These fellas were not top 100 all-time Hwts.

If Akinwande Hide Coetzee,David Bey get in...Then Tyrell Biggs and Renaldo Snipes should .

 

Thompson--No. Deserves consideration as he might well be the biggest puncher of the forties next to Louis. Had early power but like a lot of big punchers if he didn't get you early things started going south. Seems to have lacked stamina and could be outboxed. Typical is the first Pastor fight in which he had Pastor down six times in the first but ended up losing. Blew out Ray in one, but otherwise, nah.

Ray--Yes. As pointed out in a previous post, record is heavily padded with poor fighters, even in his prime. But the wins over Walcott and Charles, even if close, put him in for me. I rate him behind Layne, though. They had three common opponents-Charles, Walcott, and Thompson. Ray went 2-4 with 1 NC against them, being KO'd by all three. All probably proved themselves better in the end. Layne went 3-2 with un-avenged wins over Walcott and Thompson. Only Charles stopped him and proved superior. In fairness, the Thompson who blew out Ray was at his peak, while Layne beat him when he was slipping.

LaStarza--Not even close for me. Other than the Marciano loss and the Layne win, not much. But the Layne win was a contentious decision. He just didn't do enough to rate for me.

Of the non-champs from 1940 to 1955

First tier--Conn, Bivins, Ray, Layne (should make it)

Second tier--Valdes, Baker, Satterfield, Savold, Oma, Bettina (possibles-Valdes the strongest for me because of his win over Charles)

Third tier--Henry, Thompson, Buddy Baer, Bruce W, Joe Baksi, Mauriello, Murray, LaStarza (fall short for me)

Specials--Moore and Johnson (light-heavies who are a must)

 

Tommy Loughran?
Maxie Rosenbloom has some respectable wins at heavyweight too.

 

Larry Donald? Shannon Briggs? Oleg Maskeav? Akiwande? Matthews? Top 100?

Oh, get the f out with that.

 

I'm having a job picking my top 50.

 

Yes, he has some good wins,rocked Louis before getting careless.A probable I'd say.

 

I agree with this assessment and Layne tops the list for reasons given above......Braddock would be my 2nd choice for wins over Baer and a game loss to Louis

 

Mauriello--No. I don't think very close, even with his high ratings, which seem to me be a bit over ratings. Yes he staggered Louis, but was KO'd in one. The other top man he met, Bivins, beat him twice. He only drew with Pastor. He also lost to Baksi. And he has some embarrassing defeats, like Shkor. He simply didn't beat the top men and faded fast.

 

This thread caused me to check on what non-champions beat more than one lineal champion up to 1980. This is what I found with comments--

Tommy Loughran--Baer, Braddock, Sharkey (only non-heavy champ to beat three champions.)

Tom Sharkey--Corbett, Fitzsimmons (technical only, as he only defeated Fitz on a DQ when he was out cold on the floor. not impressive, obviously)

Phil Jack O'Brien--Burns, Fitzsimmons (Burns young and Fitz old, but Fitz was still the reigning LH champ)

Mike Schreck--Burns, Hart (fairly impressive if second level champions)

Larry Gains--Schmeling, Carnera (Schmeling very green)

Jim Maloney--Sharkey, Carnera (pretty impressive, except how good was Carnera)

Johnny Risko--Sharkey, Baer (Baer in his early losing streak. Sharkey at peak)

Ernie Schaaf--Baer, Braddock (Baer green, lost rematch. Braddock in the midst of his awful losing streak)

Tony Shucco--Sharkey, Braddock (both in losing streaks)

Al Ettore--Braddock, Walcott (Braddock in his losing streak, Walcott in his pre-war losing streak. Not really impressive.)

Elmer Ray--Charles, Walcott (has to be considered one of the most impressive given when he beat them)

Rex Layne--Charles, Walcott (also has to be considered one of the most impressive as when both were fighting at championship level)

Joey Maxim--Walcott, Patterson (close decisions, and Patterson in the 160's in weight at 19 years old)

 

A reasonable assessment , but he did beat quite a few fringe guys.Savold a couple of times,Nova ditto,Knox,Musto,Burman,Dudas,Barlund.
Maybe marginal?

 

Good input :good

 

"deserves honourable mention."

I think so do the men with wins over the great black fighters who were ducked by the white champions, but were better than most of them. Two spring to mind--

Gunboat Smith--Langford, Willard (an impressive pair)

Paulino Uzcudun--Wills, Baer (good names, but Wills past it, and Baer still green)

can anyone think of any others?