If you could wish one fighter to win a world title.......

Frank Fletcher he earned it .

 

Though in my heart I always knew he was likely to fall a little short of it, I would have loved Jason Booth to bag a world title at some stage. From the same city as me, always seemed a good bloke who overcame some real difficulties to carve out a very respectable career, and I always admired his gameness in the ring. Also having lost my old man to alcoholism I really appreciated Booth's ability to overcome it and speak so openly about it, too. Just a character who resonated with me. Desperately wanted him to beat Molitor in 2010 but Steve was just a bridge too far.

 

Nice mention and there are to many throughout history that deserve a mention....multiple Philly guys as well. I guess if I had to pick one I might say Tyrone Everett since he won the fight with Escalera IMO and then was dead 6 months later. A shame but he certainly deserves a mention as well

 

Me!!!

 

I still think that was the most blatant robbery in ring history. I had Everett winning 12-3, and it wasn't as if many of the rounds were even close. The judges were bought. No one is THAT inept.

 

I saw it on live tv in I think '87? Pinango got off to a good start but Frankie walked him down late and scored a knockdown in the later rounds and finished really strong. I think it was a 15 rounder and the LA crowd was going nuts for Frankie's strong finish! A draw would not have been out of line but seeing that Pinango tested positive for cocaine a few fights later, sentimentally I wanted Frankie to win. His life story would be a great movie! I think I read that he's a barber now. I believe the Goosen's handled him and wanted him to retire but he left them and got another title shot at 122 which he had no business being at. Daniel Zaragoza stopped him in 10. His early 80's comeback after a 3+ year layoff and substance abuse was very inspiring and one of the first boxing articles I read in the early 80's. He'd just started his comeback and was so open and honest in the article about his issues and lifestyle. I'm glad to see he's doing well now.

 

I would have liked to seen Andrew Golota pick up some sort of title before he retired. It would've legitimized his awesome skillset and maybe given him some peace of mind in his retirement. Another sentimental choice would be Jerry Quarry. So many stories about him dominating world class pros in sparring yet his stubborness/hard headed way of rarely adjusting fight plan in fights he was losing cost him a lot. Another good shout is Yacqui Lopez, four title shots and he came so close. Stopping Mike Rossman a year before Mike beat Victor Galindez for the world title, life and death fight with Matthew Saad Muhummad etc.

Others:
David Tua
Clyde Gray
Bennie Briscoe
Herol Graham
Michael Olajide
Micky Ward
Earnie Shavers
Mustafa Hamsho
Tony Sibson
George Chuvalo
Razor Ruddock

I'm Canadian if you didn't guess.

 

I need to watch this.....

 

It must be on YouTube. I hope my memory holds up.

 

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So hard to just single out one fighter but it would be between the likes of

Howard Davis Jr.
Carl Williams
Bert Cooper
Colin Jones

 

Johnny Owen. Saoul Mamby. Yacqui Lopez. There's a few from just before my time.

Of course, in my day, with so many titles most fighters who deserved one got one. Case in point, Bruno. He stuck at it, made the most of what he had and got his day in the sun. Not saying he deserved a world title but id have been disappointed for him if it hadn't happened.

Did the much-loved Bert Cooper ever win one? If not, add that name to my list.

 

The president. Ike Ibeabuchi. Of course he would have had to remain sane but he was a monster with stamina. Always been curious as to how far he could have gone.

http://fromthevault.hbo.com/ibeabuchi#the-president

 

omg! So many, Jimmy Young, howard Davis, Yaqui Lopez I'll think of more