Jake Kilrain compares eras, 1931

roughdiamond · Apr 22, 2025 at 9:54 AM

Melankomas said: ↑

What do I think of Dempsey? Well, not much. He is a nice fellow, but who did he beat? His greatest fight was against Firpo, who was big and strong but as green as the hills of Killarney. This talk of Jeffries and Dempsey being the greatest of all champions is a lot of hokum. Neither one fought real opponents. Big Jim was a natural mauler who happened along when no other good man was fighting. Jack Johnson would have beaten him in his prime.
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Jake Kilrain, the first ESB poster.

Melankomas · Apr 22, 2025 at 10:01 AM

roughdiamond said: ↑

Jake Kilrain, the first ESB poster.
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Jake “too much man, too much tan” Kilrain

The Undefeated Lachbuster · Apr 22, 2025 at 10:03 AM

Melankomas said: ↑

I think Peter Jackson was the greatest fighter since John L. No, John wasn't afraid of Jackson. But he did have cause to be if he ever feared anyone. Sullivan told me one time that he 'wouldn't have anything to do with him,' and he really meant it. He would have fought him in a minute if he were white.
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Did Seamus somehow manage to invent time travel and wrote this article himself?

Fergy · Apr 22, 2025 at 10:42 AM

apollack said: ↑

My personal view is every era has excellent fighters who could fight in future eras and past eras. Appreciate them. A good fighter is a good fighter. But all you can do is try to be the best in your own era. Most of these guys came up poor and were just trying to earn as much money as they could.
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Lennox Lewis' was pretty much called during his era.
He gets respect now, at least more than he used to.

Seamus · Apr 22, 2025 at 12:40 PM

Kilrain was a lot more right than he was wrong.

HistoryZero26 · Apr 22, 2025 at 4:51 PM

Melankomas said: ↑

'If John L Sullivan were living today and in his prime he still would be champion of them all. And when I say that, I'm thinking of Tunney, Dempsey, Sharkey, Loughran, Carnera and all the rest of the present dance masters. Why these fellows could not have stood up five rounds with a good bare knuckle fighter back in the '80's. Sure and mind me, I'm not saying anything about these youngsters. They're just as good as they have to be. If the fans do not demand more why should they kiII themselves?

It gives me a laugh when I hear people saying that Jack Dempsey and Benny Leonard are too old to fight. They're really only youngsters, and if they had not taken things so soft when they reached the top they would still be fighting. However, they can come back if they try. But to do that they will have to buckle down, forget the easy part of life that they did not know when they started, and begin all over again. I do not expect them to do that, but it's the only way for them to get any place.

What do I think of Dempsey? Well, not much. He is a nice fellow, but who did he beat? His greatest fight was against Firpo, who was big and strong but as green as the hills of Killarney. This talk of Jeffries and Dempsey being the greatest of all champions is a lot of hokum. Neither one fought real opponents. Big Jim was a natural mauler who happened along when no other good man was fighting. Jack Johnson would have beaten him in his prime.

I think Peter Jackson was the greatest fighter since John L. No, John wasn't afraid of Jackson. But he did have cause to be if he ever feared anyone. Sullivan told me one time that he 'wouldn't have anything to do with him,' and he really meant it. He would have fought him in a minute if he were white.

[Jack] Sharkey is the best of the heavyweights now. Schmeling is coming along fast and in another year he will have a good chance of beating Jack, but I don't believe he could do it today. What else is the matter with the fighters of 1931? Well, besides taking things too easy, they have not mastered the greatest art in boxing. That of making an opponent do what he does not want to do.

Most of you young fellows believe that the boxers of the '80's were nothing but a lot of maulers. That is not so. They knew the art of feinting as no fighter today does. Even John L, who was reputed to be a puncher and nothing else, could open a hole the size of an aerodrome door on Carnera. He did not step around much, but he could hit you when you least expected it.

That reminds me, what a match Carnera and John would make. Primo wouldn’t be able to go back to sheep herding after John let him have a couple of those breezers he tossed at me back in 1889. I saw Carnera when he fought Maloney in Boston. I got so pepped up during the bout, my son thought I was going to hop in the ring myself. He is fast for a big man, but I would have liked to get at him when I was in my prime.

If the newspaper reporters heard me say that I'd have a flock of those new-fangled boxing managers on my neck telling me what a conceited old cuss I am. I'm saying what I think, however, and if the present-day boxers think they're as good as Jackson, Ryan, Sullivan and the others I won't say anything, for there was never a man who could fight thinking he was no good.'

- Jake Kilrain, Star Weekly (Toronto, Canada) - Saturday 5th December 1931
Kpo
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Sullivan ducked a lot more fighters than just Peter Jackson.

Seamus · Apr 22, 2025 at 6:47 PM

HistoryZero26 said: ↑

Sullivan ducked a lot more fighters than just Peter Jackson.
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Dude probably fought a thousand men including his road shows. And yes, there were times he was open to a Jackson bout that never got made. Such were his times. He didn't duck S.

He would demolish anyone up till Louis and go even with Louis over a 4 bout run.

Senya13 · Apr 23, 2025 at 5:45 AM

Melankomas said: ↑

Why these fellows could not have stood up five rounds with a good bare knuckle fighter back in the '80's.
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Pure BS. 1st, there weren't many good bare knuckle fighters in the 1880s. 2nd, it doesn't take much class to last 5 rounds in a LPR fight.

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Jake Kilrain compares eras, 1931

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Jake Kilrain compares eras, 1931

roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

Melankomas Prime Jeffries would demolish a grizzly in 2 Full Member

The Undefeated Lachbuster On the Italian agenda Full Member

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