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Re: Greatest fighters with least fights? (retired fighters only)

Posted: 13 Dec 2018, 19:11
by oogiebe
Andre Ward: 32-0

Re: Greatest fighters with least fights? (retired fighters only)

Posted: 13 Dec 2018, 20:52
by gilgamesh
Looking through the Pioneers section of the International Boxing Hall of Fame there are some Hall of Famers who only have 3 or so fights on record. Several with less than 10.

This doesn't necessarily mean they actually fought so few, but that's all that there is recorded evidence of.

Re: Greatest fighters with least fights? (retired fighters only)

Posted: 14 Dec 2018, 03:38
by wouter
gilgamesh wrote: 13 Dec 2018, 20:52 Looking through the Pioneers section of the International Boxing Hall of Fame there are some Hall of Famers who only have 3 or so fights on record. Several with less than 10.

This doesn't necessarily mean they actually fought so few, but that's all that there is recorded evidence of.
The reason for that is we are only recording bouts under Queensberry rules here.

Re: Greatest fighters with least fights? (retired fighters only)

Posted: 14 Dec 2018, 05:11
by keithmoonhangover
Connor McGregor? :maybe:

Re: Greatest fighters with least fights? (retired fighters only)

Posted: 14 Dec 2018, 05:36
by littlepug
Paul Weir ? 2 weight world champ 14-6.

Re: Greatest fighters with least fights? (retired fighters only)

Posted: 14 Dec 2018, 11:17
by IKSRTFO
oogiebe wrote: 13 Dec 2018, 19:11 Andre Ward: 32-0
:TU:

Re: Greatest fighters with least fights? (retired fighters only)

Posted: 14 Dec 2018, 14:14
by oogiebe
IKSRTFO wrote: 14 Dec 2018, 11:17
oogiebe wrote: 13 Dec 2018, 19:11 Andre Ward: 32-0
:TU:
Gracias!

Re: Greatest fighters with least fights? (retired fighters only)

Posted: 14 Dec 2018, 14:36
by gilgamesh
wouter wrote: 14 Dec 2018, 03:38
gilgamesh wrote: 13 Dec 2018, 20:52 Looking through the Pioneers section of the International Boxing Hall of Fame there are some Hall of Famers who only have 3 or so fights on record. Several with less than 10.

This doesn't necessarily mean they actually fought so few, but that's all that there is recorded evidence of.
The reason for that is we are only recording bouts under Queensberry rules here.
I wasn't even mentioning Boxrec's records, I was just mentioning ANY records. Even Ring Magazine only knows of 3 or 4 in some of these cases, usually written by contemporary authors of the time. I know a lot of the info from that era comes from Pierce Egan's "Boxiana" and other books of a similar nature from around the time.

Re: Greatest fighters with least fights? (retired fighters only)

Posted: 14 Dec 2018, 14:37
by gilgamesh
keithmoonhangover wrote: 14 Dec 2018, 05:11 Connor McGregor? :maybe:
He would definitely be the highest paid single fight boxer in history without question I'm sure. I can't imagine anyone else even comes close.

Re: Greatest fighters with least fights? (retired fighters only)

Posted: 14 Dec 2018, 17:03
by HomicideHenry
gilgamesh wrote: 14 Dec 2018, 14:37
keithmoonhangover wrote: 14 Dec 2018, 05:11 Connor McGregor? :maybe:
He would definitely be the highest paid single fight boxer in history without question I'm sure. I can't imagine anyone else even comes close.
Who knows. That's why I love using the inflation calculator--- J.H. McLaughlin of the 19th century is probably the highest paid wrestler in history, as ONE of his fights made him the modern equivalent of $500,000 which is the yearly salary of most WWE performers today.

I'm sure if one did some research on the ancient Greeks and looked at the prizes, etc--- and tried to compare it to today--- the boxers, wrestlers, gladiators, etc certainly would be in the same league as major movie stars today or even the Forbes 100 list.

Re: Greatest fighters with least fights? (retired fighters only)

Posted: 14 Dec 2018, 17:47
by APerno
HomicideHenry wrote: 14 Dec 2018, 17:03
gilgamesh wrote: 14 Dec 2018, 14:37
keithmoonhangover wrote: 14 Dec 2018, 05:11 Connor McGregor? :maybe:
He would definitely be the highest paid single fight boxer in history without question I'm sure. I can't imagine anyone else even comes close.
Who knows. That's why I love using the inflation calculator--- J.H. McLaughlin of the 19th century is probably the highest paid wrestler in history, as ONE of his fights made him the modern equivalent of $500,000 which is the yearly salary of most WWE performers today.

I'm sure if one did some research on the ancient Greeks and looked at the prizes, etc--- and tried to compare it to today--- the boxers, wrestlers, gladiators, etc certainly would be in the same league as major movie stars today or even the Forbes 100 list.
I wonder if that is the case. Wealth in antiquity was property based and while they (the athletes) were rewarded with gold plate and silver it is unlikely that they ever rose to the prominence of real 'wealth,' which was interlocked into an existing aristocracy. By the time they stopped competing they were probably depended on well wishers and benefactors to survive. Today athletes can use their compensations to buy into real wealth; I wonder if any of the athletes of antiquity would have been given the opportunity to become 'rich.'

Re: Greatest fighters with least fights? (retired fighters only)

Posted: 14 Dec 2018, 17:57
by HomicideHenry
Well, since so few boxers were truly famous even in those times--- I imagine because win streaks were unheard of for the most part--- we'd have to look at the most well known boxers of that era.

Most notable and well known even today was Theagenes who may have been the model for the statue "The Boxer at Rest", who apparently won 1300 crowns (awards) for wrestling, boxing and MMA.

