Sigh. What a genius. The boxing 45 degree boxing stance we see nowadays, the uppercut. These were all created and perfect by joe gans. They didnt fight one fight a year like nowadays and they could fight up to 42 rounds! He honed his skills when he was fighting battle royal fights.Blacks used to be blindfolded and bareknuckled. He used to have to fight bigger fighters and still he won. Do you honestly think the likes of manny pacquaio wil stand a chance against him!
Good God, I've only read about Gans before but watching him made my mouth drop. you can see the influence on Joe Louis that he had, and the fact that he was in a class all on his own. I think even with TB he would have owned nowadays.
But anyway I like how Gans dominate this fight big difference form Gans fighting McGovern .I like use his masterful defense to beat Kid Herman to the punch and Ilove Gans blocking and footwork to keep out of danger.Gans seems like he knows what kid is going to do before he do it.And we can see Gans had a powerful right hand to .It's know doubt Gans was a early offensive and defensive master of scientific boxing.Thats why they call him the old master.
Thank you Tommy Hearns for uploading this. It is nice to watch a prime Gans in such good quality for a film of that time. Anyone who doubts "The Old Master" Gans doesn't know what he is seeing-the perfect defense and stance-the beautiful jab parrying,the elbow and glove blocking and the wonderful genius of Gans to manouvre Herman to the corner and finish him off with that perfectly well-timed accurate right.
I don't agree with people that say Gans wouldn't last with todays fighters. It's true that he would have to do a lot of adapting to modern boxing, but all the tools were there: speed, defence, power, stamina etc. If he could adapt to modern boxing I think he would do very well against todays fighters.
@chunkyscotty - Gans would of toyed with ntodays fighters. Dont listen to the "experts" who talk about boxing evolving. Boxing is two men with gloves on in a square ring. Todays bums would of had to do the adapting.
Im sorry, but you can romanticise this as much as you please, and I can see the appeal of doing so....but it's simple self delusion to look at this footage and pretend Gans would last 60seconds with a Manny Pacquiao or even a profoundly poor champion like Michael Katsidis.
Professional boxing in the early 1900s was just this short of streetfighting. The gloves offered minimal padding, and some referees willingly overlooked rabbit punches, thumbs in the eyes, low blows, butts, even the occasional knee or elbow. So rating the fighters of this era against those of today is pretty tough, to say the least. This isn't a perfect analogy, but it's almost like comparing major-league baseball to fast-pitch softball --
@K1LL4K You are right, of course. How about rating boxers according to their eras? One from about 1895 to 1915, the next from '15 to about 1930, then '32 or so to perhaps 1952. Next, the mid 50s to about 1978; thence from about 1980 to the present. That covers the major changes and shifts in boxing over the years, at least for me. What do you think? I'm running out of room, but could elaborate on the changes and shifts as I see them later:) --
@stevevandien I am actually suprised that i got a positive reply for once.I'm used to people replying with no knowledege of the sport in an illogical manner. i agree with you on the first few then maybe from the mid 50s till about '75 and then from then on till the present day. or you could rank them as post WW2 and pre WW2 i've seen that done before.
@K1LL4K Sorry you've gotten so many crummy responses:). But we agree that boxing has gone through different eras regarding styles, techniques, training, refereeing, glove size, FIGHTER size, etc. So rating Joe Gans against Roberto Duran, for example, is virtually impossible. Duran knew he wouldn't fight more than 15 rounds in a championship bout. Gans had to train for 20 or more --
@stevevandien i read somewher that Ray Arcel the trainer of Duran also trained Benny lenard, according to him benny lenard is better. so Bennylenard is arguably the best lightweight ever.
The Old Master had such SUPREME skill that after toying with his opponent for a few rounds, he would tell his handlers during the rest period the exact time and the exact punch he would knock his opponent out in the next round
E.g., the Old Master would say, "In 1 minute and 30 seconds of the next round, I will knock him out with a right hand to the temple."
After Gans fought the welterweight Dave Holly, within 24 hrs he travelled 300 miles and fought one of the all time greats Sam Langford. I'd like to see the Pacquiao's and Mayweather's of this world fighting a day after they've just fought, then I'll consider them to be amongst the real greats of boxing!
