From guys ive seen on film... Harada, Chang, and Zapata. I wouldn't totally discount Too Sharp, but he is an underdog against Canto. Same with Ohba, Chitalada, and Chocolatito. They can't be totally counted out, but they probably lose. Canto figures to be all wrong for Laciar and Arbachakov.
I agree with Harada, Chang, and Zapata beating prime Canto. Prime Too Sharp also has a really good chance as well. I think Johnson's speed and buzzsaw attack will give even the best version of Canto fits.
I think Zapata is a definite pick. Horrible match-up, as is Chang. Harada too, but I actually think Chang is worse for Canto than Harada is, despite Harada being better. I'd also wager Venice Borkhorsor and Midget Wolgast would beat Canto, and it wouldn't surprise me if Park always posed him problems. I'd actually pick Johnson over Canto, although I'm uncomfortable with that pick. Obha and Chitalada are tough fights but I'd still take Canto. I'd rule out wins from Donaire, Laciar, and Arbachakov. Wilde has a good chance too.
Jimmy Wilde was extremely crude from the film I've seen. It's hard to compare guys from the 1910s to more modern era guys, even though the "modern era" in boxing starts earlier than it does in any other sport, which is why we can compare Louis to current guys. But Wilde looked like a caveman.
I disagree. I think Wilde looks excellent on film. Great head-movement, sense of range and the power building techniques are there. GGG still uses them today. Sure he was a little wild, but how wild do you think most punchers get in 20 round fight a very negative opponent? I think it'd help if we had more footage of Wilde.
Wilde was known as unorthodox in his time in regards to technique and approach. Driscoll was the orthodox technician. Also, the biggest impact on Boxing styles are rulesets and equipment. The reality is that the Walker Law being passed is what started the 'modern era' of Boxing styles. What other sport has such a drastic 'evolution' in just a few short years? The answer is that there was no 'evolution', people just took what they knew, what they were already doing, and accordingly changed or applied it to the new standardised rule and equipment sets set by the Walker Law. The actual 'evolution' of Boxing happened between 1890 - 1910 at the latest, since MoQ gloved boxing is, really, almost a completely different sport to LPR and bare knuckle, and so large scale changes happened accordingly. Wilde would be able to adapt to more modern rulesets eventually, just as a top fighter today would eventually adapt to older rulesets if they were suddenly enforced, changing their style. IMO the full development of modern Boxing technique was done by the 1910's, it's just the rulesets were still very much different. Then you have equipment influences. Smaller gloves means lower guards and more parrying, modern attached thumbs mean less parrying techniques and higher ounces increase the effectiveness of a high guard etc etc. Wilde specifically has intangibles (such as monster power and great distance judgement) that would translate to absolutely any era anyway. It's why I don't like matching fighters of disparate eras unless ruleset and equipment is specified. Wilde beats Canto in the 1910s. Canto beats him in the 1970s. That's my opinion on this one. Of course, with other fighters some are just simply better (talent, style etc) regardless of era or equipment, but not enough people take note of this stuff imo.
