Gans, George Dixon, and so many of the great black fighters of the late 1800's and early 1900's were the innovators of standing in front of opponents and making them miss in the center of the ring. Racist spectators would try to hit them in the shins with their fists or objects or hook their ankles so the guys learned to fight out of their reach. Incredible.
@joe123090 No that is the original Joe Walcott, the Barbados Demon pictured with Gans before their 20 round draw (that most ringsiders had Gans winning) Sept 30, 1904.
@joe123090 No its Joe Walcott, the picture appeared in the papers. I have the newspapers. Its not Langford. Its Joe Walcott. As far as Langford beating Gans in 1904 by decision yes but it was his second fight in 24 hours, after winning a decision against Dave Holly in Philly he had to travel up the eastern seaboard by train for a fight in Boston the next day and was understanbly drained but still fought well in early rounds.
@coxscorner did you see film on that fight? that be a classic fight to watch. you know i was going through Joe Gans record at boxrec and i found that he fought 5 fights in one day and get this, all KOs or TKO. unbelievable but thats why they must of called him the Old Master.
I think Joe Gans is the most forgotten P4P great. For me, he belong in the same class as Sugar Ray Robinson, Herny Armstrong, Sam Langford. In my own P4P top ten list, I would rank him No. 3. Some say he is the equivalent to Sugar Ray Robinson or even better. This is very disputed. I must admit Joe Gans is often left out in a lot of P4P greatest list.
the grainy film on these old turn of the century fights,rarely give justice on the skills of these fighters.the black and white picture and frame speed make it hard to gauge.still a great upload.thanks.these films are great.
of course i accept numerous expert opinions that he was great. in still pics he looks very well conditioned,but honestly i cant see anything in these primitives videos,for me they're almost useless.its the way it is,but its a shame.oh well.
@dempsey981 The film quality is low because its over 100 years old but if u look carefully you can Gans cut the ring, and deliver a deadly accurate - Joe Louis like - right hand with power that flattens his opponent. You can also see he moves around the ring well enough and uses techniques like a wing chun stop hit. Unfortunately these promitive films is all we have but it does give us a glimpse of his ability.
@coxscorner well,yes of course the film is very old by film standards,and yes one can see some things.accounts of Gans abilitys are very very positive,and ALOT of qualified fight people have praised him.he is notable for his loud trigger step punch method.observers often commented on how loud his left foot sounded as he fell or stepped into his weight bearing big shotsGans hit very hard in this way..
Those old records are very incomplete. It has been estimated that Boxrec, for example only has accounts of 5% of all fights ever fought. The first Britt fight is a known fake where Gans thru the fight. fighters often made bets on fights to make extra money, there was no tv then or guaranteed purses. Thats just how it was. Although it must be said Britt was considered a top contender at the time.
Can't help wishing that the film were clearer, while understanding why it isn't. Even so, Gans' reputation is secure. Benny Leonard admired him hugely. That alone is enough to insure Joe's place in boxing history.
I honestly believe he was the greatest. He fought middleweight and at times heavyweight boxers! He fought a 42 round match with TB and won. He created many techniques which jack johnson, joe louis tried. He was soooooooo good that he was loved by every race. I cannot believe that he is not put as one of the greatest p4p.
Fighters then were more boxer-punchers. They didn't dance around unless it was truly necessary. Then you always had your money's worth watching classic fights.
JOE GANS fué el primer boxeador negro de Estados Unidos qué fué campeón del mundo ,los 2 primeros boxeadores negros campeones del mundo fuerón el canadiense George Dixon y el caribeño Joe Walcott.
Joe gan's must have been a great fighter. It's a shame he died of tuberclosis so young. He was the first black fighter to win a world championship. My dream lightweight match would be Gans against Henry armstrong. Great post thanks.
I looked @ some boxing films from the 1930's & earlier times and I don't c how Joe Gans, Benny Leonard & other boxers of that era can compete with Sugar Ray Leonard, Floyd Mayweather Jr & Oscar Dela Hoya.
I agree.The Gans-Herman footage is very clear and close to natural speed. You can see how good he was. The only real difference between the 12 rd. fighters of today and the 20+ rd. fighters of long ago is that there was more economy of movement by the old timers. Do you know if there is any other footage of Gans (other than the McGovern fight)?
@coxscorner i looked at record--having more then 20-30 fights he fought with 1,2, 0 f boxers sometimes and even 6-10 rounds. and 4 times knockdown with Britt he WAS-but DQ-Britt. HOW HE COULD BE GOOD IF HAD PROBLEMS with beginners?