But I don't see much written about him in terms of money, etc.

Re: Greatest fighters with least fights? (retired fighters only)

Posted: 21 Dec 2018, 01:03
by Controversial
Mark Breland 35-3-1

Re: Greatest fighters with least fights? (retired fighters only)

Posted: 21 Dec 2018, 13:22
by oogiebe
Ray Leanard: 36-3-1

Re: Greatest fighters with least fights? (retired fighters only)

Posted: 21 Dec 2018, 18:49
by pound per pound
orbtastic wrote: 13 Dec 2018, 08:43 Jeffries is the one for me, only 22 fights. That's a pretty impressive career/resume in so few fights.

A couple from the "what could have been" files - Lamar Parks and Superbad Mays both with 28 fights.

Chitalada 31
Yeah, he was moved quickly. But like Corbett, I think we are missing some of his fights too.

Re: Greatest fighters with least fights? (retired fighters only)

Posted: 21 Dec 2018, 19:14
by tiny_acres
Onetimeonly wrote: 13 Dec 2018, 18:54
Controversial wrote: 13 Dec 2018, 17:50
APerno wrote: 13 Dec 2018, 17:40 How about Davey Moore; had five WBA title fights going 4-1?

18-5-0
He died, didn’t retire
Death is retirement.
And the only guarantee to not come out of retirement

Re: Greatest fighters with least fights? (retired fighters only)

Posted: 22 Dec 2018, 19:30
by Ambling Alp II
pound per pound wrote: 21 Dec 2018, 18:49
orbtastic wrote: 13 Dec 2018, 08:43 Jeffries is the one for me, only 22 fights. That's a pretty impressive career/resume in so few fights.

A couple from the "what could have been" files - Lamar Parks and Superbad Mays both with 28 fights.

Chitalada 31
Yeah, he was moved quickly. But like Corbett, I think we are missing some of his fights too.
According to Tommy Loughran, Corbett told him that he had 39 fights in his career. That sounds quite possible, though its' doubtful any not on his record were against significant opponents.

Re: Greatest fighters with least fights? (retired fighters only)

Posted: 18 Jan 2019, 19:42
by pound per pound
Ambling Alp II wrote: 22 Dec 2018, 19:30
pound per pound wrote: 21 Dec 2018, 18:49
orbtastic wrote: 13 Dec 2018, 08:43 Jeffries is the one for me, only 22 fights. That's a pretty impressive career/resume in so few fights.

A couple from the "what could have been" files - Lamar Parks and Superbad Mays both with 28 fights.

Chitalada 31
Yeah, he was moved quickly. But like Corbett, I think we are missing some of his fights too.
According to Tommy Loughran, Corbett told him that he had 39 fights in his career. That sounds quite possible, though its' doubtful any not on his record were against significant opponents.
Good find.

Re: Greatest fighters with least fights? (retired fighters only)

Posted: 19 Jan 2019, 20:03
by BoxBuzz
The number 1 irony in all of boxing of course, is that the greatest boxer of all time, never actually had a single fight.

Re: Greatest fighters with least fights? (retired fighters only)

Posted: 19 Jan 2019, 20:04
by oogiebe
BoxBuzz wrote: 19 Jan 2019, 20:03 The number 1 irony in all of boxing of course, is that the greatest boxer of all time, never actually had a single fight.
Oh no! Don't go there!!!! :stop:

Re: Greatest fighters with least fights? (retired fighters only)

Posted: 19 Jan 2019, 20:43
by APerno
Golly who might that be? (Please don't answer.)

Re: Greatest fighters with least fights? (retired fighters only)

Posted: 19 Jan 2019, 20:44
by oogiebe
APerno wrote: 19 Jan 2019, 20:43 Golly who might that be? (Please don't answer.)
:lol: :clap:

Re: Greatest fighters with least fights? (retired fighters only)

Posted: 21 Jan 2019, 11:19
by BitPlayer
gilgamesh wrote: 14 Dec 2018, 14:36
wouter wrote: 14 Dec 2018, 03:38
gilgamesh wrote: 13 Dec 2018, 20:52 Looking through the Pioneers section of the International Boxing Hall of Fame there are some Hall of Famers who only have 3 or so fights on record. Several with less than 10.

This doesn't necessarily mean they actually fought so few, but that's all that there is recorded evidence of.
The reason for that is we are only recording bouts under Queensberry rules here.
I wasn't even mentioning Boxrec's records, I was just mentioning ANY records. Even Ring Magazine only knows of 3 or 4 in some of these cases, usually written by contemporary authors of the time. I know a lot of the info from that era comes from Pierce Egan's "Boxiana" and other books of a similar nature from around the time.
I think some of the early ones gained a reputation from spars and/or street fights or rough and tumble fights.

I think John C Heenan's fight with Morrissey was explicitly his first LPR one, so he probably had no more than what is known.

Re: Greatest fighters with least fights? (retired fighters only)

Posted: 21 Jan 2019, 11:22
by BitPlayer
I think there were important bareknuckle fights, but I think by the 1880's, they were pretty rare.

Paddy Ryan stated multiple times that his fight with Goss was his fight time fighting in LPR. Jem Smith is the last I'm aware of who seems to have been a bareknuckle specialist, but even he seems to have had more MoQ fights.

Re: Greatest fighters with least fights? (retired fighters only)

Posted: 21 Jan 2019, 12:38
by Jaywheel
BoxBuzz wrote: 19 Jan 2019, 20:03 The number 1 irony in all of boxing of course, is that the greatest boxer of all time, never actually had a single fight.
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