I by no means have the expertise of other members of this Forum. However, I did have the benefit of "seeing" some of the boxers now considered "Boxers of the Past"; and I did have the benefit of hearing the views held by others (some experts, some not) at the time some of these boxers were still fighting. I'm not sure that I - or they - would concur with the rankings and evaluations appearing in this Forum. It occurred to me that perhaps "age" might be playing some part in all of this.
Now, I admit that I have a strong bias in favor of a particular boxer who seems not to be well treated these days. The boxer's name is Sammy Angott. He was my Godfather. Sammy and my father grew up together. My father helped Sammy train, and he did some traveling with him back in the day. Born in 1943, I did not see Sammy fight in his prime. His last fight with Sonny Boy West is my clearest memory. But, I did see him fight. And, I saw many others fight who are now considered "ancients." In the 1950's and until Messrs. Ali and Liston came on the scene, we didn't miss the Gillette Friday Night Fights and other bouts that were then shown free to the general public. Sammy Angott is not the only one whose reputation and comparative skills are going to go unappreciated. Said in other words, Angott is not the only one who enjoyed greater praise while he lived than he enjoys while taking the eternal dirt nap.
I guess what is happening is par for the course. There are so many athletes, scientists, professionals - and even national heroes - who suffer the same fate. When was John Adams last celebrated and given the credit he deserves?
Ok, I learned long ago that what you see depends on where you're at. I guess I've never given enough weight to the age of the viewer. God Bless all of you for your efforts. I know that you are well-intentioned.
Steeler out
Disclosure of Age When Ranking Boxers of the Past etc
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Ambling Alp
- Heavyweight
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- Joined: 15 Jul 2005, 22:31
Re: Disclosure of Age When Ranking Boxers of the Past etc
Sammy Angott was certainly a great fighter. We don't talk a lot about him or some other greats. Age is part of it. He fought well before many of us were born. There are people who seem to think the world started the day that they were born. (On the other hand, there are some people who seem to be biased the opposite way to think that all of the great fighters were from long ago. There are less of them though.)
I think the eras are about even. There were roughly the same ratio of great, good, average, poor fighters in every era, but that is just my opinion.
Angott also was not a heavyweight. Many people seem to be obsessed by heavyweights.
However, you will see that on rare occasions we do discuss about fighters from long ago, even well before Angott. And occasionally we discuss about fighters that aren't heavyweights. Usually those threads don't draw as much responses as say something like who would have won between Tony Galento and Chuck Wepner. However, if you keep looking you will see the occasional non-heavyweight and non recent-fighter thread.
As for John Adams, there was an HBO mini-series on him a few years ago. I believe it's available on DVD. It's based on the Biography on him by David McCullough that came out a while back. Both the book and the mini-series was very good.
I think the eras are about even. There were roughly the same ratio of great, good, average, poor fighters in every era, but that is just my opinion.
Angott also was not a heavyweight. Many people seem to be obsessed by heavyweights.
However, you will see that on rare occasions we do discuss about fighters from long ago, even well before Angott. And occasionally we discuss about fighters that aren't heavyweights. Usually those threads don't draw as much responses as say something like who would have won between Tony Galento and Chuck Wepner. However, if you keep looking you will see the occasional non-heavyweight and non recent-fighter thread.
As for John Adams, there was an HBO mini-series on him a few years ago. I believe it's available on DVD. It's based on the Biography on him by David McCullough that came out a while back. Both the book and the mini-series was very good.
Re: Disclosure of Age When Ranking Boxers of the Past etc
Steeler
Thanks for joining the forum. I’m really interested in the ideas you have of watching these old guys and in some of the opinions you remember from these guys.
It must have been great to been so close to one of the greats. I hope you share your perceptions of the past and add in what the experts and fighters of the time thought. We’re always looking back through the wrong end of a telescope. The best posters will welcome everything you have to say.
To be honest I joined this forum in order to be able to hear what guys who actually lived it have to say.
Sammy is overlooked today. I gave myself a refresher of his career and there are some stellar names on there.
Who did Sammy rate as the best of his contemporaries?
Thanks for joining the forum. I’m really interested in the ideas you have of watching these old guys and in some of the opinions you remember from these guys.
It must have been great to been so close to one of the greats. I hope you share your perceptions of the past and add in what the experts and fighters of the time thought. We’re always looking back through the wrong end of a telescope. The best posters will welcome everything you have to say.
To be honest I joined this forum in order to be able to hear what guys who actually lived it have to say.
Sammy is overlooked today. I gave myself a refresher of his career and there are some stellar names on there.
Who did Sammy rate as the best of his contemporaries?
Re: Disclosure of Age When Ranking Boxers of the Past etc
Sammy Angott isn't under appreciated by me. Checkout this thread
http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f ... lit=angott
http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f ... lit=angott