisters, the trainer of Benny Leonard and Roberto Duran and many in-between saw em' all.

Great call, I was gonna say the same thing. He is basically forgotten by many today, though he's a HOFer so its hard to say he didn't get the respect he deserved. Also, when Boxingscene did its AT rankings many years ago they rated him the 5th ranked MW all times. I've always been a Freddie Steele fan.

[QueensburyRules]

Why do you keep bringing up Frazee as if this was the only offer out there for that fight?

Montreal, Chicago, NY after Muldoon. Plenty of promoters wanted it. NY Governor pretty much said, "Don't look at me. I'm down with it if the commission wants it." NY commissioners threatened to quit if anyone barred Wills from his shot. Montreal fight was to be put on by Rickard but Dempsey claimed he couldn't get ready in time. Chicago fight...Dempsey broke the contract and walked away. Money was waiting for him...a certified check....and he refused it.

- - Frazee was the first BIG Name, BIG$$$, Huge Venue offer for Wills/Dempsey.

Ad Nauseum suits U like a body suit.

[travestyny]

- - Frazee was the first BIG Name, BIG$$$, Huge Venue offer for Wills/Dempsey.

Ad Nauseum suits U like a body suit.

Was it the only offer?

Ad Nauseam suits U like a body suit.