Gene Fullmer: Is He the Last Great All-time White American Boxer?

[Caractacus]

[elmersalsa]

Indeed, Gene Fullmer was the last great American white fighter. Case closed.

[Jimmy2025]

Jake Paul will get inducted into the IBHOF at some point. He's the greatest white American prizefighter of all time in the literal, non-subjective sense - fixed fights or not.

[Caractacus]

I still think there may be a case for Joey Archer.
( from that time period, 1950's to early 1960's)
The big difference is fighters like Rocky Graziano ,Jake LaMotta, and Gene Fullmer
all had very distinctive personalities.
The only thing I have heard about Joey Archer's personality was that he was kind of 'mean".
That may have held him back from the public embracing him back then.

[Caractacus]

But sheyatt, one can't even be Caucasian and "swarthy" anymore without some people questioning it ? LoL

[JordanKeepers]

Didn't Kelly Pavlik do more?

[Caractacus]

Paul Pender, is he considered 'chopped-liver" or somethin' these days ?
( yeah, granted SRR was 40 years old and Carmen Basilo was not much younger-those wins should still count for somethin' ''''right ?The dude may have looked really awkward but apparently had some 'Psychic Force' goin' on with his punches .
-1960-

-1961-

[Caractacus]

Wuz Pete Rademacher that last "White" -American to have won the Olympic Gold Medal in the HW division ?

[Ambling Alp II]

Paul Pender, is he considered 'chopped-liver" or somethin' these days ?
( yeah, granted SRR was 40 years old and Carmen Basilo was not much younger-those wins should still count for somethin' ''''right ?The dude may have looked really awkward but apparently had some 'Psychic Force' goin' on with his punches .
-1960-

-1961-

Always thought Pender was underrated. He always seems to have got lost in the shuffle. There were so many great middleweights before him and right after him.

[Caractacus]

Is it by Birthdate, the last time the boxers was ranked,
or when the boxer had his last pro-fight ?
Paul Pender b.1930
Gene Fullmer b.1931
Joey Archer b.1938

[Caractacus]

cuz Carl "Bobo" Olson was born in 1928, but was still fighting pro into the mid-1960 !
that some pretty good fightin' ( for a 36 year old )while it lasted anyway.

[Caractacus]

Don Fuller (Gene's brother) b.1939
was he considered "chopped liver" or somethin' back then ?
(and still fighting up until 1972 !)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Fullmer

[Caractacus]

Middleweight Roger Rouse-not great but was a "contendeh" back during the late 1960's.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/_Roger_Rouse
-1967-

[Caractacus]

on a side note it was at ringside of that fight that Evel Knievel
(who was buds with Roger Rouse who was also from Montana)
to get the idea to jump the water fountains at Caesar's Palace.
December-31-1967

[Caractacus]

In examining the vacuum after Gene Fullmer, came across
"Irish" Wayne Thorton
certainly was not great but at one time had been a "contendeh"

https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/16345

[Caractacus]

[Caractacus]

-1964-

[Caractacus]

-1966-

[Caractacus]

Anyway how would you define "the last' exactly ?
year of birth ?
when the fighter peaked ?
when their last 'great" fight had been /
when they hung up the gloves and would "fight no more forever" ?

[Boxingguru75]

There has been many Caucasian world champions since Fullmer (who had a good career fighting in a very unique style - cross armed with back hand lower). Subject is old after all these years. So many “mixed” fighters too who have been great ala Andre Ward (white father). Other tough mixed heritage dudes include Virgil Hill and Greg Haugen (sold really as a white fighter) both part Indian and Caucasian. Guys like the deadly Danny Little Red Looez and Canelo clearly show they have Irish blood as well.