Best fighters of the 1950s, part 1

Martin Mulcahey/Maxboxing.com

The 1950's brought the world a return to sanity. Bombs were now landing in boxing rings instead of raining down upon European and Asian cities. The decade ushered in a sporting renaissance, one that perhaps even exceeded the famed "Golden age of Sports” of the 1920's. The argument can easily be made that the advent of television, and the perfecting of radio as a sports medium, made the 1950's more accessible for sport fans, since people were no longer confined to the action in their hometowns.

Boxing was brought into homes via the famed Gillette Friday Night Fights (from 1948 to 1960) by NBC television. Football, basketball, and baseball also enjoyed the benefits of television, but the scope of their playing surfaces made for limited viewing enjoyment because of the lack of direction and focus brought by multiple camera angles. Not so for boxing, which took full advantage of the new medium and broadcast high quality fights at every turn.

The economic base was also expanding, especially in America, while Europe and Japan's reconstruction were going full speed ahead. The future was bright, employment high, and because of economic assistance for war veterans, vast amounts of people in America were becoming first time homeowners and college graduates. The European mainland was another story, and it was so completely decimated that it did not host a world title fight until 1958, when Italy found its boxing passions reignited. Japan was equally devastated, and did not host a world title fight until 1952. But the seeds were being sown.

10. Sonny Liston - Yes, Liston did not win the heavyweight title until 1962, but the way in which Liston destroyed his opposition in the run up to the title was truly spectacular. The term "walk softly and carry a big stick" was taken too literally by the young Sonny Liston, who more than likely struck with a baseball bat as a Philadelphia mob enforcer. At the same time, he was trying his hand at amateur boxing, a sport he picked up during a prison stint. It was a long way removed from his Baptist upbringing in Missouri. When The Encyclopedia Britannica describes you as, the “most intimidating, powerful fighter of his era,” there is a very good chance that it is true. It would take the greatest heavyweight of all time (OK, Joe Louis fans have an argument) to shove him off his crown, and no one wanted any part of Liston, even after Ali had supposedly shown him as a beatable bully. Might have had the heavyweight division’s hardest jab, even if he did not use it as masterfully as Larry Holmes. It is impossible for anyone to write a bio piece of any length on Liston without using the words ‘scowl’ or ‘menacing’; the man simply had the look and physique of a rabid grizzly.

9. Harold Johnson - A stand up boxer/puncher who carried knockout power in his right hand, Johnson was a ring technician who had the misfortune to share his prime with Archie Moore and Jersey Joe Walcott. Took up boxing in the Navy, and was said to have fought an exhibition bout with Billy Conn. The long career of Johnson carried him from 1946 to 1971, during which he defeated the likes Archie Moore, Jimmy Bivins, Ezzard Charles, and Nino Valdez. Like others, he jumped to heavyweight from time to time, but never with sustained success. Taking a close look at his career, it is astounding that he was either a champion or ranked contender for every year except one from 1951 until 1964. Archie Moore was the eternal nemesis of Johnson, winning four of their five meetings. When Johnson got a title shot, it came against Archie Moore. In a classic fight, Archie Moore was knocked down in the 10th, but took control and wore down Johnson in the late rounds, scoring a 14th round stoppage. Johnson won the title when Moore was stripped of his crown, defeating Jesse Bowdry for the NBA title. Universal recognition was given to Johnson when he defeated Doug Jones. Johnson made four defenses of his title in two years, and even though his punches began to lack zip, it came as a surprise to many when he lost the title. A last minute replacement, slick boxing Willie Pastrano, was too fast and tricky for the aging Johnson, who would have surely racked up more impressive statistics if it were not for nemesis Archie Moore.

8. Carmen Basilio - I don't think an argument can be made for Basilio as the best boxer of the 1950's; however all others must argue against him for recognition as the most exciting fighter of the decade. Basilio won the Fighter of the Year award from The Ring, and amazingly was involved in their choice for the 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, and 1959 Fights of the Year. He won three of those fights (against Sugar Ray Robinson, Johnny Saxton, and Tony DeMarco), and was fighting above his best weight in the losses. At welterweight he was a beast, walking down opponents behind a flurry of punches. For his middleweight fights Basilio never scaled over 156 pounds, but he still managed to beat Sugar Ray Robinson and lose his other fight against Robinson via split decision. Only lost one disputed split decision to Kid Gavilan at his home base, the War Memorial Auditorium in Syracuse, and faced his best opposition on their home turf. Hindered by his short arms, Basilio was made to work overtime for every win.

7. Joe Brown - At thirty years old and a professional for over a decade, Joe Brown finally won the lightweight crown from Bud Smith. Most expected the old man to have a short title reign, and six years later they were finally proven correct. The lightweight great was a student of angles, first learning his trade in Army amateur bouts. After fighting all prospects and contenders, Brown was given a shot at the world title. 15 one-sided rounds later, "Old Bones" walked away as the new champion. To win the title, Brown defeated Wallace "Bud" Smith, and beat him in a rematch despite suffering a broken hand in the second round. Brown was a curious study. Tall and lanky, it didn't look like he could hit, yet he had surprising power. He was also a good defensive fighter, but mostly because he did not leave holes because of accurate punching. He could be hurt and knocked down, and brawlers and hard punching fighters that refused to give him room to operate gave him trouble as well. After 11 successful title defenses, Dave Charnley and age finally caught up to Brown. Registered over 100 wins in a 25 year career before retiring at the age of 44.

6. Jose Becerra - When tragedy stalks boxing through a ring fatality, often only the victim is considered. While understandable, invariably the surviving boxer is affected forever as well. Jose Becerra is a classic example of a fighter whose legacy was irrevocably altered by his involvement in a boxing fatality (opponent Walt Ingram died after his non-title 1959 bout with Becerra). When great Mexican boxers of the past are discussed, Becerra's name seems strangely absent. This, even though he retired as champion, and was only 24 years old. Becerra should have been hitting his physical and mental prime. Instead, he withdrew from boxing. Becerra became the idol of Mexican sports fans through a combination of boyish good looks and an unrelentingly aggressive style. He was particularly good at infighting, with much of his attention directed at body work in the early portion of fights. It created openings for his thudding right hand, and a crafty left hand that found a home as opponents lowered their guards to protect bruised torsos. The left hook of Becerra was especially hard and accurate, and was of the devastating variety that could end fights with one shot. Opponents found no comfort as the rounds wore on, as Becerra's combination of body work and exceptional stamina combined to give him an advantage in the championship rounds. In many ways, Mexico's rise to a boxing power can be traced directly back to Jose Becerra.