A Time Machine - Which Five Fights and Why?

[keithmoonhangover]

So, I've invented a time machine that only goes back to boxing matches. You can go back to any five fights, which ones and why?

Holmes vs Norton
Larry Holmes was the reason I became a boxing fan, so it'd be great to go back and see him in this one, a classic fight.

Clay vs Cooper
Two reasons. The first, I get to see that left hook, keep an on Angie inbetween rounds and see the man float like a butterfly and sting like a bee. Secondly, I would get to see my late father, who managed to blag a free ticket in the fourth row.

Robinson vs Gavilan
Robinson close to his best against an opponent that ran him close. What a night.

Dempsey vs Firpo
For my money, it's the best first round in boxing history. It's a toss up between this and the Willard fight as to which one I'd rather see, but this wins. I'd sit behind the press guys and make sure I had my camera with me.

Ketchel vs Papke IV
Stanley Ketchel is my favourite boxer and I see him exact his revenge on Papke after the infamous hand shake fight. Someone said that Stanley, "couldn't get enough blood" and I think I'd see the most vicious Ketchel to step in the ring. Nat Fleischer and Charley Rose both ranked Ketchel as the #1 All-Time Middleweight, over Robinson and Greb. I'd like to see for myself.

[MEISINGER]

any greb fights as long as i have video equip.
i would make a mint selling the footage

[raylawpc]

1. James J. Jeffries v. Tom Sharkey, November 3, 1899, Coney Island, NY: Knowledgable fans who saw this fight and lived into the 1930s and 1940s said this was the greatest heavyweight title fight they'd ever seen. 'Nuff said.

2. Jack Johnson v. Marvin Hart, March 28, 1905, Woodward Pavilion, San Francisco: Johnson always claimed he was robbed, but contemporary ringside accounts indicate the fight was close. I'd like to see for myself if Marvin outhustled Johnson or Jack was the victim of racism.

3. Terry McGovern v. Joe Gans, December 13, 1900, Tattersall's, Chicago: Was the fight fixed? I'd like to see it live at ringside and not have to judge from a crappy old piece of film.

4. Tommy Ryan v. Mysterious Billy Smith, May 27, 1895, Coney Island, NY: I've always been interested in Ryan, and this was his most exciting fight.

5. John L. Sullivan v. Jake Kilrain, July 8, 1889, near Richburg, MS: The last bareknuckle championship fight and a chance to see an in-shape John L.

[raylawpc]

* Kent Green and his 'Knockout' over Cassius Clay

* Mary Marshall floors and Decisions Sonny Liston

* Max Schmeling destroys an unbeatable Joe Louis

* Ron Stander weathers everything Earnie Shavers could unload, and comes back to score a Knockout

* Larry Holmes with one arm, defeats Ken Norton

That's six. The jaw breaking and knocking down by Marshall happened in different fights. Anyway, I am assuming you mean "Marty Marshall." I don't believe any woman named "Mary Marshall" did those things to Sonny.

[HomicideHenry]

John L. Sullivan vs. Jake Kilrain- The last bare knuckle fight for the lineal heavyweight championship

Jess Willard vs. Jack Johnson- The end of the 'Great White Hope' era

Jack Dempsey vs. Jess Willard- The most brutal bout in heavyweight history

Dan Donnelly vs. George Cooper- Over 20,000 people showed up to Belcher's Hollow to witness this match take place in the 1700's and the roar of the crowd could be heard from ten miles away, it was indeed a great day for the Irish

Jim Jefferies vs. Bob Fitzsimmons II- The brutality of this fight was incredible, and would have been amazing to have seen Jefferies absorb these shots and then kayo the amazing Fitzsimmons with one single bear swipe

Honorable Mention- Dempsey vs. Flynn, was it or was it not a tank job?

[raylawpc]

Yes it was Mary Marshall,,,,,,

After Sonny defeated her husband Marty Marshall in their 3rd-Bout,,,,

Mary caught Sonny in the parking lot and wanted to pay Sonny back for Knocking Out her Husband 'Marty'.

Mary knocked Sonny down with an 'Anchor Punch', which was taught to her by 'Steppin Fetchit', and then she
went on to lump up Sonny, who quit, claiming an injured left shoulder and torn bicep muscle.

True Story,,,,,,,,,

Nice try, but a lady named Ernestine was Marty's wife, not a lady named Mary . . . and Sonny won the third fight by decision . . .

[gilgamesh]

I would like to see some of the Sam Langford vs Harry Wills or Langford vs Sam McVea fights in person.

Harry Greb vs Gene Tunney or Mickey Walker

[The Great John L]

Wolgast-Rivers, to see the double knockout Wolgast win firsthand.
Wolgast-Nelson, because who wouldn't want to see a 40 round brutal slugfest?
Greb-Walker. Do I have to explain?
Sullivan-Flood, so that I could see John L at maybe his best.
Choynski-Corbett, the 27 rd barge fight so that I could see the two greats in a raw setting.

[yancey]

1. James J. Jeffries v. Tom Sharkey, November 3, 1899, Coney Island, NY: Knowledgable fans who saw this fight and lived into the 1930s and 1940s said this was the greatest heavyweight title fight they'd ever seen. 'Nuff said.