Remarkable footage! Did you correct the speed of this? I have never seen such an old fight film at such a natural speed. You can see how good Gans was here. He would have done well against any lightweight in history. The final right hand punch can be seen so clearly. I can't say enough about this great clip. Wish there was some footage on Harry Greb.
Awesome clip! This is the most complete film of the fight that I have ever seen.
I disagree with those who say that Gans wouldn't last against fighters of today. The pace of these old bouts was slower because the fighters were preparing themselves to go for 20, 25, or 45 rounds. How many boxers today do you think would be capable of fighting for 45 rounds? If Gans was fighting today, he would adapt to modern style and excel.
I agree with you completely. Many people just watch the films but don't study them. I mean from shifting their weight or how they set up a punch with a parry. If he was around today he would be a beast.
Agree The problem is the average fan does not box can cannot really tell the difference between a real punch and sylvester stallone throwing one.The punches above are no different from modern punches. And when they move in they cover just as much ground as modern fighters. In other words same ringspeed. The only difference is, as already noted they don't waste energy bouncing around.
You are right. Class is class; Gans had it. As for the people who criticise low-held hands, they need to try to hold up their hands high with gloves on for just a couple of rounds and they'll see why these guys going 45 held them low.
@114raw123 boxers these day go life and death at 12, they would be able to do 15. nver mind goin 20,25 or 45 rounds 6 times a year. people forget the conditions they are fighting under, they just look at they low held hands and slow pace and still they'll beat the shit out of a modern boxer just by looking at that nevermind putting them under the same modern training and conditions.
the way these guys fought, most fighters near the top could do 45 rounds. they wore lighter gloves back then and paced themselves and did not fight at near the pace they fight at now. Now a days boxers are slipping moving timing continuously all at once. On top of that if you watch these guys go 30+ rounds they are Exhausted, hands hanging down by their waist, some times both standing in the middle giving each other breaks. Especially during the HW fights.
Thanks Tommy.I think Gans,Benny Leonard and Ali were the smartest boxers of the 20th century. Gans was very important for the devemlopment of the sweet science in America because he was the first american champion that won fights basically using brilliant strategies on the ring.He was the "old master"
Thanks A lot! The "Old Master" was indeed one of the all-time greats. His defense was suberb and his speed and combinations were fritening. It has almost been 100 years since the first encounter with Battling Nelson in Nevada.
Sigh. What a genius. The boxing 45 degree boxing stance we see nowadays, the uppercut. These were all created and perfect by joe gans. They didnt fight one fight a year like nowadays and they could fight up to 42 rounds! He honed his skills when he was fighting battle royal fights.Blacks used to be blindfolded and bareknuckled. He used to have to fight bigger fighters and still he won. Do you honestly think the likes of manny pacquaio wil stand a chance against him!
generaldiehardmamba 4 months ago
Good God, I've only read about Gans before but watching him made my mouth drop. you can see the influence on Joe Louis that he had, and the fact that he was in a class all on his own. I think even with TB he would have owned nowadays.
ww1enfield 5 months ago
I wish there was film of kid herman vs the ghost w/ the hammer in his hand...
RapedByRepublicans 6 months ago
But anyway I like how Gans dominate this fight big difference form Gans fighting McGovern .I like use his masterful defense to beat Kid Herman to the punch and Ilove Gans blocking and footwork to keep out of danger.Gans seems like he knows what kid is going to do before he do it.And we can see Gans had a powerful right hand to .It's know doubt Gans was a early offensive and defensive master of scientific boxing.Thats why they call him the old master.
PREZ150 11 months ago
I know the old time fighters went 20 or more rounds but they was not at full power by the time they hit those rounds.They was human.
PREZ150 11 months ago
@PREZ150 Yeah they were human, but they were tougher humans that's 4 sure.
gregluland 9 months ago in playlist boxing
@gregluland Yea edurance wise they were.
