In Part I of this chronological countdown of the top heavyweight contenders of the past who would most likely have won world titles today, we read the stories of such standouts as Earnie Shavers, Ron Lyle, Zora Folley, and Eddie Machen. Now we finish off the list with five fighters that almost certainly would have the word ?champion? on their resumes if they had been practicing their version of the sweet science today.
Elmer Ray 1926-1949 (86-15-1, 70 KO’s) – Bore one of the great nicknames of the sport, as his ferocious punching and combative style led sparmates and reporters to dub him “Violent”. Ray did not become a viable contender until he was 36 years old, due to a combination of World War II and his race. Rivals Joe Louis, Earnie Shavers, Jack Dempsey, and Mike Tyson in terms of pure punching power. If one punch was not enough, he clubbed opponents into submission. The left hook was his preferred finisher, and The Ring magazine listed Ray as the 44th greatest puncher of all-time. In a time where race mattered, Ray hurt himself by looking too good in his 1945 Madison Square Garden debut by stopping fellow contender Shamus O’Brien in five rounds. Reached his prime late, as a 34 fight winning streak came to an end at age 37. A seventeen fight kayo streak, between 1945 and 1946, got him an elimination fight with Jersey Joe Walcott. Unfortunately, Ray lost narrowly by majority decision in a fight where he faded late. It would have been interesting to see how this two fisted banger, with decent defense, would have fared against fellow slugger Joe Louis. However, like other great offensive fighters, Ray could be hurt, which eleven stoppages (most before his twentieth pro fight) clearly show.
Larry Gains 1923-1942 (114-23-4, 60 KO’s) – A very overlooked black fighter from Canada, who made his reputation by traveling to Europe (on a cattle boat) and defeating many of their elite boxers. A real road warrior, who counted Max Schmeling, Primo Carnera, George Godfrey, Phil Scott, Jack Renault, and Harry Persson among his list of victims. Featured a good mix of power, movement, and aggression. Many losses on his resume came early in his career, and Gains steadily improved as he gained experience. Found a big fan base in Germany, even though he repelled the challenges of the majority of the natives, and lived there after his retirement until his death at age 81. When Gains returned to North America he earned a reputation as a talented defensive boxer and as one of Jack Dempsey’s sparring partners, and if race did not prevent him, he would have given the champions of the era a formidable challenge. One big drawback to Gains was a less than stellar chin, but he became adept enough defensively to make it less of a factor then it should have been. Former light heavyweight champion Mike McTigue spoke for many, “I would rather fight Jack Sharkey every week than Larry Gains once a month.”
Harry Wills 1911-1932 (65-8-2, 47 KO’s, with 25 no decisions) – For most, Harry Wills is the fighter most associated with boxing’s disgraceful “Color Line” period, between 1915 and 1937, when worthy and talented boxers were avoided because of their race. Wills’ prime (around 1915 to 1927) fit squarely into that loathsome time for sports and society. A question often asked by ring historians is whether Wills would have beaten champions Jess Willard, Gene Tunney, and most notably Jack Dempsey. The unbiased Ring magazine rated Wills the number one contender for the better part of six years. Yet he never got a crack at the title, which was held by Jack Dempsey. In boxing, Dempsey was only tarnished by what he did not do. It was Dempsey’s refusal to overrule his manager/promoter Tex Richard, and give Harry Wills a title shot, which has given rise to a sentiment that Dempsey knew he could not beat a prime Wills. In a sense, it is hard to blame Rickard for not making the fight. Rickard was horrified by the race riots and lynchings his Jack Johnson vs. Jim Jeffries promoted bout produced. However, the fight, through no fault of Dempsey or Wills, never came off. Scheduled fights were twice canceled. On the first occasion, monies for the bout (to be held in South Bend, Indiana on July 4th) dried up after Rickard asked for outrageous guarantees. The second attempt was halted by New York Governor Alfred Smith (who feared race riots if Dempsey lost) through threatened legislation that torpedoed the proposed New York City match. Wills received $50,000 for the cancellations, while America was charged the shame. The bustling city of New Orleans hosted the birth of Wills, nicknamed “The Big Easy”. But life was hardly easy for Wills there. His father died when he was six, and his mother struggled to feed the children before remarrying. With nearly no education, he worked manual labor jobs. Wills was a tall youth, and rather lanky throughout his teenage years. Over time, his skinny frame was covered by a large mass of muscle that saw him fill out to 6 foot 4 inches, and 220 pounds of perfectly coordinated punching power. Wills was a downright giant by the ring standards of the day. Boxing historians will forever debate whether Wills could have beaten Dempsey and the resultant change it would have on boxing’s time line. I have a feeling that the confident, but humble, Wills had no doubts about the outcome. After all, he had surely won the fight a thousand times in his mind, the only place that would permit his one big dream.
