BoxRec

I recently watching the first McLarnin-Canzoneri fight, I got thinking about those two and Sammy Mandell and Barney Ross.

Who was the best:
Canzoneri-Won the Featherweight, Lightweight and Jr Welterweight titles. He beat Petrolle, Jack Kid Berg, Benny Bass, Kid Chocoalte, and Johnny Dundee. He was 1-1 vs McLarnin, 0-2 vs Ross, and 0-1 vs Mandell.

McLarnin- Welterweight champ. Beat LaBarba, Petrolle, Ambers, Young Corbett. Was 1-1 vs Canzoneri, 2-1 vs Mandell and 1-2 vs Ross.

Mandell was the Lightweight champ. He was 1-2 vs McLarnin, 1-0 vs Canzoneri. Won Newspaper Decisons over Petrolle and Dundee.

Ross-Won the lightweight, Jr Welterweight, and Welterweight titles. Was 2-0, 2-1 vs McLarnin. Also beat Petrolle and Bat Batalino.

All of these guys were skilled, quick and tough. When they fought each other it was usually a very tough fight. (Though unfortunately, Mandell and Ross never fought.)
I'm leaning toward Ross as the best of the four, but they all close.

How do you guys rank these four?

1.Barney Ross
2.Jimmy McLarnin
3.Tony Canzoneri
4.Sammy Mandell

Seamus wrote:1.Barney Ross
2.Jimmy McLarnin
3.Tony Canzoneri
4.Sammy Mandell

Exactly my list.

I might swap Canzonery with Mclarnin......but a few minutes later I might swap them back. Depends on the time of day, humidity, and what way the wind is blowing.

1. Tony Canzoneri....I consider him a top 15 great pound per pound, just looking at his amazing record.
2. Barney Ross....Even though he beat Canzoneri, I rate Canzoneri above him
3. Jimmy McLarnin....Beat more HOF more than any other fighter. He beat 15 HOFs. A top 50 pound per pound fighter of all-time...he should have held the welter crown much longer.
4. Sammy Mandell....Great lightweight, but he's not in the class of these 3 above him

I do not dislike that list elmer. Check back with me in twenty minutes. I can make a case for Canzoneri in positions 1, 2 and 3. depending on the clarity of my mental state and what fights I have recently watched or articles I have read.

I think you have a real tough argument on your hands not putting Ross in at #1, but I'm open to hear them.

2) Jimmy McLarnin-This is VERY tough between Jimmy and Canzoneri, but I think you have to factor in their head to head and also that McLarnin has the slight edge in great fighters he beat. And looking at their film, Canzoneri is the much smoother guy to watch, but McLarnin was just an animal.

3) Tony Canzoneri-Great fighter, but a little inconsistent.

4) Sammy Mandell-I want to see more film

It's probably worth mentioning that there was dispute regarding the decision in the 3rd Ross-McLarnin fight, which Ross getting the decision.

I did add up the official head to head records of the 4 just between themselves:

Ross 4-1
McLarnin 4-4
Mandell 2-2
Canzoneri 1-4

Considering their other fights, I guess I will go with the following

1.Ross
2.McLarnin
3.Canzoneri
4. Mandell

Ross seems to be a little better than the rest.
McLarnin and Canzoneri are about as even as two fighters can be. They split their two fights, but as dempseyfire mentioned, McLarnin seems to have a slight edge on who he beat, though that is arguable.
Mandell a little behind them. Mandell's record against other opponents isn't quite as impressive.

Still, I think Mandell is in their league. When I first starting of thinking about this topic, I wasn't going to mention Mandell. However, if you look at his career it's pretty impressive. He is a guy that you don't hear a lot about.

wow, tuff call

1. barney
2. jimmy
3. tony
4. sammy

I go

Ross
Canzoneri
McLarnin
Mandell

There is not much between 2 and 3