Best heavyweights of the 1930s

[Boilermaker]

By popular demand, this has been placed in no particular order. Results have been taken straight off boxrec, so feel free to correct or add any missing fighters. Anyone want to give a decade ranking based mostly on actual results in the decade.


Louis – W Galento, Carnera, Baer, Braddock, and others D Schmelling
Schmelling - Uzcuden, Risko, Stribling, Walker and Others D Louis, Sharkey, L Baer
Baer – W Schmelling, Risko, Heeney, Schaaf, Carnera L Nova, Farr, Davies, Louis, Braddock
Braddock – W Baer, Farr, Lasky, Lewis L Louis and many others
Farr – W Loughran, Baer, Neussal, Gains L Louis, Braddock, baer, nova & Others D Burman
Nova – W Baer, Farr, Ramage, Simon D Pastor, L Galento, Rosenbloom
Rosenbloom W Nova, Toles D Pastor, Lewis and others L Stribling, Lovell, Fox, Walker
Lovell W Rosenbloom, Campolo, Burman, Lunt, L Godoy
Godoy – W Loughran, Firpo, Galento L Lovell, Campolo, Edgren, Toles
Toles – W Godoy, D Pastor L Trammel, Rosenbloom and others
Trammell – W Toles D Blunt L Fox Perroni and Others
Fox – W Trammell, Walcott D Bettina L Gainer
Gainer – W Galento D Fox L Lewis, Blunt & others
Walcott – W Ray, Sheppard L Ketchell, Fox, Ettore and others
Pastor – W Ketchell, Impellitere, Ramage, Toles L Louis, Dorazio, Mann, Dudas
Loughran – W Renault, Campolo, Uzcuden, Levinsky, Sharkey, Impellitere, Farr D Godoy & others L Farr, Risko, Carnera, Neusal, Poreda, Hamas, Schaaf
Sharkey – W Scott D Schmelling, Walker, Carnera, Levinsky L Louis, Shucco
Walker – W Risko, Levinsky Uzcuden, Wright L Schmelling, Brouillard, Rosenbloom & others
Uzcuden – W Baer L Louis, Schmelling, Levinsky, Baer, Risko, Carnera, Schaaf, Loughran
Carnera – W Wright, Uzcuden,Levinsky, Schaaf, Impellitere, Campolo, Neusel L Louis, Sharkey, Gains, Poreda & Others
Gains – W Scott, Renault, Carnera L Farr, Neusel & others
Godfrey – W Fox, Campolo D Wright L Carnera & others
Schaaf – W Loughran, Braddock, Galento D Baer, Poreda L Hunt, Carnera
Ramage – W Rosenbloom, Hunt, Christner, D Levinsky L Louis, Nova, Godoy, Hamas, Lasky
Wright – W Fox, Lawson D Godfrey L Carnera, Walker, Baer & others
Stribling – W Rosenbloom, Griffiths, Christner , Renault D Carnera L Schmelling, Schaaf, Charles
Renault - W Poreda, Hunt L Gains, Loughran & others
Hamas – W Lasky D Schmelling L Loughran, Ramage
Lasky – W Fox, Ramage, Levinsky L Braddock, Hamas, Carnera, Retzlaff & Others
Lewis – W Risko, Burman, Ray, Adamick, Gainer D Ettore L Braddock, Rosenbloom, & Others
Sharkey – W Scott D Schmelling, Carnera, L Louis, Shucco, Levinsky,
Shucco – W Braddock, Sharkey, Gainer, Ramage, Griffiths, Brouillard D Rosenbloom, Winston L Pastor, Lewis, & others
Neusal – Gains, levinsky, Loughran, Poreda, Impellitere L Farr, Carnera, Schmelling & Others

[SolomonDeedes]

Isn't this the best heavyweights of the 30s?

[Goodnight, Irene]

By popular demand, this has been placed in no particular order. Results have been taken straight off boxrec, so feel free to correct or add any missing fighters. Anyone want to give a decade ranking based mostly on actual results in the decade.