PREZ150 9 months ago
nobody is born with boxing knowledge...Gans persuade the knowledge back then and excelled, if he were around today he would do the same!
applepearbananas 1 year ago
Thank you Tommy Hearns for uploading this. It is nice to watch a prime Gans in such good quality for a film of that time. Anyone who doubts "The Old Master" Gans doesn't know what he is seeing-the perfect defense and stance-the beautiful jab parrying,the elbow and glove blocking and the wonderful genius of Gans to manouvre Herman to the corner and finish him off with that perfectly well-timed accurate right.
kenomy66 1 year ago
I don't agree with people that say Gans wouldn't last with todays fighters. It's true that he would have to do a lot of adapting to modern boxing, but all the tools were there: speed, defence, power, stamina etc. If he could adapt to modern boxing I think he would do very well against todays fighters.
chunkyscotty 1 year ago
@chunkyscotty - Gans would of toyed with ntodays fighters. Dont listen to the "experts" who talk about boxing evolving. Boxing is two men with gloves on in a square ring. Todays bums would of had to do the adapting.
1899sharkey 1 year ago
Viva Samuel Langford!!!
Nabucco20008 1 year ago
Im sorry, but you can romanticise this as much as you please, and I can see the appeal of doing so....but it's simple self delusion to look at this footage and pretend Gans would last 60seconds with a Manny Pacquiao or even a profoundly poor champion like Michael Katsidis.
huthut91 1 year ago
Professional boxing in the early 1900s was just this short of streetfighting. The gloves offered minimal padding, and some referees willingly overlooked rabbit punches, thumbs in the eyes, low blows, butts, even the occasional knee or elbow. So rating the fighters of this era against those of today is pretty tough, to say the least. This isn't a perfect analogy, but it's almost like comparing major-league baseball to fast-pitch softball --
stevevandien 1 year ago
@stevevandien also the rules have tightened, the training techniques have adavanced so comparing old boxers to modern boxers is almost impossible.
K1LL4K 1 year ago
@K1LL4K You are right, of course. How about rating boxers according to their eras? One from about 1895 to 1915, the next from '15 to about 1930, then '32 or so to perhaps 1952. Next, the mid 50s to about 1978; thence from about 1980 to the present. That covers the major changes and shifts in boxing over the years, at least for me. What do you think? I'm running out of room, but could elaborate on the changes and shifts as I see them later:) --
stevevandien 1 year ago
@stevevandien I am actually suprised that i got a positive reply for once.I'm used to people replying with no knowledege of the sport in an illogical manner. i agree with you on the first few then maybe from the mid 50s till about '75 and then from then on till the present day. or you could rank them as post WW2 and pre WW2 i've seen that done before.
K1LL4K 1 year ago
@K1LL4K Sorry you've gotten so many crummy responses:). But we agree that boxing has gone through different eras regarding styles, techniques, training, refereeing, glove size, FIGHTER size, etc. So rating Joe Gans against Roberto Duran, for example, is virtually impossible. Duran knew he wouldn't fight more than 15 rounds in a championship bout. Gans had to train for 20 or more --
stevevandien 1 year ago
@stevevandien i read somewher that Ray Arcel the trainer of Duran also trained Benny lenard, according to him benny lenard is better. so Bennylenard is arguably the best lightweight ever.
K1LL4K 1 year ago
The Old Master had such SUPREME skill that after toying with his opponent for a few rounds, he would tell his handlers during the rest period the exact time and the exact punch he would knock his opponent out in the next round
E.g., the Old Master would say, "In 1 minute and 30 seconds of the next round, I will knock him out with a right hand to the temple."
omegapoint0 1 year ago
8:35
For a split second it seems like Herman realized he left his jaw wide open before it was "lights out."
nazikiwe 2 years ago
After Gans fought the welterweight Dave Holly, within 24 hrs he travelled 300 miles and fought one of the all time greats Sam Langford. I'd like to see the Pacquiao's and Mayweather's of this world fighting a day after they've just fought, then I'll consider them to be amongst the real greats of boxing!
Garadag 2 years ago 4
this is crazy footage
KiidDynamiteReturns 2 years ago
Very nice film. History, thank you very much!
Anguis79 2 years ago 2
lmao he got knocked the fuck out!
reznick8 2 years ago 2
oh man! he was out cold! LOL.
eltiqui2007 3 years ago
Remarkable footage! Did you correct the speed of this? I have never seen such an old fight film at such a natural speed. You can see how good Gans was here. He would have done well against any lightweight in history. The final right hand punch can be seen so clearly. I can't say enough about this great clip. Wish there was some footage on Harry Greb.
muskratrowdy 3 years ago 3
Awesome clip! This is the most complete film of the fight that I have ever seen.
