I'm doing a study for a future project and would like you opinions on who was the top contender in every era at heavyweight from now back till Jeffries, who was a great fighter but never really considered the man.
I don't think that there was anybody during Jeffries reign who was regarded that highly, who did not either hold the title before (Fitzsimmon) or after (Johnson). The non champions who were most respected were probably Sharkey, Ruhlin and Martin in no particular order. The same prety much holds true for the Hart Burns period. We do not see a fighter who never holds the title who is verry highly rateduntil Sam Langford hits his stride. Langford like Peter Jackson before him, is rated more highly than many fighters who did hold the lineal title. Sam McVea was also highly regarded, and did ocasionaly apear on top 10 heavyweight lists.
Here is Ring Magazine's annual ratings , from 2008 going back to 1924. http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/The_Ring_Magazine's_Annual_Ratings
Its your opinion bro, just run with it. Would this be an easier exercise using decades instead? And yes, guy who were never considered "the" champion. In other words today's ABC titles wouldn't count.
Hmm if we're going by decades...I can come up with Roland Lastarza for the 50s, Jerry Quarry for the 60s, Ken Norton for the 70s, Tony Tucker for the 80s? 90s would have to be maybe Razor Ruddock, 2000s....Tua? Ibeabuchi? Currently Vitali is the best contender.
Eh. If you wanna trade Machen for Quarry in the 60s by all means but I think Norton's win(s) over Ali seals it as far as 70s contender. Would be interesting. Almost poll worthy.
Liston was the elephant in the closet during the late 50s. He became champ during the 60s, but he was the contender Patterson dodged during the 50s.
I was wrong. Looking at the contenders list, Liston wasn't a major contender until 1959. Patterson spent most of his time during the late 50s avoiding Machen.
