Joe Gans, The Old Master - Was He The Greatest of Them All? By Monte Cox

[McGoorty]

I took the DOMINATION route: Copy and paste :cool9:

Poet

I wish I knew how to do that,... I could scan the whole Darcy Book onto my thread, pictures and all...... All that typing, and hardly any replies..... sad.

[JAB5239]

It's blokes like Gans that cement my views on the superiority of the old-timers.... It's hands down, folks, nothing beats that type of experience. Fighting Gans would be bad for 99% of the great past fighters,.... Gans would be 5 steps ahead of you the whole time you were there.

I disagree with this. Gans is great because he beat so many other top fighters in a stacked era and he did so having to hold back much of the time. But their are great fighters in every era that would be highly competitive if not get the win. It's my opinion greatness comes from beating everyone there is to beat and leaving no stone unturned. And While I think Gans beats many, even most past champions, I don't think it's wise to sell them all short. Just my opinion.

[BattlingNelson]

This was quite simply an outstanding read!

Thanks a lot for posting.

[rorymac]

I took the DOMINATION route: Copy and paste :cool9:

Poet

Great article, I have Gans in my top 10 of all time.

[SBleeder]

I disagree with this. Gans is great because he beat so many other top fighters in a stacked era and he did so having to hold back much of the time. But their are great fighters in every era that would be highly competitive if not get the win. It's my opinion greatness comes from beating everyone there is to beat and leaving no stone unturned. And While I think Gans beats many, even most past champions, I don't think it's wise to sell them all short. Just my opinion.

I'd love to see Gans vs:
Whitaker
B. Leonard
Armstrong
And expecially Duran

[rorymac]

I'd love to see Gans vs:
Whitaker
B. Leonard
Armstrong
And expecially Duran

+ Ike Williams

[McGoorty]

I disagree with this. Gans is great because he beat so many other top fighters in a stacked era and he did so having to hold back much of the time. But their are great fighters in every era that would be highly competitive if not get the win. It's my opinion greatness comes from beating everyone there is to beat and leaving no stone unturned. And While I think Gans beats many, even most past champions, I don't think it's wise to sell them all short. Just my opinion.

But that's what I meant by "experience",... not so much the amount of fights, I was referring to the greatness of opposition too, fighters today just can't get that experience. I have had Gans as my #2 LW for a long time, but I understand how different styles can change things dramatically..... 99% of all LW's ,... I don't mean 99% of all LW ATG'S..... there's a difference........... As I say all the time,.. this is the division with the most depth of brilliant fighters in it (my opinion, not necessarily the "OFFICIAL" Bert Sugar opinion).... No LW who ever lived could fight the top 100 LW's of all time and come out with anything near an undefeated record.............. hmmm, come to think of it, I reckon that's the case with all the linear divisions.

[kendom]

Fantastic article Poet, I remember reading and thinking "How can one fighter be so perfect" I considered rating Gans the greatest because of this article but Ray Robinson's achievements stand too strong.

[BattlingNelson]

Fantastic article Poet, I remember reading and thinking "How can one fighter be so perfect" I considered rating Gans the greatest because of this article but Ray Robinson's achievements stand too strong.

I haven't got an exact p4p list, but this article is an outstanding argument for rating Gans very high indeed.

[BattlingNelson]

I reckon this fine thread deserves a bump at this time.