[djday45]

I have time for a new project and have decided to go with a strange and wonderful combination. A fictional universe based solely on famous film actors.

Starting in 1920 during the silent period and going foward year by year the universe will use famous actors as its fighters and directors as its trainers and lastly producers as its promoters.

The anaolgies can be taken further with critics as boxing writers, studios as famous gyms and so on.

The ratings will be based on how great a star or actor they were with individuals such as Chaplin and Chaney great fighters and lesser supporting actors fillng in the journeymen status within the universe.

Individuals will fight when they were actually active so this will mean they have hugely long careers but are only considered at prime in the years they had great movies out.

So for example Fairbanks is at prime for the twenties but goes post prime and quickly end from 1929 when the huge flop taming of the shrew came out.

Another example would be Brando who would be prime from the early fifties to early sixties then go post prime until 72 when he made he godfather then stay at prime until 74 when he would be inactive and at post or end until his death.

All actors will be within one division heavyweight and with the large number of quality fighters that will mean it will be a real achievement to get to become world champion let alone stay there.

commisions will be based on cinema organisations such as national board of review, new york film critics, oscar academy etc.

[djday45]

Jan 1st 1920

Today the National Boxing Board of Review announced that boxing is changing from its amateur status to a profesional sport. The Board have been in negotiating with the sports current top amateurs and trainers for over a year and was delighted to announce that nearly all the top amateurs on the current scene both in the US and in Europe are on board and also the board is in the process of bringing over the great amont of training talent curently within the European amateur game.

A world championship tournament will be arranged for this year and the board also announced its initial ratings for January 1920.

1. Harold Lloyd USA
2. Douglas Fairbanks USA
3. Lon Chaney USA
4. John Barrymore USA
5. Richard Barthelmess USA
6. William S Hart USA
7. Roscoe Fatty Arbuckle USA
8. Buster Keaton USA
9. Conrad Veidt Germany
10. Emil Jannings Switzerland

All the fighters will have their records tracked from their first professional fight and a list of trainers already commited to the pros are as follows.

Robert Wiene, DW Griffith, Buster Keaton, Cecil B DeMille, Fred Niblo, Wallace Worsley, Hal Roach, Clarence Brown, Carl Dreyer, Roscoe Fatty Arbuckle
Fritz Lang, Tod Browning, Ersnt Lubitch, John Ford, Victor Sjostrom
FW Murnau, King Vidor and Victor Fleming.

[djday45]

Although there is much to celebrate with the launch of the professional game, it has to be said it is a real disapointment that Charles Chaplin the outstanding amateur fighter in the world had declined all offers to go pro at the moment and stick with the amateurs.

Its been argued that this will devalue the upcoming world title tournament but the board have no choice as Chaplin may never turn pro and the sport is surely bigger than one man.

It can only be hoped that Chaplin will change his mind in the future and grace the pro game with his amazing boxing skill.

[djday45]

Jan 5th 1920 Marseilles France

Boyer a proimising but very raw 21 year old French hope had the honour of winning the first ever recorded pro bout today here in Marseilles.

Boyer won at a breeze starching his helpless fellow galic opponent with a quality right hand half way through the first of a scheduled four rounds.

[BigBoyBrackey]

That punk Chaplin wants no part of Harold Lloyd ...

[PWillisTheMan]

Awesome idea, can't say I'm real familiar with the silent stars. But I'll be following along. The thought of Leonardo DiCaprio or Robin Williams getting smashed in the face makes me smile.

[djday45]

Jan 9th 1920 New York

This was a simple tune up for Barrymore as he prepares for the bigger fish to come. Wildly popular in New York Barrymore was in total charge here his famous fast fists flying in a flamboyant manner on his dejected opponent.

It was a small mercy that the ref took pity when he did to stop the contest. The crowd went into raptures and Barrymore retreated to his dressing room with two very beautiful women.

[djday45]

Winfield January 12th 1920

Pallette a young hulking heavyweight from Winfield made his pro debut here but looked anything but impressive. Carrying way too much weight Pallette huffed and puffed his way to a decision mainly because his opponent seemed very disinterested in tangling with him in any meaningful exchange.

Pallette's sheer size and will may carry him some way but he will have to keep off the burgers if he is going to have any impact within the sport.

[djday45]

Boxing's currently most respected trainer DW Griffith who has done amazing things on the amateur stage since bursting into the sport in 1915 today announced a continuation of the relationship with Richard Barthelmess that started so promisingly last year.

Griffith said "This young kid is the future of American boxing, his dedication to training his ability to learn what I can teach him and his overall skills mean he is in prime position to become the first heavyweight champ and dont forget this boy is getting better by the day"

When asked about to of his main rivals Chaplin and Fairbanks, Griffith had this withering reply.