I disagree with those who say that Gans wouldn't last against fighters of today. The pace of these old bouts was slower because the fighters were preparing themselves to go for 20, 25, or 45 rounds. How many boxers today do you think would be capable of fighting for 45 rounds? If Gans was fighting today, he would adapt to modern style and excel.
114raw123 4 years ago 8
I agree with you completely. Many people just watch the films but don't study them. I mean from shifting their weight or how they set up a punch with a parry. If he was around today he would be a beast.
prideoftheghetto 4 years ago
Agree The problem is the average fan does not box can cannot really tell the difference between a real punch and sylvester stallone throwing one.The punches above are no different from modern punches. And when they move in they cover just as much ground as modern fighters. In other words same ringspeed. The only difference is, as already noted they don't waste energy bouncing around.
vuxfeon 3 years ago 3
You are right. Class is class; Gans had it. As for the people who criticise low-held hands, they need to try to hold up their hands high with gloves on for just a couple of rounds and they'll see why these guys going 45 held them low.
battenwood 3 years ago 11
@114raw123 boxers these day go life and death at 12, they would be able to do 15. nver mind goin 20,25 or 45 rounds 6 times a year. people forget the conditions they are fighting under, they just look at they low held hands and slow pace and still they'll beat the shit out of a modern boxer just by looking at that nevermind putting them under the same modern training and conditions.
K1LL4K 1 year ago
@114raw123
the way these guys fought, most fighters near the top could do 45 rounds. they wore lighter gloves back then and paced themselves and did not fight at near the pace they fight at now. Now a days boxers are slipping moving timing continuously all at once. On top of that if you watch these guys go 30+ rounds they are Exhausted, hands hanging down by their waist, some times both standing in the middle giving each other breaks. Especially during the HW fights.
suprapower101 1 year ago
@suprapower101 adds another totally clueless post to the pathetic list of youtube boxing "experts."
What a load of crap.
marcxopoco 8 months ago
Thanks Tommy.I think Gans,Benny Leonard and Ali were the smartest boxers of the 20th century. Gans was very important for the devemlopment of the sweet science in America because he was the first american champion that won fights basically using brilliant strategies on the ring.He was the "old master"
abdorodrigo 4 years ago
ali was very flawed technically,
moin126 4 years ago 2
I dont think so.
abdorodrigo 4 years ago
You think wrong, anyone will tell you Ali was technically flawed, that doesn't take away from his as a fighter, his style worked for him.
Mowglieboy69 4 years ago
I know what you mean but Ali still was one of the smartest boxers in the twentieth century
abdorodrigo 4 years ago
Then why did he look like such a fool against Jimmy Young?
marcxopoco 2 years ago
I dont know maybe he wasnt feeling well at that day...
impermanent1979 2 years ago
He was. He broke many rules (Leaned back from punches, held his hands low, etc, etc..) but because he was so quick, he could get away with it.
ihatelifejosemartine 3 years ago 2
So was Gans.
Mowglieboy69 4 years ago 2
thanks for owning him. I couldnt find the words to express how i feel.
moin126 4 years ago
The pace of this fight is extremely slow. A fighter like Duran I believe would where him down within 5rds.
ronoman88 4 years ago
Any modern fighter would.
Mowglieboy69 4 years ago
it was really fucking stupid how joe gans was treated, it was awful, he died of tuberculosis in 1910, he died young
TheUnderb0ss 5 years ago 2
now this is the ultimate battle. joe gans vs. benny leonard
Monsoon62 5 years ago
dmt from esb, im gent ji from same..and a big THANX
rifftides 5 years ago
Thanks A lot! The "Old Master" was indeed one of the all-time greats. His defense was suberb and his speed and combinations were fritening. It has almost been 100 years since the first encounter with Battling Nelson in Nevada.
JMDestro 5 years ago
Gans also had impressive speed and skill
hhhhdmt 5 years ago
huge right cross, beautifully placed and delivered?
hhhhdmt 5 years ago 2
Yeah, I could tell from your username. Awesome right hand, wasn't it?
TommyHearns 5 years ago
thanks alot Tommy, yep it's me dmt from esb
hhhhdmt 5 years ago