Anybody Know about George Godfrey

[ray fredrickson]

Just saw record 1943 RING RECORD BOOK (I love em) He had great Ko %!!!:shock: I believe he was a Dempsey spar partner?He was big man 240 for that time. You guys know so much ,I appreciate your knowing!!:thumbsup

[janitor]

Godfrey is the ultimate boxing enigma.

His paper record is nothing to write home about and it is thought that he wore the cuffs for many of his fights.

Contemporary fighters and trainers absolutely rave about him and some thought that he could have been as dangerous as Jack Dempsey if he had been let off the leash.

Even today some historians consider him to be a top 20 all time heavyweight.

Sorry if I have just thrown the question wide open rather than closing it!

[MRBILL]

George Godfrey was a huge black dude from the 1920s and 30s..... He was a chief sparring partner of Jack Dempsey..... George Godfrey had piss poor management and a lazy attitude.... Godfrey ballooned up in weight, due to excessive eating binges.... I think Ol' George Godfrey died in the 1940s just shy of age 50 from complications of diabetes and some other illness associated with the times and medicine.... The dude had talent, but lacked a real team........

MR.BILL

[Cmoyle]

Unknown source: During the time of WW1 George had worked as a boxing instructor in a military cantonment in Alabama. One day Sam Langford came through, saw the big instructor, and was favorably impressed. Giving him his card “Tham” told George to hunt him up in Chicago after the war, and he would make a fighter of him. This George did, and for some time he took lessons, and punishment from the Boston Tar Baby in the latter’s gym in the windy city. When George improved sufficiently Sam began sending him around to do his stuff in various places, and since that time Godfrey has devoted himself almost entirely to the fight game, and his fights are without number or record. He has fought all who were willing to oppose him, and some of them he faced several times.

In later years Godfrey was quoted as saying that Sam did him more damage with one punch than any other fighter he ever faced. In this contest Sam landed a left to the mouth, driving George’s lower lip about his upper teeth and cutting it severely. He also did sufficient other damage with other blows to bring Godfrey to say that his ten round meeting was the worst trimming he ever received, and that as a result of it he returned to Chicago to live for a week on such food as could be taken through a straw.

[Cmoyle]

.
Aug. 17, 1921 – George Godfrey, Covington Riverside Athletic Club KO 1
Unknown source: “Once while George (Godfrey) was still new to the game, he met Langford in Covington, KY, and thinking the time ripe to establish himself in the fight game, stepped right out at the bell to finish “Tham.” Really, George was just a big, green boy and when Langford saw what he was up to, the “Tar Baby” knocked him out in a hurry, “Jes to show you not to git smart wit yo bettahs,” as he confided to Godfrey after the fight. Time was telling on Sam, and Godfrey was improving.”

Following from same source true?: “George finally stopped the veteran in three rounds in Burton, IA, but none of their matches really showed the two in fair comparison, for Langford was far past his prime, while Godfrey was still climbing.

Speaking of his bouts with “Tham,” George says that the Boston Tar Baby hit him with the hardest sock he ever received, a terrific punch on the left eye. The immediate result was a closed optic and a blinded George, whom Langford proceeded to trim most beautifully.”

[Cmoyle]

August 18, 1921 – The Mansfield (Ohio) News
Covington, KY – August 18 – One Punch Is Enough
“Sam Langford, the Boston Tar Baby, won an easy victory over George Godfrey, 220-pound Negro boxer of Mobile, Ala. In the first round of a secheduled 12-round bout before the Riverside Club last night. “Tham” landed a left hook to George’s jaw and he did not wake up until long after the lights were out and most of the spectators were home.”

[Cmoyle]

11/1/1943 – Long Beach Independent
“Godfrey, like all oldtimers believes that the present day fighters are not as good as the boys a few years back. “Today they use bigger gloves and mouthpieces and other forms of protection that oldtimers scorned,” Godfrey said. “I think they were tougher in the old days. The present day fighter would not take the punishment that was dished out by the oldtimers.”

Godfrey says the hardest hitter he ever met was Sam Langford, but the greatest fighter of all time, the one that would take any of the fighters of today, is Jack Johnson. “He was the greatest defensive counter-puncher there ever was,” Godfrey said reverently.

Incidentally, Godfrey says he does not go to fights any more and he would not advise anyone to be a professional fighter. “If I had a son, I wouldn’t let him go near a boxing ring. There’s better ways of making a living,” the uncrowned champ vows.”