"Well Charlie Chaplin doesn't like real competition does he, that limey would rather tour the country in meaningless amateur exhibition bouts with unknown local boys than face his proven rivals, yes he is skilled but he thinks hes too big for the sport we dont need him. And as for Doug I had a chance to sign him, yes he is brave and strong and very powerful but my god boys does he like the wine women and song! No sorry boys I like a bit of dedication in my fighters and Fairbanks is more a clown than Lloyd!

[professordp]

I can't wait to see how you rate Lon Chaney---my all time favorite actor!

With all those 1,000 faces he's got to be an "Either"

[Piggy Lid]

Bela Lugosi may need a custom made gumshield...

Originally Posted by professordp

I can't wait to see how you rate Lon Chaney---my all time favorite actor!

With all those 1,000 faces he's got to be an "Either"

[djday45]

14th January 1920 Reno

Harold Lloyd today gave the boxing world some would call a publicity stunt, others would call an inspired piece of athleticism.

Lloyd fought twice here today with but an hours rest in between bouts, his first opponent an inexperienced Noah Young was stopped by knockout in three, his second opponent the more wily Gus Leonard took him the distance in losing a lopsided decision.

In both bouts Lloyd's high aggression and high punch volume style took him to victory and his stamina seemed tip top despite the two opponents.

Reacting to some negative press comments about it being a stunt Lloyd said he would do the same agian soon and said anything that got the American public talking about Pro Boxing was good for the game.

[djday45]

17th January 1920 New York

Valentino an exciting new prospect fresh off the boat from Italy made his pro and US debut here tonight in New York. The fresh faced, handsome European made short work of his American opponent with his powerful fast albeit sometimes a bit wild crosses and uppercuts.

Bond was soon dazed and then on the floor from Valentino's slashing attacks and the stoppage came soon after. A great debut performance from a charismatic young boxer,

[djday45]

21st January 1920. Berlin

The first major European boxing card today featured the talents of the major European big three of current boxing Conrad Veidt, Emil Jannings and Werner Krauss.
Veidt and Krauss both German nationals hail from the talented Robert Wiene stable and Jannings although born a Swiss citizen has lived in Germany many years and is seen as German by most is currently trained by the talented Ernst Lubitch. All three fighters had successful debuts with Krauss in particular with something to prove as he was left out of the fight rating top ten of the National Boxing Board of review.

First up was an undercard bout featuring the amateur German veteran Rudolph Klein-Rogge who has been a amateur star in Germany for years and has decided to turn pro he defeated Ludwig Rex in a bout which was a bit of a struggle for him with a majority decision over four rounds.

Next up was Werner Krauss who defeated Henri Peters-Arnolds in a clear decision over four. Krauss seemed very laid back and was unable to finish his opponent off.

After this was Emil Jannings turn and he looked very impressive in stopping Rudolph Lettinger in the fourth on cuts. In the second Lettinger suffered a wide gash over his eye and Jannings punished it terribly until the ref stopped the blood letting.

Finally Conrad Veidt topped the bill and did not let his fans down knocking out Friedrich Frier in two with a series of smooth combinations.

All three of Germany's big stars came through their first test and Wiene and Lubitch were quick to point out the current rumor of having only eight entries into the world championship tourney will leave there men out in the cold and as the top eight are all American it will do little to make it a "world" title.

[Jersey-Jim]

Good concept! I loved Lon Chaney and Chaney Jr. In this world, though, it may be the punches that turns Lon's mug into 1,000 faces!

[professordp]

The problem with Conrad Veidt is that he might fall asleep if the fight goes the distance!

[Lee]

Cool concept, we need a year end "Oscars" show for fighter of year, fight of the year, etc.

[bear]

Bravo, bravo. This is a really fun idea.

[djday45]

Originally Posted by bear

Bravo, bravo. This is a really fun idea.

Thanks chaps, really glad your enjoying it. If you have any ideas for adding to the universe or more analogies that will work by all means pipe up.

[djday45]

23rd January 1920 Kansas City

Today the Beery brothers Wallace and Noah turned pro. Both were victorious in their debuts against the back drop of a large partisan crowd of rabid supporters.
first up was younger brother Wallace Beery who was considered a little dynamite in the amateur ranks he showed why here tearing into his British opponent Nigel De Brulier from the outset and not giving him room to breathe let alone fight. Wallace was rough and tough and despite his trainer Clarence Brown trying to get him to calm down he by mid way in the second left his opponent in a crumpled heap from a vicious left hook, the ref soon stopped the contest.

His older brother Noah was next fighting Tom O'Brien. the juryis split to whois the more talented brother as Noah although like his brother a slugger has not shown his power or aggression on the plus side of the ledger he has shown more dedication to the sport and seems more patient in the ring.
Noah started slowly but listening to Brown in his corner soon got the measure of his man and by the 4th was landing at will without reply which forced a deserved stoppage.

The brothers both celebrated their pro debut wins but the opposition will become much harder.