@lovethick If Floyd Mayweather had actually fought a WW in his 7 years in the class, i could see an argument for it. But as Floyd beats up smaller guys with a style which is unarguably a throwback to the old days of boxing, I don't see how Gans couldn't match up well with him.
Footage is from Gans-Nelson 1 and Gans-Herman. The footage is 100 years old so the film looks primitive, but if you can see whats going on, Gans uses his jab, throws combinations, a flurry, cuts the ring, and makes his opponent miss and counters well.
thanks Monte. I think he was a top 3 all time lightweight along with Duran and Benny. Who do you think would win between Gans and Duran at their best?
Gans, George Dixon, and so many of the great black fighters of the late 1800's and early 1900's were the innovators of standing in front of opponents and making them miss in the center of the ring. Racist spectators would try to hit them in the shins with their fists or objects or hook their ankles so the guys learned to fight out of their reach. Incredible.
diamondman420 3 weeks ago
is that joe gans and sam langford at 2:14
joe123090 3 months ago
@joe123090 No that is the original Joe Walcott, the Barbados Demon pictured with Gans before their 20 round draw (that most ringsiders had Gans winning) Sept 30, 1904.
coxscorner 3 months ago
@coxscorner kind of looks like langford
joe123090 3 months ago
@coxscorner hey that might be langford. it really looks like him and gans vs langford did happen. langford won the 15 round by points
joe123090 3 months ago
@joe123090 No its Joe Walcott, the picture appeared in the papers. I have the newspapers. Its not Langford. Its Joe Walcott. As far as Langford beating Gans in 1904 by decision yes but it was his second fight in 24 hours, after winning a decision against Dave Holly in Philly he had to travel up the eastern seaboard by train for a fight in Boston the next day and was understanbly drained but still fought well in early rounds.
coxscorner 3 months ago
@coxscorner did you see film on that fight? that be a classic fight to watch. you know i was going through Joe Gans record at boxrec and i found that he fought 5 fights in one day and get this, all KOs or TKO. unbelievable but thats why they must of called him the Old Master.
joe123090 3 months ago
@joe123090 indeed its the barbados demon
alexfromgalax87 2 months ago
from 1=14 onwards you can see he had great class
BOXINGFANFAN 10 months ago
One of the most complete fighters ever!
expressivechild 1 year ago
I think Joe Gans is the most forgotten P4P great. For me, he belong in the same class as Sugar Ray Robinson, Herny Armstrong, Sam Langford. In my own P4P top ten list, I would rank him No. 3. Some say he is the equivalent to Sugar Ray Robinson or even better. This is very disputed. I must admit Joe Gans is often left out in a lot of P4P greatest list.
expressivechild 1 year ago
@expressivechild - I've moved Gans into my top spot at L.W. Benny Leonard would be second and Duran third.
1899sharkey 1 year ago
@1899sharkey - So where do you rank Ray Robinson then?
expressivechild 1 year ago
@expressivechild - Robinson is no. 1 at welterweight. Gans is my top lightweight. Robinson is my no. 1 p4p fighter followed by Langford and Greb.
1899sharkey 1 year ago
@1899sharkey - Your top 3 P4P is the same as mine! =)
expressivechild 1 year ago
@1899sharkey I have to include Roberto Duran as one of the top lightweights of all time. His power at that weight was unbelievable.
andrewr62 3 months ago
@andrewr62 - Either one, two, or three. Imo, Gans, B.leonard and Duran stand out as the best at lightweight.
1899sharkey 3 months ago
@1899sharkey You mean we finally agree on somthing? Who knew?
andrewr62 3 months ago
the grainy film on these old turn of the century fights,rarely give justice on the skills of these fighters.the black and white picture and frame speed make it hard to gauge.still a great upload.thanks.these films are great.
reg5381 1 year ago
Marvelous talent. One of the finest to get in the ring.
blundell1818 1 year ago
of course i accept numerous expert opinions that he was great. in still pics he looks very well conditioned,but honestly i cant see anything in these primitives videos,for me they're almost useless.its the way it is,but its a shame.oh well.
dempsey981 1 year ago
@dempsey981 The film quality is low because its over 100 years old but if u look carefully you can Gans cut the ring, and deliver a deadly accurate - Joe Louis like - right hand with power that flattens his opponent. You can also see he moves around the ring well enough and uses techniques like a wing chun stop hit. Unfortunately these promitive films is all we have but it does give us a glimpse of his ability.
coxscorner 1 year ago
@coxscorner well,yes of course the film is very old by film standards,and yes one can see some things.accounts of Gans abilitys are very very positive,and ALOT of qualified fight people have praised him.he is notable for his loud trigger step punch method.observers often commented on how loud his left foot sounded as he fell or stepped into his weight bearing big shotsGans hit very hard in this way..