Louis – W Galento, Carnera, Baer, Braddock, and others D Schmelling
Schmelling - Uzcuden, Risko, Stribling, Walker and Others D Louis, Sharkey, L Baer
Baer – W Schmelling, Risko, Heeney, Schaaf, Carnera L Nova, Farr, Davies, Louis, Braddock
Braddock – W Baer, Farr, Lasky, Lewis L Louis and many others
Farr – W Loughran, Baer, Neussal, Gains L Louis, Braddock, baer, nova & Others D Burman
Nova – W Baer, Farr, Ramage, Simon D Pastor, L Galento, Rosenbloom
Rosenbloom W Nova, Toles D Pastor, Lewis and others L Stribling, Lovell, Fox, Walker
Lovell W Rosenbloom, Campolo, Burman, Lunt, L Godoy
Godoy – W Loughran, Firpo, Galento L Lovell, Campolo, Edgren, Toles
Toles – W Godoy, D Pastor L Trammel, Rosenbloom and others
Trammell – W Toles D Blunt L Fox Perroni and Others
Fox – W Trammell, Walcott D Bettina L Gainer
Gainer – W Galento D Fox L Lewis, Blunt & others
Walcott – W Ray, Sheppard L Ketchell, Fox, Ettore and others
Pastor – W Ketchell, Impellitere, Ramage, Toles L Louis, Dorazio, Mann, Dudas
Loughran – W Renault, Campolo, Uzcuden, Levinsky, Sharkey, Impellitere, Farr D Godoy & others L Farr, Risko, Carnera, Neusal, Poreda, Hamas, Schaaf
Sharkey – W Scott D Schmelling, Walker, Carnera, Levinsky L Louis, Shucco
Walker – W Risko, Levinsky Uzcuden, Wright L Schmelling, Brouillard, Rosenbloom & others
Uzcuden – W Baer L Louis, Schmelling, Levinsky, Baer, Risko, Carnera, Schaaf, Loughran
Carnera – W Wright, Uzcuden,Levinsky, Schaaf, Impellitere, Campolo, Neusel L Louis, Sharkey, Gains, Poreda & Others
Gains – W Scott, Renault, Carnera L Farr, Neusel & others
Godfrey – W Fox, Campolo D Wright L Carnera & others
Schaaf – W Loughran, Braddock, Galento D Baer, Poreda L Hunt, Carnera
Ramage – W Rosenbloom, Hunt, Christner, D Levinsky L Louis, Nova, Godoy, Hamas, Lasky
Wright – W Fox, Lawson D Godfrey L Carnera, Walker, Baer & others
Stribling – W Rosenbloom, Griffiths, Christner , Renault D Carnera L Schmelling, Schaaf, Charles
Renault - W Poreda, Hunt L Gains, Loughran & others
Hamas – W Lasky D Schmelling L Loughran, Ramage
Lasky – W Fox, Ramage, Levinsky L Braddock, Hamas, Carnera, Retzlaff & Others
Lewis – W Risko, Burman, Ray, Adamick, Gainer D Ettore L Braddock, Rosenbloom, & Others
Sharkey – W Scott D Schmelling, Carnera, L Louis, Shucco, Levinsky,
Shucco – W Braddock, Sharkey, Gainer, Ramage, Griffiths, Brouillard D Rosenbloom, Winston L Pastor, Lewis, & others
Neusal – Gains, levinsky, Loughran, Poreda, Impellitere L Farr, Carnera, Schmelling & Others

[kaiserbill]

Ben Foord maybe?

Beat Tommy Loughran, Jack Petersen, Jack London, and Larry Gains twice.

Went the full 15 rounds with Tommy Farr and Walter Neusel, the full 12 rounds with Schmeling, 9 rounds with a prime-ish 28 year old Max Baer, amongst others.

Maybe not heavyweight champion of the world material, but fought well against many of the top heavyweights of the era, even though he was basically self-schooled.
Was South African, British, and British Commonwealth Empire heavyweight champion. (when that actually meant something)

Died in controversial circumstances at the age of 29, but his best days were behind him probably at that stage.

[Cap]

Larry Gains and Jack Renault really peaked in the 1920s. Maxie Rosenbloom was a light heavy. Why not just check Mike Paul's All Time Heavyweights list?

Cap

[The Great John L]

Larry Gains and Jack Renault really peaked in the 1920s. Maxie Rosenbloom was a light heavy. Why not just check Mike Paul's All Time Heavyweights list?

Cap

Cap, do you have a link to Mike's ratings?

[Cap]

I heard one of the IBRO members has the whole works.

Cap

[Boilermaker]

Larry Gains and Jack Renault really peaked in the 1920s. Maxie Rosenbloom was a light heavy. Why not just check Mike Paul's All Time Heavyweights list?

Cap

I havent got to the 20s yet. This thread is using only form from the 1930s.

[Ambling Alp]

This is probably the hardest decade to rate heavyweights. There are so many guys that are close.
A couple of results worth mentioning with Schmeling:
He went 1-1 against Steve Hamas. It was mentioned in regard to Hamas.

[Boilermaker]

[quote="Boilermaker"]By popular demand, this has been placed in no particular order. Results have been taken straight off boxrec, so feel free to correct or add any missing fighters. Anyone want to give a decade ranking based mostly on actual results in the decade.