[SuzieQ49]

“George finally stopped the veteran in three rounds in Burton, IA


Wait a minute...Godfrey knocked out sam Langford in rematch in 3? they should put that up on boxrec

[Cmoyle]

Afro American Ledger, July 21, 1928 & now page 320 of 'Sam Langford, Boxing's Greatest Uncrowned Champion'
"Godfrey shared an amusing story about one of those training sessions (with Langford) with sportswriter Damon Runyan a few years later. Sam was passing on a number of tricks to George and one day, while the two were sparring the thought of dropping a big right hand on Sam's chin crossed his mind.

"I just wanted to see if I could hit him some with that right hand. But doggonit if he ain't seen the evil look in my eyes. No more did I get that big paw of mine in position to experiement, then I detect a chance in Sam's face. Next thing I know, some charitable sould was pushing water on my face. Seems like I don been knocked cold. I was kind of ashamed to look at old Sam. He done seen that evil light in my eyes when I was gonna let go of that right. But Sam didn't say much. All he tolod me was, 'George, don't never forget, the wages of sin am death and damnation.' I guess he was right, Sam was a powerful sharp man."

[SuzieQ49]

His paper record is nothing to write home about and it is thought that he wore the cuffs for many of his fights.

Even despite that, he still managed to record some good wins. 2 that come in mind is a knockout victory over larry gains and a decision over tiger jack fox who jersey joe walcott called "the greatest fighter i ever fought."

[Cmoyle]

"Wait a minute...Godfrey knocked out sam Langford in rematch in 3? they should put that up on boxrec"

Don't know, as you saw I put a note next to that questioning if it was true. I didn't come across a record of such a fight. Maybe someone else has?

[MRBILL]

I used to have a three or four page story on George Godfrey from a 1990s issue of World Boxing Magazine, but I dumped many of my old mags back a while ago.... They were just piling up and getting in the way....

George Godfrey was an interesting character and a pretty good talent, but not properly handled... Rumor had it, when he could afford it, George Godfrey would sit and eat a whole chicken with biscuits and gravy, along with corn on the cobb and taters soaked in butter at a single time / serving.... In a sense, I suppose George Godfrey was a champion---CHOWHOUND!! Again, I believe diabetes caught up to him later in life....

MR.BILL

[janitor]

Jack Dempsey said (after Tunney retired) that George Godfrey was the best of the remaining field.

Dempsey had beatenb Sharkey, and sparred with Schmeling (as in unoficial fight)

How history could have been diferent.

[MRBILL]

Jack Dempsey said (after Tunney retired) that George Godfrey was the best of the remaining field.

Dempsey had beatenb Sharkey, and sparred with Schmeling (as in unoficial fight)

How history could have been diferent.

George Godfrey SHOULD'VE made a serious move in the yrs of 1928 and '29.... WTF was he waiting on?? The division was wide open then... George Godfrey (Off the top) fought until roughly 1936 or so.... By then he was knocking on 40... Again, Godfrey was a talent, but also a stroke boy as well.....

MR.BILL:deal

[Minotauro]

Always been interested in Godfrey I wish there was footage of him since Blackburn trained I wonder how similar his style was to Louis.

[janitor]

George Godfrey SHOULD'VE made a serious move in the yrs of 1928 and '29.... WTF was he waiting on?? The division was wide open then... George Godfrey (Off the top) fought until roughly 1936 or so.... By then he was knocking on 40... Again, Godfrey was a talent, but also a stroke boy as well.....

MR.BILL:deal

A few top black contenders who never got title shots developed drink problems.

Because they didnt get title shots!!!

[SuzieQ49]

The ways black fighters got screwed those days is really messed up. Even during 1930s, if your name wasnt joe louis, you were screwed as a black fighter and louis nearly pulled a jack johnson during his title reign by not giving black fighters title shots. Of course alot of it had to do with the john henry lewis fight, which nearly lost money at the gate, two black fighters never draw well.

It is really stunning to me the IBC finally got it right in 1949 and appointed two black fighters(who happened to be the two best in the world Walcott and Charles) to fight for the Vacant Heavyweight Title. STILL, The IBC had an agenda. They still wanted that next white champion, and appointed some very mediocre white fighters(beshore, barone, valentino) or washed up former white contenders(lesnevich, oma) to fight Charles for the title while there were much more deserving fresh contenders out there. The IBC thought they finally found something when Rex Layne came about, but when Marciano cold cocked him, then they realized marciano was that man. Luckily, marciano never drew the color line, but still some of the younger black contenders never got there shot at the rock. By 1955 color seemed to become less of an issue and Moore vs Patterson vs pitted for Vacant world title.

