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JCWeb · 02-02-2007, 09:45 PM

1916 HW Division Profile

Total: 153 RL: 79 TCs: 74

RL By Career Stage:
End - 5
Post- 10
Prime - 45
Pre - 16
Beginning - 3 (New -3)

Rated: 64
800+: 11
500+: 21
200+: 52

Jan 1917 Rankings (Perf Pts and Changes from 1916 in Parens):

Champ: Sam McVey 45-10-2 (28) (1494) (NC)
1. Sam Langford 54-8-1 (42) (1413) (NC)
2. Jack Johnson 73-9-6 (51) (1323) (NC)
3. Joe Jeannette 44-7 (31) (1216) (NC)
4. Harry Wills 23-2-1 (19) (1167) (+1)
5. Tommy Burns 45-12-3 (31) (1129) (-1)
6. Colin Bell 23-10-3 (11) (1010) (NC)
7. Frank Moran 30-11-1 (18) (909) (+2)
8. Jeff Clarke 28-8-2 (21) (892) (-1)
9. Gunboat Smith 26-8-1 (18) (858) (+2)
10. Bartley Madden 21-2-3 (11) (802) (-2)

Comments: McVey is clearly the top HW, having won his last 10 in a row and successfully defended against the top contender, Langford. Langford did look impressive in wins over Flint, Jeannette and Gunboat Smith to maintain his spot as top contender despite not holding any title. Johnson, now at End career stage, and Jeannette, who moves to Post in 1917, are the only top contenders not at Prime career stage. Johnson's two major wins (SD over Moran and MD versus Madden) kept him from demonstrating the effects of aging, probably for the last time. Wills fought only twice, defending his USBA belt but only managing a draw with CBU champ, Burns. Burns had another up-and-down year, defending the CBU belt versus lesser competition but losing to Jeannette. Bell looked impressive in a KO win over up-and-coming New Zealander Albert Pooley, but his career has been momentarily stalled by his recent WBA title defeat at the hands of McVey.
Moran had a solid year, with decision wins over Gunboat and Homer Smith and KOs versus Jim Coffey and Charley Miller, with the narrow NABF title loss to Jack Johnson the only blemish. Joplin Ghost Jeff Clarke won three in a row versus Bell, Miske and Battling Jim Johnson but a severe KO 2 loss to Gunboat Smith stalled his progress. Smith moved to the top 10 by virtue of that win, but the loss to Langford dropped him back one spot. Bartley Madden clung to the #10 spot with the excellent performance (a draw) with Dempsey to go with a UD 10 win over Miller despite a loss to Jack Johnson.

Other Notables: The saga of the "Manassa Mauler," Jack Dempsey has been well chronicled, and he debuts in the year-end list at #11, just one spot short of the top ten (a win over Madden in bout #19 would have put him there). Right behind him at #12 is the quintessential Great White Hope, big Jess Willard, who slipped two spots after a KO loss to Jeannette but registered a UD 10 versus EBU titleholder Otto Flint. Jess' career record now stands at 21-3 (14). EBU champ Flint stands at #14 with a 21-5-2 (18) mark and 652 pp, as the loss to Willard prevented further progress. Billy Miske is ranked #13 after wins over Miller and LH Jack Dillon but a loss to Clarke kept him from advancing further; his career record of 19-2-1 (11) is an excellent one. Fred Fulton, who started by reeling off 16 consecutive wins, has lost his last two to Wills and Dempsey to drop him to 16-2 (11), good for 15th overall. Irishman Bob Devere debuts at #19, after suffering his first loss to fellow Irishman Jim Coffey; his overall record is now 14-1-1 (10). Bill Brennan, now #17 at 17-4 (14), struggled when faced with tougher competition, suffering consecutive defeats at the hands of Bell and Gunboat Smith. New Zealander Pooley was unbeaten but dropped to 15-2 (12) and the #20 spot after KO losses to Bell and Coffey. GBU HW champs still get no respect in the rankings, and Joe Beckett looks to improve on his #29 ranking -- 18-5 (17) career mark with 407 pp -- in 1917.

Prospects: All the HW prospects who debuted in 1915 and 1916 are still unbeaten, having feasted on TC opposition. Leading the way are Agile Andre Anderson at 9-0 (8) and Bud Gorman at 9-0 (4). German Paul Samson-Korner has won all seven of his bouts inside the distance. Fat LaRue at 5-0 (3) and Aussie George Cook at 5-0 (1) have also kept their records unblemished.

