Which US Region Has Had The Best Boxers?

[Taansend]

One for the Anoraks here.

I'm watching a video about Emmanuel Augustin & one of the senior Mayweathers is saying that the Midwest has the best Boxers.

So what do you think?

Off the top of my head I'd say the North East had the best up until the 1950s, then the Midwest in the 2nd half of the 20th century & the West & Southwest are leading the way in the 21st Century, mainly thanks to the Mexican influence. But I'm being a bit basic there.

But I'd love to hear what you think.

[giacomino]

Depends by what you mean by “has had.” Georgia, where I spent most of my life, was the birthplace of Tiger Flowers, Sugar Ray Robinson, Ezzard Charles, Jimmy Bivins, Ike Williams, Young Stribling, Beau Jack, Vernon Forrest, Bennie Briscoe, Larry Holmes, Evander Holyfield, Paul Williams and a host of others. They were raised in the SE, some fought in Georgia, some of them fought elsewhere. Are you asking about the best fight scene? If so I would go for the two coasts (NE and Calif), but Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Texas and obviously Vegas have had great fight scenes too

[Seamus]

At times Cincinnati, St Paul, and Buffalo turned out a disproportionately high number of top class fighters.

[Expug]

Depends by what you mean by “has had.” Georgia, where I spent most of my life, was the birthplace of Tiger Flowers, Sugar Ray Robinson, Ezzard Charles, Jimmy Bivins, Ike Williams, Young Stribling, Beau Jack, Vernon Forrest, Bennie Briscoe, Larry Holmes, Evander Holyfield, Paul Williams and a host of others. They were raised in the SE, some fought in Georgia, some of them fought elsewhere. Are you asking about the best fight scene? If so I would go for the two coasts (NE and Calif), but Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Texas and obviously Vegas have had great fight scenes too

Chicago at one time did have a terrific fight scene.
It was quite a while ago though. The old Chicago stadium had a slew of great fights including Lamotta-Robinson , and Zale-Graziano. And of course , Dempsey -Tunney at Soldier field.
But, since the 60s and 70s it’s been quiet. Gyms have faded and the city has had a hard time turning out big name fighters.
Certain promoters have put on good shows but it’s been tough sledding.
In the 80,s there were regular cards with Leroy Murphy and Quick Tillis. They were pretty well attended, I remember because I fought on undercards for both, but they were at venues in hotel ballrooms and big nightclubs, such as the park west.
I can’t remember the last time there was a big card here other than Golota-Brewster at united center.

[Expug]

Pittsburgh has turned out ,
Harry Greb
The Zivic brothers
Billy Conn
Charley Burley
I always found that impressive

[gilgamesh]

Oodles of great fighters have come out of California over the years.

Bobby Chacon, Danny Lopez, De La Hoya, Mosley. It's one of the bigger hot beds in the sport still in the modern era as well.

[Taansend]

Depends by what you mean by “has had.” Georgia, where I spent most of my life, was the birthplace of Tiger Flowers, Sugar Ray Robinson, Ezzard Charles, Jimmy Bivins, Ike Williams, Young Stribling, Beau Jack, Vernon Forrest, Bennie Briscoe, Larry Holmes, Evander Holyfield, Paul Williams and a host of others. They were raised in the SE, some fought in Georgia, some of them fought elsewhere. Are you asking about the best fight scene? If so I would go for the two coasts (NE and Calif), but Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Texas and obviously Vegas have had great fight scenes too

Georgia claiming Sugar Ray Robinson is like the UK claiming Bob Fitzsimmons

But in history the South East has had loads of great fighters. Florida has churned out a load although not too many from Miami area although Dundee was based there. St Pete has churned out many fighters. Elmer Ray came from a Tony little town in the middle of Florida.

[giacomino]

Depends by what you mean by “has had.” Georgia, where I spent most of my life, was the birthplace of Tiger Flowers, Sugar Ray Robinson, Ezzard Charles, Jimmy Bivins, Ike Williams, Young Stribling, Beau Jack, Vernon Forrest, Bennie Briscoe, Larry Holmes, Evander Holyfield, Paul Williams and a host of others. They were raised in the SE, some fought in Georgia, some of them fought elsewhere. Are you asking about the best fight scene? If so I would go for the two coasts (NE and Calif), but Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Texas and obviously Vegas have had great fight scenes too

Georgia claiming Sugar Ray Robinson is like the UK claiming Bob Fitzsimmons

But in history the South East has had loads of great fighters. Florida has churned out a load although not too many from Miami area although Dundee was based there. St Pete has churned out many fighters. Elmer Ray came from a Tony little town in the middle of Florida.

