Top 12 boxers of the 1910's Decade

[ShoulderRoll]

Marciano got dropped by old men and blown up light heavyweights. I think Dempsey would have tore through him.

[McGoorty]

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Interesting list, McGoorty.

I would be lying if I told you my knowledge on this particular era exceeds what can be deemed as average, but I want to address—and further discuss—some of the statements in your initial post nevertheless.



What about Jack Dillon? <<< Personally I cannot see how Dillon could be in this list, if you have a case for him please state why you think he could be, he seems to be one of the top middleweights and light heavies but never rose to become THE man in either division... I read a couple of Les Darcy's letters he sent to his girlfriend and not to the press and did not get released for decades after his death, in those he regarded Dillon as rather crude and couldn't believe he was regarded highly in the states, I know that's his opinion but he did see Dillon fight, if these were public declarations I would discount that as trying to hype a fight but they were private opinions which tell us that he at least was in no doubt he would win easily... make of it what you will. I see the best four middleweights of the decade are Darcy, Mike Gibbons, klaus and Greb (for what he did in last 18 months of decade or so).



Too inactive?

Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't he have around one-hundred fights?

I don't see much action from Klaus from 1913 on, he seems to be off the radar after that. I must say I did consider Carpentier but the war kept him out for 4 years of his prime, I personally think he was a very great fighter.



As I mentioned earlier, I am not knowledgeable enough to have a strong opinion, but I'd probably side with Langford if pressed at gunpoint.

He sure has a case mate.



Even if it is possible that Darcy had cemented his status as one of the greatest of all-time, we have to remind ourselves that it's far from certain. There have been too many examples throughout history to say otherwise.

Here is where film comes in... he looks unbeatable almost.... Gibbons had skill, cunning, lots of good traits but Darcy has that stuff that tells me that he will walk right trough that and beat him up with speed and power, and by walk up I mean zip right in, he could cover long distance so fast and threw every sort of punch and had great combos... I FEEL that Darcy has too much for Mike but Gibbon's does enough to get a place in my 12... you are right though, it is not certain... I could be wrong I admit that.



This description makes it sound like he was a neolithic version of Ray Robinson.

That would be going way too far, stylistically at least they are nothing like each other except in attributes like power, speed and chin and stamina.... Darcy cannot however be anywhere near the know how that Robbo had because Les was so young although given 8 to 10 years more in the ring he may have had that cleverness but we cannot compare them on film as being alike. Darcy did I believe do enough to be considered as an ATG .

In the end, it's all about how proven you feel a fighter is. So if you are under the impression that Darcy did enough during his brief career to warrant a spot, that's perfectly fine.

Obviously I do regard he did enough, I mean when he destroyed McGoorty for instance that was THE PRIME McGoorty, the one who was knocking out all and sundry and it wasn't until Darcy fought him he began his decline.... Eddie like many others Darcy beat wanted to fight Darcy in America... why ?... did they think they could beat him ?.. well many a boxer has managed to deceive himself but I think the basic truth is, MONEY when Darcy got to America he was PAYDAY for anyone facing him, the big money fight... boxing is always about the money, fighters dont mind getting knocked out if it pays big, we still see it now. This money thing shows us that he was the hottest ticket in town and only the greats of their day can do that. To say he wasn't a big thing now is rather revisionist


Would it be preposterous to argue that Leonard hit his prime during the latter part of this decade?

Absolutely not, Leonard was sensational in that period and would continue to be so for half the 20's decade as well... I think a top 12 fighter list of all time MUST include the name Benny leonard, if not the lister has no idea what he is on about.

I think your post was very good, your questions were all very good questions and needed to be asked.

[McGoorty]

Footage would be fantastic, but I doubt that very few people have spent the time to really get to know these fighters beyond the usual skim.

If there were people who had done that, or were willingly to - then I think a very in-depth discussion could take place.

* I'm not criticizing anybody, just making the case for the ability to hold such arguments if there were the participants available.

The top names are not hard to find and yes many may have skimmed over these guys but I have come to know them pretty well and am sort of a Darcy expert although not the best there ever was on him, I met some old guys years ago who knew a lot more about him as they had seen him fight often and knew the family and many of his opponents. Darcy may have the most film apart from carpentier who is well represented on film... there is no footage of leonard, Greb, and half the other guys at all from this time period. Darcy and Carpentier have a lot in comparison obviously because they are national heroes and icons never to be forgotten at home so folk looked after the films... there is more of Darcy out there yet to get on youtube, I believe most of a fight with Dave Smith exists, we have just two minutes of that on youtube now but the film is of such brilliant quality you can see how good darcy was even though in that fight he didn't want to badly hurt Dave, he said himself that he knocked Dave out both times because Dave would never quit and would get near killed so Les put him to sleep to save the guy from severe beatings... those two were very very close mates and in one fight Darcy was enraged at the referee who forced les to stop the fight instead of the ref doing it... anyway that is getting off subject, fact is I hope the owners of these Darcy films will finally let us see the damn things.