Perhaps. But his career was already pretty successful as things turned out. In fact his only let down was that he never got the opportunity to face the very best men of his actual era.
Ken Buchanan came to my mind also. Could have been champ for years in a different time. Howard Winstone also.
The first i think of are the guys that were denied like Harry Wills, Burley etc etc. We know the drill.
I agree wholeheartedly with Hamsho, and maybe Cooney, but the Dave Greens and Fully Obels and Mugabis of the world topped out at about what their talent level dictated. No matter who was at the top at their best, they went as far as they were going to. As it was in a very up-in-the-air 168 pound division, Obel couldn't hang onto the belt despite fighting so-so opposition. Green lost to Leonard, sure, but also got stopped by Palomino. Cooney could have won a strap against Weaver maybe or perhaps Dokes, but in a way he came along at exactly the right time in fighting a dominant champion in Holmes. He made a ton of money in that fight. That's why you lace them up, after all.
I confined my list to those who didnt win a world title.There are many champs who would have reigned longer in less deep eras.imo
Cooney s one, that Im comfortable saying, in another time would get a belt. Pop him in place of one of the alphabet boys he'd pick a title up. An unbeaten Cooney that is, still young and hungry, not the Spinks fight version.
Dempsey (because seeing him with a more modern skill set against heavies or cruisers would be insane) Quarry because he def could have become champion during several periods Jack Johnson because with his personality he’d make a great draw today. Any fighter screwed by the drawn color line.
One who might have been a world champion in a less deep era was Alan Rudkin,unfortunately he had to contend with Harada,Rose and Olivares!
You said EXACTLY the same thing in the Tua vs Corbett thread 4½ years ago. I'm wondering... is there ANY pre-Louis champion, against whom you think Tua would have found a way to WIN?
George Foreman, Bob Foster, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Sonny Liston, Carlos Monzon, Aaron Pryor, Floyd Patterson, Salvador Sanchez, and Iron Mike Tyson. All these fighters listed, would have to be prime in the present day.