2. Jack Johnson v. Marvin Hart, March 28, 1905, Woodward Pavilion, San Francisco: Johnson always claimed he was robbed, but contemporary ringside accounts indicate the fight was close. I'd like to see for myself if Marvin outhustled Johnson or Jack was the victim of racism.

3. Terry McGovern v. Joe Gans, December 13, 1900, Tattersall's, Chicago: Was the fight fixed? I'd like to see it live at ringside and not have to judge from a crappy old piece of film.

4. Tommy Ryan v. Mysterious Billy Smith, May 27, 1895, Coney Island, NY: I've always been interested in Ryan, and this was his most exciting fight.

5. John L. Sullivan v. Jake Kilrain, July 8, 1889, near Richburg, MS: The last bareknuckle championship fight and a chance to see an in-shape John L.

#5 has got me intrigued even though I know practically nothing about boxing from those days.

I live less than 100 miles from where Richburg would have been and plan to go there pretty soon to see if I can find the marker.

Does anybody have "Ringside at Richburg: America's Last Heavyweight Bare-Knuckle Championship" by a fellow named Andrew English?

Does anyone know how long that fight lasted in terms of time?

It is my understanding that at least some of the rounds lasted as long as 20 minutes and many as short as 15 seconds.

[dempseyfire]

All 5 would have to be fights I can't see on film:

1) Joe Jeannette-Sam McVey III: Over 2 hours of warfare, at least 10 knockdowns, two ATGs, nuff' said.

2) Harry Wills-Sam Langford II: Also two ATGs, multiple KDs, big KO at the end.

3) Stanley Ketchel-Joe Thomas I: Long regarded by old timers as perhaps the greatest slugfest ever. All action for over 30 rounds.

4) Harry Greb-Mickey Walker: Two of the best ever in a competitive fight.

5) Jack Johnson-Denver Ed Martin I: This is my boxing purists pick. Would have loved to see Johnson at his peak, and from the training footage I've seen of Martin and what I've read, he was a very skilled and shifty boxer himself. No knockout, but Johnson did score multiple KDs in the 11th.

Honorable mention: Corbett-Sullivan, Sharkey-Godfrey, Ray-Walcott, Robinson-Gavilan

[raylawpc]

1. James J. Jeffries v. Tom Sharkey, November 3, 1899, Coney Island, NY: Knowledgable fans who saw this fight and lived into the 1930s and 1940s said this was the greatest heavyweight title fight they'd ever seen. 'Nuff said.

2. Jack Johnson v. Marvin Hart, March 28, 1905, Woodward Pavilion, San Francisco: Johnson always claimed he was robbed, but contemporary ringside accounts indicate the fight was close. I'd like to see for myself if Marvin outhustled Johnson or Jack was the victim of racism.

3. Terry McGovern v. Joe Gans, December 13, 1900, Tattersall's, Chicago: Was the fight fixed? I'd like to see it live at ringside and not have to judge from a crappy old piece of film.

4. Tommy Ryan v. Mysterious Billy Smith, May 27, 1895, Coney Island, NY: I've always been interested in Ryan, and this was his most exciting fight.

5. John L. Sullivan v. Jake Kilrain, July 8, 1889, near Richburg, MS: The last bareknuckle championship fight and a chance to see an in-shape John L.

#5 has got me intrigued even though I know practically nothing about boxing from those days.

I live less than 100 miles from where Richburg would have been and plan to go there pretty soon to see if I can find the marker.

Does anybody have "Ringside at Richburg: America's Last Heavyweight Bare-Knuckle Championship" by a fellow named Andrew English?

Does anyone know how long that fight lasted in terms of time?

It is my understanding that at least some of the rounds lasted as long as 20 minutes and many as short as 15 seconds.

It lasted about 2 hours and 16 minutes, as I recall. There is a highway marker on U.S. Highway 11, south of Hattiesburg. Nobody is sure exactly where the fight took place, although the general location is pretty well known.

[raylawpc]

Yancey: I found this direction to a marker of the supposed location for the fight:

Directions from Hwy 49S in Hattiesburg are:
Take the Purvis exit onto Broadway Dr/Hwy 11 and travel South aprox 1 mile. Turn right on Richburg Road and travel aprox 2 miles. The marker stands at the corner of Richburg Road & Sullivan-Kilrain Road in front of the water tower.

[yancey]

Yancey: I found this direction to a marker of the supposed location for the fight:

Directions from Hwy 49S in Hattiesburg are:
Take the Purvis exit onto Broadway Dr/Hwy 11 and travel South aprox 1 mile. Turn right on Richburg Road and travel aprox 2 miles. The marker stands at the corner of Richburg Road & Sullivan-Kilrain Road in front of the water tower.

Thanks for the directions.

Hope to go there pretty soon and take a photo of the marker.

Also going to email the Hattiesburg American newspaper to find out if they have any stories about the fight in their archives.

[raylawpc]

There apparently are two markers. One is on US Highway 11, and the other is at the location above.

[Clint Magnum]

1. Gene Tunney v Harry Greb

2. Jim Jeffries v Jack Johnson

3. Any of the Harry Wills v Sam Langford/McVey bouts

4. Ali v Frazier 1

5. Hearns v Hagler