Retirements: Five HWs hung up the gloves in 1916, not counting former LH and HW champ Philly Jack O'Brien who will be listed in the LH report.

Bill Lang (AUS) 1905-1916 20-18-2 (10) No Titles Highest ranking: 17
Joseph "Jewey" Smith (SAF) 1908-16 14-15-2 (9) No Titles Highest rank: 15
Gunner Moir (UK) 1903-1916 23-23-3 (12) EBU, GBU Champ Highest rank:14
Charles Horn (USA) 1910-16 15-12-1 (5) No Titles Highest rank: 24
Mike Schreck (USA) 1900-16 36-26-1 (24) USBA Title Highest rank: 7

Looking Ahead: Another WBA title try could be in the offing for Wills in 1917, with perhaps a greater prospect for success this time around. Look for Johnson and Jeannette to finally drop in the ratings, and the newer guys like Dempsey, Willard, Miske, Brennan and Fulton should start crashing the Top 10 ranks and perhaps annex a lesser title belt. Flint could be vulnerable to a EBU title challenge from someone like Madden, and a Burns-Bell matchup for the CBU title could be interesting. Leading the new crop of HWs for 1917 are Brit Herbert Crossley and "The Wild Bull of the Pampas," Luis Firpo.

Predictions: First, a look back at last year. The "bold" one -- Jack Johnson regaining the WBA belt -- did not happen. However, I did OK with the other forecasts, as Dempsey reached the top 20 (almost the top 10) despite the KO streak being snapped. Fulton did lose -- twice. Wells lost the GBU belt to one of the two boxers mentioned (Beckett) and the only one that didn't come true (Flint dropping the EBU belt to Madden) didn't happen as the two did not meet.
For next year, my "bold" prediction will be that Harry Wills will take the WBA crown from McVey. Still too soon for Dempsey to reach the top spot, but I will predict a NABF or USBA title for Jack, probably after another tune-up fight or two. I will once again predict Madden over Flint for the EBU belt, and look for Frank Moran to move up to the top five by year's end.