[janitor]

The ways black fighters got screwed those days is really messed up. Even during 1930s, if your name wasnt joe louis, you were screwed as a black fighter and louis nearly pulled a jack johnson during his title reign by not giving black fighters title shots. Of course alot of it had to do with the john henry lewis fight, which nearly lost money at the gate, two black fighters never draw well.

It is really stunning to me the IBC finally got it right in 1949 and appointed two black fighters(who happened to be the two best in the world Walcott and Charles) to fight for the Vacant Heavyweight Title. STILL, The IBC had an agenda. They still wanted that next white champion, and appointed some very mediocre white fighters(beshore, barone, valentino) or washed up former white contenders(lesnevich, oma) to fight Charles for the title while there were much more deserving fresh contenders out there. The IBC thought they finally found something when Rex Layne came about, but when Marciano cold cocked him, then they realized marciano was that man. Luckily, marciano never drew the color line, but still some of the younger black contenders never got there shot at the rock. By 1955 color seemed to become less of an issue and Moore vs Patterson vs pitted for Vacant world title.

You have to wonder what Joe Walcott or even Elmer Ray could have been with the right financial backing in their early careers.

I am prety sure that the wrong managerand + trainer could have screwed up Louis.

You have to wonder how deep the black rabbit hole goes in this era.

[TheGreatA]

Always been interested in Godfrey I wish there was footage of him since Blackburn trained I wonder how similar his style was to Louis.

I've got film of his fight against Carnera. Godfrey looked like he didn't even try though and the ending was controversial. Reminds me of today's heavyweights with his lazy attitude based on that fight.

I can upload it to youtube if anyone cares to see it.

[he grant]

It's called throwing a fight ...

[TheGreatA]

It's called throwing a fight ...

He did land some punches on Carnera (whose chin was known to be glass).

Maybe it was a fix but it's up to you to decide. The fight will be uploaded in about 30 minutes. :good

[Bummy Davis]

He seems like he had some good wins after a bad start...I will look a little seeper in to him

[Minotauro]

I've got film of his fight against Carnera. Godfrey looked like he didn't even try though and the ending was controversial. Reminds me of today's heavyweights with his lazy attitude based on that fight.

I can upload it to youtube if anyone cares to see it.

I'd really appreciate it if you did. Cheers.

[MRBILL]

A few top black contenders who never got title shots developed drink problems.

Because they didnt get title shots!!!

I gotta say, while I am a fan of Jack Dempsey, I am NOT impressed with his title defenses over the likes of Tommy Gibbons and George Carpentier at all......... Neither Gibbons or Carpentier were ever really true heavies with power.....

MR.BILL:shock:

[TheGreatA]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[SuzieQ49]

godfrey showed up way overweight for that fight and he still moves pretty good. I can imagine how fast on his feet he was at a ripped 225lb in his prime. When godfrey in that film decides to open up, carnera has nothing to respond. godfrey defintley held back

[ChrisPontius]

George Godfrey SHOULD'VE made a serious move in the yrs of 1928 and '29.... WTF was he waiting on??

Michael Jackson's "skin disease"? That's the only thing that would've gotten him in the mix.

[he grant]

Like I said, a fix like most of Primo's pre-title "wins" over names ...

[Russell]

He did land some punches on Carnera (whose chin was known to be glass).

Maybe it was a fix but it's up to you to decide. The fight will be uploaded in about 30 minutes. :good

Glass chin? Since when?

[TheGreatA]

Glass chin? Since when?

Well he wasn't exactly known for his iron chin either. You'd think that Sharkey and Godfrey would not be throwing the kind of punches that they did against Carnera if they had been instructed to take a dive pre-fight.

This was a quite "raw" version of Primo Carnera. The fight was in 1930 when Carnera had fought as a pro for just 2 years.

I believe Godfrey tried to get a rematch but never got one.

[MRBILL]

Michael Jackson's "skin disease"? That's the only thing that would've gotten him in the mix.

See... That's what is fucked up....... LOOK! I am a BIDNESS man... I'll market anything that can turn a buck..... Black or White, I want the best fighter out there who'll deliver the goods, etc..... Fans and the public will always pay to see two heavyweights with a punch and skills go to war.... Heavyweights were good for BIDNESS back in the golden era of Hollywood and Boxing..... YES! People hated Jack Johnson, but he still packed the halls and brought in cash flow...... Harry Wills and George Godfrey could've done the same had they been handled by good management.....

NOW! To really get down to it.... The trick to get a black fighter with skill and power some much needed exposure and publicity back in the 10s & 20s, is to get the black fighter to hook up with a good white team who'll look out for him.... I'm guessing "Wills & Godfrey" didn't have that type of team.... Due to the times in America, a black fighter with an all black team was NOT gonna go anywhere here in the States.... The USA is a strange land......