Have no idea if Georgia “claims,” SRR, I was stating a fact that he was born there and asked what you meant by “which US region has had the best boxers”

[giacomino]

Depends by what you mean by “has had.” Georgia, where I spent most of my life, was the birthplace of Tiger Flowers, Sugar Ray Robinson, Ezzard Charles, Jimmy Bivins, Ike Williams, Young Stribling, Beau Jack, Vernon Forrest, Bennie Briscoe, Larry Holmes, Evander Holyfield, Paul Williams and a host of others. They were raised in the SE, some fought in Georgia, some of them fought elsewhere. Are you asking about the best fight scene? If so I would go for the two coasts (NE and Calif), but Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Texas and obviously Vegas have had great fight scenes too

Chicago at one time did have a terrific fight scene.
It was quite a while ago though. The old Chicago stadium had a slew of great fights including Lamotta-Robinson , and Zale-Graziano. And of course , Dempsey -Tunney at Soldier field.
But, since the 60s and 70s it’s been quiet. Gyms have faded and the city has had a hard time turning out big name fighters.
Certain promoters have put on good shows but it’s been tough sledding.
In the 80,s there were regular cards with Leroy Murphy and Quick Tillis. They were pretty well attended, I remember because I fought on undercards for both, but they were at venues in hotel ballrooms and big nightclubs, such as the park west.
I can’t remember the last time there was a big card here other than Golota-Brewster at united center.

I seem to remember the Rosemount Horizon having some good shows when I was in college but I might be thinking of the United Center. I think the last big card I went to in Chicago was Hagler-Hamsho I. Murphy was on the undercard and Tillis waltzed and hugged his way to losing to an equally poor Weaver

[elmersalsa]

How about Philadelphia? It's a city that had produced some terrific fighters. Some of them are true all-time pound per pound boxing greats:
Joe Frazier
Bernard Hopkins
Bad Bennie Briscoe
Joey Giardello
Tommy Loughran
Meldrick Taylor
Jeff Chandler
Willie Monroe
Bobby "Boogaloo" Watts
George Benton
Matthew Saad Muhammad
Rocky Balboa? Just kidding

[Expug]

Depends by what you mean by “has had.” Georgia, where I spent most of my life, was the birthplace of Tiger Flowers, Sugar Ray Robinson, Ezzard Charles, Jimmy Bivins, Ike Williams, Young Stribling, Beau Jack, Vernon Forrest, Bennie Briscoe, Larry Holmes, Evander Holyfield, Paul Williams and a host of others. They were raised in the SE, some fought in Georgia, some of them fought elsewhere. Are you asking about the best fight scene? If so I would go for the two coasts (NE and Calif), but Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Texas and obviously Vegas have had great fight scenes too

Chicago at one time did have a terrific fight scene.
It was quite a while ago though. The old Chicago stadium had a slew of great fights including Lamotta-Robinson , and Zale-Graziano. And of course , Dempsey -Tunney at Soldier field.
But, since the 60s and 70s it’s been quiet. Gyms have faded and the city has had a hard time turning out big name fighters.
Certain promoters have put on good shows but it’s been tough sledding.
In the 80,s there were regular cards with Leroy Murphy and Quick Tillis. They were pretty well attended, I remember because I fought on undercards for both, but they were at venues in hotel ballrooms and big nightclubs, such as the park west.
I can’t remember the last time there was a big card here other than Golota-Brewster at united center.

I seem to remember the Rosemount Horizon having some good shows when I was in college but I might be thinking of the United Center. I think the last big card I went to in Chicago was Hagler-Hamsho I. Murphy was on the undercard and Tillis waltzed and hugged his way to losing to an equally poor Weaver

Yes Rosemont did have decent shows occasionally.
Now it’s called all state arena.
Man , Tillis really heard about it after that fight.

[giacomino]

Chicago at one time did have a terrific fight scene.
It was quite a while ago though. The old Chicago stadium had a slew of great fights including Lamotta-Robinson , and Zale-Graziano. And of course , Dempsey -Tunney at Soldier field.
But, since the 60s and 70s it’s been quiet. Gyms have faded and the city has had a hard time turning out big name fighters.
Certain promoters have put on good shows but it’s been tough sledding.
In the 80,s there were regular cards with Leroy Murphy and Quick Tillis. They were pretty well attended, I remember because I fought on undercards for both, but they were at venues in hotel ballrooms and big nightclubs, such as the park west.
I can’t remember the last time there was a big card here other than Golota-Brewster at united center.

