Journeyman defined for those who don't know

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by mr. magoo, Jul 12, 2007.


  1. thornpipe

    thornpipe Active Member Full Member

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    Search boxrec for a guy called Peter buckley
     
  2. edward morbius

    edward morbius Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Very good point.

    Jersey Joe Walcott is another who was an actual journeyman who became a contender and then a champion.
     
  3. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    Absolutely. And by the end of his career, Ezzard Charles was probably starting resemble a more journeyman type character.
     
  4. edward morbius

    edward morbius Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Jack Sharkey also regressed into something resembling a journeyman by the end of his career.
     
  5. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    It really is interesting to look at some fighters who changed through multiple roles throughout their careers, and in truth there were quite a few of them.
     
  6. Longhhorn71

    Longhhorn71 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    George "Sc@piron" Johnson.
     
  7. Saad54

    Saad54 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Or it could apply to someone who is overmatched/mismanaged early on, but can actually fight.

    For example, Freddie Pendleton was a clubfighter/journeyman who became a contender and a champion.
     
  8. The Professor

    The Professor Socialist Ring Leader Staff Member

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    Mike Weaver is another good example of this sort of fighter
     
  9. dempsey1234

    dempsey1234 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Exactly :good Orlando Salido and Mike Weaver had terrible records starting out and they persevered and became champions.
     
  10. Longhhorn71

    Longhhorn71 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Pipino Cuevas had just a so-so record at first...fighting pro at 14 years old......then went on to a solid World Champion career.
     
  11. edward morbius

    edward morbius Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Just on words being misused even by educated folks, I just happened upon an example in a serious article I was reading. The author quoted another author in The New York Times and then pointed out the error.

    New York Times, April 4, 2005--an article by Ian Fisher covering the funeral of Pope John Paul.

    "Tucked under his left arm was a silver staff, called a crow's ear, that he carried in public."

    The article pointed out the correct word is crosier.

    Which I looked up in the Merriam-Webster dictionary

    "crosier--a staff carried by bishops and abbots as a symbol of office."

    Like I said, it happens.
     
  12. Mr.DagoWop

    Mr.DagoWop Boxing Junkie banned Full Member

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    Algieri is becoming a journeyman
     
  13. KO KIDD

    KO KIDD Loyal Member Full Member

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    I'd say its a fighter who doesnt really fight in his backyard hence the journeyman travel aspect

    But also a guy who doesnt headline the events, is the opponent, not the house guy or featured fighter, expected to lose.

    I dont think journeyman is indicative of skill but more so standing and place in the boxing industry. A fighter can grow out of it much like a prospect can stop being a prospect and become a contender or fail and become a journeyman much like a champion can be a former champion

    to me a bum is a term I dont like to use but bums or cans for me are guys that like the journeyman are the opponent but they are the guys that have not chance. I dont like to say no chance as a former athlete I know people have a chance theoretically but Id say a bum is that guy that just lays down and early. They dont last long either
     
  14. dempsey1234

    dempsey1234 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I feel vindicated that this definition is not the only plausible definition of journeyman, in fact its a definition that makes calling someone a journeyman a bad word when it really isn't. There are definitions on this thread that make more sense, then this quote.
     
  15. edward morbius

    edward morbius Boxing Addict Full Member

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    The most often used and standard definition of boxing journeyman is this one--

    "In boxing and mixed martial arts, a journeyman is a fighter who has adequate skill but is not of the caliber of a contender or gatekeeper."

    To me, one thing is for certain.

    No "plausible" definition of boxing journeyman applies to Harry Wills,

    or George Foreman.

    Using it with fighters like that is just misusing the word.

    *the box rec definition does seem to me to be a mite too negative.