Joe Jeanette 1904-1922 (79-9-6, 66 KO’s, with 62 no decisions) – It is sad that Joe Jeannette was never given the chance to fight for the heavyweight title. His personality and skill could have made him the first Joe Louis, instead of a boxing footnote. On defense he was elusive and had very good head movement; only his footwork could be questioned. Picked his punches well, and was said to be exceedingly accurate. It was a style patterned after his hero Sam Langford. What makes all this more compelling is that Jeannette did not start to box, on a dare, until he was 25. He devoted himself to boxing because he saw it as an easier and much more profitable way to make a living than blacksmithing. Within two years of turning pro, Jeannette was considered one of the best black heavyweights, and fought the much more experienced Jack Johnson seven times. The results were telling – Jeannette won 1 fight, drew 1 fight, lost 1 fight and the rest of the bouts with Johnson were called no decisions. Perhaps this is why Jack Johnson did not fight Jeannette after he won the heavyweight title, and Jeannette had the time to hone his skills. None of the white heavyweights would fight Jeannette, so he boxed the other great black heavyweights. He fought Sam Langford 15 times, winning three and losing six, with two draws and the rest no decisions. Fought his main rival, Sam McVey, five times, going 1-1-2 including a famous bout in 1909. In that fight (one of the greatest fights of all-time) Joe Jeannette overcame22 knockdowns in the first 37 rounds, to stop his long time rival in the 49th round. The endurance of Jeannette was phenomenal as kept coming back, and finally in the 39th round he put McVey down for the first time. Yet Jeannette was to go down another 18 times while McVey hit the canvas 6 more times. Finally in the 49th round, an exhausted McVey got off his stool and collapsed without a punch being landed. The fight had lasted 3 hours and 12 minutes by the time the 46 knockdown fight had ended! Frenchman Georges Carpentier was one of the few world class white fighters who fought black fighters, and he lost a one sided decision to Jeanette in his hometown of Paris. Jeannette felt betrayed that Jack Johnson did not give him a title shot when it was obvious that he deserved one. He famously stated, “Jack forgot about his old friends after he became champion and drew the color line against his own people.” Jeannette never got a title shot, even though he fought into his 40’s. It is thought that he participated in over 400 bouts, many of which were never documented.
Peter Jackson 1882-1899 (45-4-5, 30 KO’s, with 31 no decisions) – Nicknamed ‘The Black Prince”, in today’s game Jackson would be the black King. Peter Jackson was the one man the legendary John L. Sullivan absolutely refused to fight. The excuse was that Jackson was a black man, but many thought Sullivan refused to fight Jackson because of skill, not color. No one discounts the boxing acumen and gentlemanly behavior Jackson displayed in and out of the squared circle. Jackson’s regal manner outside the ring earned him the nickname of “The Black Prince”. Inside the ropes, he unleashed a ferocious blend of speed, power, and a highly refined boxing intellect to destroy the opposition. Jackson was a phenom, a genius who had the misfortune of being born one hundred years ahead of his time. Jackson, at 6-foot-2 inches tall and scaling between 195 and 210 pounds, was a formidable foe for that, or any era. Today, he would be described as a boxer-puncher, moving well behind a jab and always in fighting shape. Jackson traveled extensively, and engaged in many fights in hopes of securing a heavyweight championship fight. As a boy, Jackson loved to swim and was a championship swimmer at Sydney’s Port Jackson Swimming Club, a pursuit that no doubt helped to build his stamina. Within three years of turning pro, Jackson won the Australian heavyweight title, stopping Tom Lees in the 30th round. His bitter rival was Commonwealth champion Frank Slavin, whom he beat over ten rounds for the title. Both men courted the same woman, Josephine Leon, which intensified their rivalry and nourished a hatred in both men for another. Jackson ventured to America in 1888, seeking a fight with John L. Sullivan, and he won his first nine bouts. His first fight in America was against George Godfrey, the “Black Heavyweight champion”, and he outclassed a very good Godfrey. Again, he challenged Sullivan, and was denied a fight via telegram. Only one white man took the challenge of Jackson; that was “Gentleman” Jim Corbett. It was a classic contest, and reportedly the toughest either ever fought. It lasted 61 rounds (over 3 hours), and at the end it was declared a draw. Verbal tributes paid to Jackson’s skill, from opponents and observers alike, are as immense as the man’s inherent ability. Australian champion, and fierce rival, Frank Slavin called Peter, “Unbeatable ?the greatest of all masters.” Hall of Famer Bob Fitzsimmons hailed Jackson as, “The greatest fighter who ever drew a breath.” Heavyweight champion James J. Corbett (who never granted Jackson a rematch after he won the world title) said of Jackson, “Today, after thirty-three years, I still maintain he was the greatest fighter I have ever seen.” At age 35 Jackson was diagnosed with Tuberculosis, and began to drink himself to the bottom. Jackson’s tombstone inscription is all encompassing, like the man, “This was a man.”