dempsey981 1 year ago
@dempsey981 I wish they had film of Jem Mace in action, we're lucky to have any film of these legends.
gregluland 11 months ago
Those old records are very incomplete. It has been estimated that Boxrec, for example only has accounts of 5% of all fights ever fought. The first Britt fight is a known fake where Gans thru the fight. fighters often made bets on fights to make extra money, there was no tv then or guaranteed purses. Thats just how it was. Although it must be said Britt was considered a top contender at the time.
coxscorner 1 year ago
Gans is a top 5 lightweight along with Leonard, Duran,I. Williams,and Arguello.
1899sharkey 1 year ago
Can't help wishing that the film were clearer, while understanding why it isn't. Even so, Gans' reputation is secure. Benny Leonard admired him hugely. That alone is enough to insure Joe's place in boxing history.
stevevandien 1 year ago
I honestly believe he was the greatest. He fought middleweight and at times heavyweight boxers! He fought a 42 round match with TB and won. He created many techniques which jack johnson, joe louis tried. He was soooooooo good that he was loved by every race. I cannot believe that he is not put as one of the greatest p4p.
generaldiehardmamba 1 year ago
Fighters then were more boxer-punchers. They didn't dance around unless it was truly necessary. Then you always had your money's worth watching classic fights.
Cezanne 1 year ago
1:53 He was out like a light before he hit the ropes.
nazikiwe 2 years ago
I love the knockout at the end and the way he walks away. class.
greatest902 2 years ago 4
JOE GANS fué el primer boxeador negro de Estados Unidos qué fué campeón del mundo ,los 2 primeros boxeadores negros campeones del mundo fuerón el canadiense George Dixon y el caribeño Joe Walcott.
ConanyKull 2 years ago
Joe gan's must have been a great fighter. It's a shame he died of tuberclosis so young. He was the first black fighter to win a world championship. My dream lightweight match would be Gans against Henry armstrong. Great post thanks.
greatest902 2 years ago 2
amazing fighter, with a very impressive record
reznick8 3 years ago 2
This has gotta be the most overused song ever for a youtube video. But, nice seeing Joe Gans
DIMMUSAKURABA 3 years ago 7
oh no, definitely not lol, but a few of my family members take up the sport on my mother's side.
Twilight008 3 years ago
cool! I'm actually a dirct descendant of joe gans!
Twilight008 3 years ago
i'm sorry, a DIRECT descendant of Joe Gans lol
Twilight008 3 years ago
I looked @ some boxing films from the 1930's & earlier times and I don't c how Joe Gans, Benny Leonard & other boxers of that era can compete with Sugar Ray Leonard, Floyd Mayweather Jr & Oscar Dela Hoya.
lovethick 3 years ago
That's because you don't know what your seeing.
coxscorner 3 years ago 2
I agree.The Gans-Herman footage is very clear and close to natural speed. You can see how good he was. The only real difference between the 12 rd. fighters of today and the 20+ rd. fighters of long ago is that there was more economy of movement by the old timers. Do you know if there is any other footage of Gans (other than the McGovern fight)?
muskratrowdy 3 years ago 2
I have some shots from the Gans-Nelson 1 film in the first part of the video.
coxscorner 3 years ago
@coxscorner i looked at record--having more then 20-30 fights he fought with 1,2, 0 f boxers sometimes and even 6-10 rounds. and 4 times knockdown with Britt he WAS-but DQ-Britt. HOW HE COULD BE GOOD IF HAD PROBLEMS with beginners?
martpast1 1 year ago
@lovethick If Floyd Mayweather had actually fought a WW in his 7 years in the class, i could see an argument for it. But as Floyd beats up smaller guys with a style which is unarguably a throwback to the old days of boxing, I don't see how Gans couldn't match up well with him.
jitteryjoe 11 months ago
@lovethick FMW? LOL
runtinsweet 10 months ago
Great post. From which fights was this compiled?
Gans was a great and is honored with a statue outside Madison Square Garden. Died at a tragically young age.
PeerlessPaavo 3 years ago
Footage is from Gans-Nelson 1 and Gans-Herman. The footage is 100 years old so the film looks primitive, but if you can see whats going on, Gans uses his jab, throws combinations, a flurry, cuts the ring, and makes his opponent miss and counters well.
coxscorner 3 years ago
thanks Monte. I think he was a top 3 all time lightweight along with Duran and Benny. Who do you think would win between Gans and Duran at their best?
hhhhdmt 4 years ago
Great post! Thanks.
carbert68 4 years ago