MR.BILL

[TheGreatA]

Wasn't Godfrey managered by Jimmy Dougherty?

[MRBILL]

Wasn't Godfrey managered by Jimmy Dougherty?

I'm not sure who was managing Godfrey.... Yet... If he was connected with Jack Dempsey, you'd think some white guys would've aided George Godfrey to a certain extent..... This is way before my time.... I can't say what the hell the promoters were thinking or what they failed to see in Godfrey...... Hmmmmm.... It just sounds and seems that George Godfrey was a cross between a typical 1980s heavyweight contender / chump like a "Tubbs, Page, Dokes, Smith, Berbick, Spoon, Thomas, Tucker & Buster Douglas." All very good when in proper shape, but all too often lazy and absent from the gym.....:huh

MR.BILL

[TheGreatA]

I'm not sure who was managing Godfrey.... Yet... If he was connected with Jack Dempsey, you'd think some white guys would've aided George Godfrey to a certain extent..... This is way before my time.... I can't say what the hell the promoters were thinking or what they failed to see in Godfrey...... Hmmmmm.... It just sounds and seems that George Godfrey was a cross between a typical 1980s heavyweight contender / chump like a "Tubbs, Page, Dokes, Smith, Berbick, Spoon, Thomas, Tucker & Buster Douglas." All very good when in proper shape, but all too often lazy and absent from the gym.....:huh

MR.BILL

[Only registered and activated users can see links](The_Baron)_Dougherty

[MRBILL]

I posted earlier about NOT being impressed with Dempsey's title fights with "Gibbons & Carpentier." Well, I am also NOT impressed with Gene Tunney defending and retiring after his fight with Tom Heeney...... The 1920s was a classic decade for many things of the 20th century, however, some of the heavyweight title fights were questionable.... Cheers.....

MR.BILL

[Minotauro]

Thanks for posting the fight TheGreatA.

[he grant]

When did the polished version of Carnera show up ? If the raw version beat a focused and determined, I'm dying to see the finished product ...

[OLD FOGEY]

Thanks for posting the fight TheGreatA.


I would like to second this. Thank you very much for posting this.

My own take is that Godfrey looks very limited in this film. He is basically a come forward mauler. The camera is so far away it is difficult to judge things, but Godfrey does not seem to have a jab at all, carries his hands low, and does not have much head movement. Carnera did not seem to have that much trouble hitting him although his punches appeared to have no effect on Godfrey. One must wonder, though, how Godfrey would have stood up if the opponent were someone like Baer.

Carnera was certainly still a somewhat green opponent.

Was Godfrey wearing the cuffs. That is certainly possible, given both of these men's reputations but there is really nothing to back that up on the film, and I wonder why he would abjure throwing left jabs but throw overhand rights again and again if he was going into the tank.

[SuzieQ49]

Old Fogey,

First off, Godfrey was about as overweight in this bout as kirk johnson was when he fought vitali klitschko.

2ndly, IF you rewatch the film I think its end of first or early 2nd round...Godfrey finally decides to open up and he throws a very fast 1-2 left jab straight right hand followed by a combination left uppercut overhand right hand which staggers carnera back into the ropes. Very good punching technique during this exchange,. The one time godrey tried, he opened up and hurt carnera, i felt like he decided to show carnera for a brief moment how much better he was. Blackburn was godfreys trainer remember, thats a hell of a punching coach. godfrey was defintley on the cuffs though for the rest of the fight IMO

[road_warrior_99]

Carnera was still learning in this fight I agree, and Godfrey probably believed he deserved a title shot years ago. You really have to ask why fighters like Tunney and Dempsey avoided fighting Godfrey in the late 20's? Godfrey had lost at least 4 fights by DQ's for hitting low and continued the trend in the Godfrey-Carnera fight. Godfrey was a feared fighter during this era and had sound skills. He is in the Hall of Fame.

I am saying Carnera should not be the barometer of how good Godfrey was - you should look at the Dempsey/Tunney era and ask why they avoided him. Probably because Godfrey would knock them silly.

[OLD FOGEY]

Anyone can guess whatever they want about Godfrey. The fact is his record is studded with losses when he got a big chance--Godfrey lost to Renault, Sharkey, Risko, Jack Gross, and Walter Cobb, as well as to Carnera on a foul, and he barely edged Uzcudun in a close fight. His defenders fall back on claiming he wore the cuffs, basically on his own word. Who knows? but there is faint evidence he was quite the world-beater he is cracked up to be, certainly not off the film against Carnera.