Louis – W Galento, Carnera, Baer, Braddock, and others D Schmelling
Schmelling - Uzcuden, Risko, Stribling, Walker and Others D Louis, Sharkey, L Baer
Baer – W Schmelling, Risko, Heeney, Schaaf, Carnera L Nova, Farr, Davies, Louis, Braddock
Braddock – W Baer, Farr, Lasky, Lewis L Louis and many others
Farr – W Loughran, Baer, Neussal, Gains L Louis, Braddock, baer, nova & Others D Burman
Nova – W Baer, Farr, Ramage, Simon D Pastor, L Galento, Rosenbloom
Rosenbloom W Nova, Toles D Pastor, Lewis and others L Stribling, Lovell, Fox, Walker
Lovell W Rosenbloom, Campolo, Burman, Lunt, L Godoy
Godoy – W Loughran, Firpo, Galento L Lovell, Campolo, Edgren, Toles
Toles – W Godoy, D Pastor L Trammel, Rosenbloom and others
Trammell – W Toles D Blunt L Fox Perroni and Others
Fox – W Trammell, Walcott D Bettina L Gainer
Gainer – W Galento D Fox L Lewis, Blunt & others
Walcott – W Ray, Sheppard L Ketchell, Fox, Ettore and others
Pastor – W Ketchell, Impellitere, Ramage, Toles L Louis, Dorazio, Mann, Dudas
Loughran – W Renault, Campolo, Uzcuden, Levinsky, Sharkey, Impellitere, Farr D Godoy & others L Farr, Risko, Carnera, Neusal, Poreda, Hamas, Schaaf
Sharkey – W Scott D Schmelling, Walker, Carnera, Levinsky L Louis, Shucco
Walker – W Risko, Levinsky Uzcuden, Wright L Schmelling, Brouillard, Rosenbloom & others
Uzcuden – W Baer L Louis, Schmelling, Levinsky, Baer, Risko, Carnera, Schaaf, Loughran
Carnera – W Wright, Uzcuden,Levinsky, Schaaf, Impellitere, Campolo, Neusel L Louis, Sharkey, Gains, Poreda & Others
Gains – W Scott, Renault, Carnera L Farr, Neusel & others
Godfrey – W Fox, Campolo D Wright L Carnera & others
Schaaf – W Loughran, Braddock, Galento D Baer, Poreda L Hunt, Carnera
Ramage – W Rosenbloom, Hunt, Christner, D Levinsky L Louis, Nova, Godoy, Hamas, Lasky
Wright – W Fox, Lawson D Godfrey L Carnera, Walker, Baer & others
Stribling – W Rosenbloom, Griffiths, Christner , Renault D Carnera L Schmelling, Schaaf, Charles
Renault - W Poreda, Hunt L Gains, Loughran & others
Hamas – W Lasky D Schmelling L Loughran, Ramage
Lasky – W Fox, Ramage, Levinsky L Braddock, Hamas, Carnera, Retzlaff & Others
Lewis – W Risko, Burman, Ray, Adamick, Gainer D Ettore L Braddock, Rosenbloom, & Others
Sharkey – W Scott D Schmelling, Carnera, L Louis, Shucco, Levinsky,
Shucco – W Braddock, Sharkey, Gainer, Ramage, Griffiths, Brouillard D Rosenbloom, Winston L Pastor, Lewis, & others
Neusal – Gains, levinsky, Loughran, Poreda, Impellitere L Farr, Carnera, Schmelling & Others
Ben Foord -W Tommy Loughran, Jack London, and Larry Gains D Peterson & Others L Neusel, Farr, Baer, Schmelling and others
Jose Carratolli - W Loughran D McCorkindale, Alfara L Godoy, Storbeck


I have included Ben Foord. Foord had a huge 1936 with the Loughran win the peak. But as you can see, when he stepped it up the likes of Farr, Neusal, Baer and Schmelling were too good, and he ended up not being able to take the step up. This is good to show how his failure to beat the top fighters must see him below this tier of fighters. No one has attempted to rank based on the above lists yet, and i will do so in time, but i think Ben is going to be towards the bottom end of the list because of his losses to those guys (though the Tommy win may improve his stature). There are quite a few guys who can be considered for places below the top 10. when i did these earlier lists, i pretty much considered only guys who might be on the top 10. Otherwise, particularly in the talent loaded eras, you would end up with 1000 fighters being looked at.

