Fighters who retired with winning records and at one point in time or another fought for the title shouldn't be labeled as "tomato cans." Harvey Steichen is a bit closer to what we should be looking for.
Many did consider Michael Dokes to be the second best HW in the world as WBA Champion. Could his best have been enough to prevail against the Cobb of Holmes? Tex trained for that by throwing 150 punches a round. Larry didn't give Randy a chance to pull the trigger much, but we saw Cobb display that kind of pace in his rematch with a swarmed and overwhelmed Dokes in their 1985 return. Even bulked up to 226 pounds for their return, Michael was completely overpowered physically, forced into beating the fastest continual retreat of his career before the accidental clash of heads which ended the proceedings and resulted in a flagrantly Don King rigged TD for Dokes. Yes, I believe the Tex who challenged Holmes in November 1982 would have decisioned the Dokes who challenged Weaver for the WBA Title the following month, then drew with Hercules the following May, over the championship distance in a fairly scored bout. Was Michael Dokes the world's second best heavyweight over the championship distance from John L. Gardner in June 1981 (his first bout after the MD in Cobb I) to Coeztee in September 1983? I believe it's possible that only Larry Holmes could have legitimately decisioned Tex Cobb during that time frame over 15 rounds, let alone dominate him. For those wondering what Tex did in the two years after Holmes, he cashed in by acting, basked in the afterglow of driving the hated Cosell out of boxing, and went after the biggest remaining competition payday available for him in combat sports, a challenge of Big John Jackson for the PKA HW Championship on May 5, 1984. Over 12 rounds, he showed he could take a tremendous kick when moving in, and generated so much force into his own kicks from his 30 inch thighs that it wore him down as the match progressed. Jackson's hand techniques (including PKA legal spinning backhands) prevailed over the kicks Cobb was relying on. Nonstop action in the best PKA bout to a decision I remember watching. Randy's PKA record was 9-2 with all nine wins by knockout. One prominent source of praise for Holmes-Cobb was Malcolm "Flash" Gordon in Tonight's Boxing Program. Flash lauded Holmes-Cobb as highly as Cosell and his mindless parrots criticized it. Viewing the live broadcast of Holmes-Cobb, I agreed completely with how Flash reviewed it, noting how Tex stepped up the pace in the championship rounds to discover Larry was ready to match the increase in effort. Although Holmes says he felt his best for Gerry, he was at his most battle prepared and sharpened for Randy. I believe Cobb to be Larry's true peak in championship competition. (Ocasio and Leon are other overlooked candidates.)
Many "classic' stories about Tex Cobb. As a football player, while in college out at conservative Abilene Christian College in West Texas, he was "asked to leave" after shelling a neighboring dormitory with "flaming arrows" Apache Indian style. Also, he had a surgeon remove and freeze his nose cartilage, so he could have it "re-installed" to improve his "good looks" upon retirement from boxing.
I think "Old Foreman" was the one who caught Saverese in the corner with some punches, and Saverese "collapsed" like a a sack of potatoes.
Mark wills good journey man gave mason a good fight and spoon the first time didn't do so well in the rematch though.
Guys, I mentioned Galento not because I consider him a tomato can, but I consider him an underrated fighter....
He also has two wins over Greg Page before Page was completely shot!! One in '86 and the other in '90. I remember watching the one in 86 on live tv from the great western forum, good times.. The other I had to track down from another collector back then as I saw the KO clip between rounds as the fight was buried on the HBO undercard of Whitaker vs Azumah Nelson but the KO was amazing I had to have it!! If it's on YouTube you should watch it he knocks Page out with a SCREAMING (literally) overhand right!! One of my favorite punches thrown in the history of boxing!! I also remember it knocked Page out of the Tyson sweepstakes he was being considered as a Tyson opponent after Tyson's loss to Douglas built off his name and the fact that he had dropped Tyson in a sparring session prior to the Douglas fight.
I think there is a difference a tomato can aka ham and egger is a fighter whose goal isn't to win but insread get pay day (eg Charles Atlas). A journeyman is experienced, and while may not be champion demonstrates competence . A gatekeeper while not a top contender is a sufficient threat to be able beat all but the upper echelon.
There was an English middleweight journeyman from the sixties and early seventies called Harry Scott from Liverpool who's opponents read like a who's who. In amongst it all he managed to outpoint Rubin Hurricane Carter in a return bout after being stopped in cuts while ahead in a first fight. He was rarely stopped until late in his career and was a handful for them all.
Good post and it's good to see some love for Tex, but I can't for one in all seriousness buy that Cobb was ever the 2nd best heavyweight in the world. What about Page, ****ey, Weaver, Coetzee etc? And in all honesty, Holmes beat the tar out of Cobb. It's always been a testament to his toughness that he not only lasted the distance, but didn't seem the worse for wear even after that hiding. I love the guy, but from my perpective he was never close to being the second (or third, fourth, fifth etc...) best heavyweight in the world.