To everyone who says "they have no footwork" just remember these guys use to go 40 rounds. They couldn't go hopping around all pretty like we do nowadays for 40 rounds. Anybody's legs would cramp up after 18+ rounds of moving around like Mayweather, Pacquiao, Cotto, Roy Jones, Sugar Ray Leonard, Erislandy Lara, Rigondeax, Canelo. It was different in the old days. They had to develop a different kind of technique to be able to last 40 rounds. They keep a sturdy stance in order to reserve energy and be able to make it down the stretch. Also keep in mind these guys use to fight with thin open hand gloves so they could literally hold each other in the clinch, kinda like in MMA minus all the kicking, wrestling and jujitsu. But still, these guys had to develop a completely different kind of inside boxing game that could last 40 rounds. Now it's 6-12 rounds with thick closed fist gloves so the inside boxing game is completely different. It's a lot cleaner now but a lot of the tricks old timers used back then could still be used today if applied a little differently. Back then in the pocket fighters would push the other fighters bicep or shoulder right as they're throwing a punch.
0:54 That dodge was epic! Joe Gans was so spry and agile, especially on the back foot and his head movement + parrying were on point. I always marvel at his physique for that day and age; truly ahead of his time was 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.
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.
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."
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.
Sparring, road work, bag work, mitts... the same stuff fighters do today... only fighters in the good old days were conditioned well enough to fight twice a week, not twice a year.
Would be more endless rounds of shadow boxing and sparring and for sure ur list except mitts. But they all grew up fighting and needing to fight for food and to support themselves and their loved ones. Dempsy used to be knocked down 11 times just in a round but he would never give in because it's what he needed to do. Fighters today don't have that struggle it's easy for them to give up it's more natural in todays society.
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.
WOW! Joe Gans is probably even more fun to watch than many modern boxers! I wish there was more footage of him. He had such great timing, accurate punching, amazing reflexes, footwork, and parrying! He was the total package, and way ahead of his time! His physique was also phenomenal for back then (and even now)!
This unheralded pioneer ring general was one of the true greats. Both of his biographies are good reading. William Gildea's "The Longest Fight: In the Ring with Joe Gans" was my favorite of the two.
Pete Herman maybe the best inside fighter ever,this dude was blind in one eye so he had no choice to fight inside,and he did very well for many years hall of famer both men are very skilled both men,Herman was old here and still giving gans fits
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.
This is for chunky Scott. You are wrong my friend. Gans is near perfect fighter.I think you would find the modern fighter would have to adapt to him. Why would gans have to adapt to anything when he holds the skill advantage. His arguably and its very strong argument the most skill ful fighter ever. Like some here eluded to boxing has dessovled not evolved that's fact. I think gans is the best ever
@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.
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!
@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.
@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.
Hugh Hefner well they are usually the words of those who were there and watched, trained and fought these legendary fighters. So yeah I think I'll take their word above yours. Many of those who had the privilege of watching Gans' best fights considered him the greatest fighter they had ever seen. And they are those such as Boxing historian Monte Cox who say that Gans makes an argument for being the greatest fighter who ever fought