I probably wont put these in any order until after I do one or two of the earlier decades, but that will depend on what i feel like doing. I havent even started the 20s yet

[Kaber]

Jose Carattoli, the greatest Iberoamerican Light Heavyweight of all times, was Argentinian Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight champion.
He drew and beat Tommy Loughran, drew Don McCorkindale, ko'ed Isidoro Gastanaga

[Boilermaker]

Very good call there. His inclusion has the potential to pull a Marvis Frazier style hate job, on this forum, but he did have a win over Laughton, which is nothing to laugh off, although Loughran was probably in a downward slide, and Godoy did beat him. But obviously he was still a good fighter, who will probably side somewhere below Godoy but not too far from Laughran.

I read on boxrec, that Loughran seems unlucky in the draw. Was the first encounter a similar situation, and is this a fair summary of their fights? Or did Jose deserve the nod over Loughran in their series?

[Ambling Alp]

Thought I would give a stab at a top 10 for this decade:

1. Louis
2. Schmeling
3. Baer
4. Sharkey
5. Carnera
6. Braddock
7. Schaaf
8. Loughran
9. Farr
10. Nova

Very difficult decade to rate. So many fairly even guys who had their ups and downs.

[pound per pound]

Thought I would give a stab at a top 10 for this decade:

1. Louis
2. Schmeling
3. Baer
4. Sharkey
5. Carnera
6. Braddock
7. Schaaf
8. Loughran
9. Farr
10. Nova

Very difficult decade to rate. So many fairly even guys who had their ups and downs.

This is a hard timeline to rate. The talent level was low. The heavyweight championship seemed like a game of musical chairs until Joe Louis came around. There were too many fouls, and fixes.

The top five is easy.

Louis
Schmeling
Baer
Carnera
Sharkey

After this it becomes very debatable. I think Godoy who looks like he did enough to earn a draw vs. Joe Louis in the first match belongs somehwere in the bottom half of the top ten.

Quick observation. The 1930's had an unusual amount of international talent in the top ten. It has very few " A list " consistent fighters, and very few African American fighters in the top ten. Somewhat similar to 2001-2010..

[Ambling Alp]

I agree that the talent level was not that great, but it was not bad. You had a lot of decent fighters. I think in a way it was an interesting era because just about every top fighter was willing to fight other top fighters. Look at how many of the top guys fought each other. There may never have been an era where they were so willing to do that.
Could have been a little better era had the Sharkey-Schmeling fights not been so controversial.

As for Godoy, his first fight with Louis was in 1940, so technically it does not count for this list.

[Cap]

Based on who beat whom, these were the top ten at the end of 1930:

1.YOUNG STRIBLING
2.JACK SHARKEY
3.MAX SCHMELING
4.MICKEY WALKER
5.TOMMY LOUGHRAN
6.TUFFY GRIFFITH
7.PRIMO CARNERA
8.ERNIE SCHAAF
9.GEORGE GODFREY
10.ART LASKY

Cap

[Cap]

Based on who beat whom, these were the top ten at the end of 1931:

1.MAX SCHMELING
2.JACK SHARKEY
3.ERNIE SCHAAF
4.MICKEY WALKER
5.PRIMO CARNERA
6.YOUNG STRIBLING
7.LARRY GAINS
8.KING LEVINSKY
9.PAULINO UZCUDUN
10.MAX BAER

Cap

[Cap]

Based on who beat whom, these were the top ten at the end of 1932:

1.MAX SCHMELING
2.JACK SHARKEY
3.MAX BAER
4.MICKEY WALKER
5.PRIMO CARNERA
6.YOUNG STRIBLING
7.KAYO KETCHELL
8.ERNIE SCHAAF
9.STANLEY POREDA
10.MAXIE ROSENBLOOM

Cap

[Cap]

Based on who beat whom these were the top ten heavies at the end of 1933:


1.MAX BAER
2.PRIMO CARNERA
3.MAX SCHMELING
4.KING LEVINSKY
5.PIERRE CHARLES
6.PAULINO UZCUDUN
7.TONY SHUCCO
8.ART LASKY
9.DON MCCORKINDALE
10.LEN HARVEY

Cap

[Cap]

Based on who beat whom these were the top ten heavies at the end of 1934:

1.MAX BAER
2.PRIMO CARNERA
3.MAX SCHMELING
4.JACK PETERSEN
5.STEVE HAMAS
6.JOE LOUIS
7.ART LASKY
8.PIERRE CHARLES
9.PAULINO UZCUDUN
10.OBIE WALKER

Cap

[Cap]

Based on who beat whom these were the top ten heavies at the end of 1934:

1.JOE LOUIS
2.MAX SCHMELING
3.JAMES J BRADDOCK
4.PRIMO CARNERA
5.MAX BAER
6.STEVE HAMAS
7.LORENZO PACK
8.WALTER NEUSEL
9.PAULINO UZCUDUN
10.OBIE WALKER

Cap