02-02-2007, 09:45 PM	#249 (permalink)
JCWeb All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 723	1916-Heavyweights Part II 1916 HW Division Profile Total: 153 RL: 79 TCs: 74 RL By Career Stage: End - 5 Post- 10 Prime - 45 Pre - 16 Beginning - 3 (New -3) Rated: 64 800+: 11 500+: 21 200+: 52 Jan 1917 Rankings (Perf Pts and Changes from 1916 in Parens): Champ: Sam McVey 45-10-2 (28) (1494) (NC) 1. Sam Langford 54-8-1 (42) (1413) (NC) 2. Jack Johnson 73-9-6 (51) (1323) (NC) 3. Joe Jeannette 44-7 (31) (1216) (NC) 4. Harry Wills 23-2-1 (19) (1167) (+1) 5. Tommy Burns 45-12-3 (31) (1129) (-1) 6. Colin Bell 23-10-3 (11) (1010) (NC) 7. Frank Moran 30-11-1 (18) (909) (+2) 8. Jeff Clarke 28-8-2 (21) (892) (-1) 9. Gunboat Smith 26-8-1 (18) (858) (+2) 10. Bartley Madden 21-2-3 (11) (802) (-2) Comments: McVey is clearly the top HW, having won his last 10 in a row and successfully defended against the top contender, Langford. Langford did look impressive in wins over Flint, Jeannette and Gunboat Smith to maintain his spot as top contender despite not holding any title. Johnson, now at End career stage, and Jeannette, who moves to Post in 1917, are the only top contenders not at Prime career stage. Johnson's two major wins (SD over Moran and MD versus Madden) kept him from demonstrating the effects of aging, probably for the last time. Wills fought only twice, defending his USBA belt but only managing a draw with CBU champ, Burns. Burns had another up-and-down year, defending the CBU belt versus lesser competition but losing to Jeannette. Bell looked impressive in a KO win over up-and-coming New Zealander Albert Pooley, but his career has been momentarily stalled by his recent WBA title defeat at the hands of McVey. Moran had a solid year, with decision wins over Gunboat and Homer Smith and KOs versus Jim Coffey and Charley Miller, with the narrow NABF title loss to Jack Johnson the only blemish. Joplin Ghost Jeff Clarke won three in a row versus Bell, Miske and Battling Jim Johnson but a severe KO 2 loss to Gunboat Smith stalled his progress. Smith moved to the top 10 by virtue of that win, but the loss to Langford dropped him back one spot. Bartley Madden clung to the #10 spot with the excellent performance (a draw) with Dempsey to go with a UD 10 win over Miller despite a loss to Jack Johnson. Other Notables: The saga of the "Manassa Mauler," Jack Dempsey has been well chronicled, and he debuts in the year-end list at #11, just one spot short of the top ten (a win over Madden in bout #19 would have put him there). Right behind him at #12 is the quintessential Great White Hope, big Jess Willard, who slipped two spots after a KO loss to Jeannette but registered a UD 10 versus EBU titleholder Otto Flint. Jess' career record now stands at 21-3 (14). EBU champ Flint stands at #14 with a 21-5-2 (18) mark and 652 pp, as the loss to Willard prevented further progress. Billy Miske is ranked #13 after wins over Miller and LH Jack Dillon but a loss to Clarke kept him from advancing further; his career record of 19-2-1 (11) is an excellent one. Fred Fulton, who started by reeling off 16 consecutive wins, has lost his last two to Wills and Dempsey to drop him to 16-2 (11), good for 15th overall. Irishman Bob Devere debuts at #19, after suffering his first loss to fellow Irishman Jim Coffey; his overall record is now 14-1-1 (10). Bill Brennan, now #17 at 17-4 (14), struggled when faced with tougher competition, suffering consecutive defeats at the hands of Bell and Gunboat Smith. New Zealander Pooley was unbeaten but dropped to 15-2 (12) and the #20 spot after KO losses to Bell and Coffey. GBU HW champs still get no respect in the rankings, and Joe Beckett looks to improve on his #29 ranking -- 18-5 (17) career mark with 407 pp -- in 1917. Prospects: All the HW prospects who debuted in 1915 and 1916 are still unbeaten, having feasted on TC opposition. Leading the way are Agile Andre Anderson at 9-0 (8) and Bud Gorman at 9-0 (4). German Paul Samson-Korner has won all seven of his bouts inside the distance. Fat LaRue at 5-0 (3) and Aussie George Cook at 5-0 (1) have also kept their records unblemished. Retirements: Five HWs hung up the gloves in 1916, not counting former LH and HW champ Philly Jack O'Brien who will be listed in the LH report. Bill Lang (AUS) 1905-1916 20-18-2 (10) No Titles Highest ranking: 17 Joseph "Jewey" Smith (SAF) 1908-16 14-15-2 (9) No Titles Highest rank: 15 Gunner Moir (UK) 1903-1916 23-23-3 (12) EBU, GBU Champ Highest rank:14 Charles Horn (USA) 1910-16 15-12-1 (5) No Titles Highest rank: 24 Mike Schreck (USA) 1900-16 36-26-1 (24) USBA Title Highest rank: 7 Looking Ahead: Another WBA title try could be in the offing for Wills in 1917, with perhaps a greater prospect for success this time around. Look for Johnson and Jeannette to finally drop in the ratings, and the newer guys like Dempsey, Willard, Miske, Brennan and Fulton should start crashing the Top 10 ranks and perhaps annex a lesser title belt. Flint could be vulnerable to a EBU title challenge from someone like Madden, and a Burns-Bell matchup for the CBU title could be interesting. Leading the new crop of HWs for 1917 are Brit Herbert Crossley and "The Wild Bull of the Pampas," Luis Firpo. Predictions: First, a look back at last year. The "bold" one -- Jack Johnson regaining the WBA belt -- did not happen. However, I did OK with the other forecasts, as Dempsey reached the top 20 (almost the top 10) despite the KO streak being snapped. Fulton did lose -- twice. Wells lost the GBU belt to one of the two boxers mentioned (Beckett) and the only one that didn't come true (Flint dropping the EBU belt to Madden) didn't happen as the two did not meet. For next year, my "bold" prediction will be that Harry Wills will take the WBA crown from McVey. Still too soon for Dempsey to reach the top spot, but I will predict a NABF or USBA title for Jack, probably after another tune-up fight or two. I will once again predict Madden over Flint for the EBU belt, and look for Frank Moran to move up to the top five by year's end.