I seem to remember the Rosemount Horizon having some good shows when I was in college but I might be thinking of the United Center. I think the last big card I went to in Chicago was Hagler-Hamsho I. Murphy was on the undercard and Tillis waltzed and hugged his way to losing to an equally poor Weaver

Yes Rosemont did have decent shows occasionally.
Now it’s called all state arena.
Man , Tillis really heard about it after that fight.

Weird because prior to that fight Tillis looked like he could outbox Weaver but they put on a stinker

[Taansend]

Depends by what you mean by “has had.” Georgia, where I spent most of my life, was the birthplace of Tiger Flowers, Sugar Ray Robinson, Ezzard Charles, Jimmy Bivins, Ike Williams, Young Stribling, Beau Jack, Vernon Forrest, Bennie Briscoe, Larry Holmes, Evander Holyfield, Paul Williams and a host of others. They were raised in the SE, some fought in Georgia, some of them fought elsewhere. Are you asking about the best fight scene? If so I would go for the two coasts (NE and Calif), but Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Texas and obviously Vegas have had great fight scenes too

Georgia claiming Sugar Ray Robinson is like the UK claiming Bob Fitzsimmons

But in history the South East has had loads of great fighters. Florida has churned out a load although not too many from Miami area although Dundee was based there. St Pete has churned out many fighters. Elmer Ray came from a Tony little town in the middle of Florida.

Have no idea if Georgia “claims,” SRR, I was stating a fact that he was born there and asked what you meant by “which US region has had the best boxers”

Well you mentioned where he was born in a thread about boxing regions so you have claimed him for Georgia. Otherwise, why mention him?

You claimed him for Georgia.

[Expug]

I seem to remember the Rosemount Horizon having some good shows when I was in college but I might be thinking of the United Center. I think the last big card I went to in Chicago was Hagler-Hamsho I. Murphy was on the undercard and Tillis waltzed and hugged his way to losing to an equally poor Weaver

Yes Rosemont did have decent shows occasionally.
Now it’s called all state arena.
Man , Tillis really heard about it after that fight.

Weird because prior to that fight Tillis looked like he could outbox Weaver but they put on a stinker

You’re right. I’ve mentioned a couple times before how “Quick” Tillis looked in the gym like a can’t miss.
Especially back then it was like 80 or 81 something like that. He could box and move great. I dunno what happened that night.

[Expug]

It’s interesting when you look at that regional map.
Pennsylvania for example could be considered both northeast and Midwest. Philadelphia being northeast and Pittsburgh being Midwest.
Interesting topic and put in terms of regions, I’d say probably northeast. Good question though.

[giacomino]

Georgia claiming Sugar Ray Robinson is like the UK claiming Bob Fitzsimmons

But in history the South East has had loads of great fighters. Florida has churned out a load although not too many from Miami area although Dundee was based there. St Pete has churned out many fighters. Elmer Ray came from a Tony little town in the middle of Florida.

Have no idea if Georgia “claims,” SRR, I was stating a fact that he was born there and asked what you meant by “which US region has had the best boxers”

Well you mentioned where he was born in a thread about boxing regions so you have claimed him for Georgia. Otherwise, why mention him?

You claimed him for Georgia.

Um, Ok.

[Taansend]

Um, Ok.

I'm glad we cleared that up.

I remember the 80s when UK Boxing fans were desperate for a Heavyweight Champion so they'd point at Fitzsimmons.

It's nice to see they're not the only ones doing it

[gilgamesh]

You're really desperate to make an argument out of thin air on this ain't ya?

[Taansend]

You're really desperate to make an argument out of thin air on this ain't ya?

I like Giacamino. He's a good poster. Knowledgeable bloke.

But he just needs to admit that he was claiming SRR for Georgia

Unless there's some other reason he mentioned him. In that case, I'm all ears.

[gilgamesh]

Joe Louis was born in Alabama, but just like Ray Robinson he came up as a fighter somewhere else.

He didn't claim Robinson for anything anymore than I'm claiming Louis. He was just acknowledging a fact, and asking if that counted.

For my money I'd say it doesn't. I'd think a fighter's Region in my mind is basically wherever his career began, but it'd be wherever it began even as an Amateur.