Greatest Contenders - Middleweights

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by scartissue, Jan 27, 2021.


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  1. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Continuing our discussion. Today, give me your 15 greatest contenders never to win the middleweight title.

    The rules are, they must have competed at the weight and never won a World, WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, NBA or NYSAC recognized title at the selected weight (Interim, Colored, White, IBU, BBBC, state recognized other than New York, Country only recognized or any organization south of WBO are not recognized titles, so their champions are eligible as contenders). Also, since I am not recognizing Straw, jr. fly, super fly, super bantam, super middle or cruiser, the champions and contenders in the omitted classes are eligible at the higher weight. If they did move up and win that respective title like Roman Gonzalez, they are ineligible as a contender. Easy enough? Please ask if I am gliding over something. And don't sweat the order, just give me your best 15.

    This is super-deep, guys.

    Here are mine:

    -Holman Williams
    -Charley Burley
    -Georgie Abrams
    -Eddie Booker
    -Jack Chase
    -Archie Moore
    -Lloyd Marshall
    -Dave Sands
    -Spider Webb
    -Georgie Benton
    -Henry Hank
    -Rubin Carter
    -Joey Archer
    -Luis Rodriguez
    -Bennie Briscoe

    Have fun guys. There are so many more just outside that could be on the list...and probably will by the next time I make one.
     
    scartissue, Jan 27, 2021
    scartissue, Jan 27, 2021
    #1
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  2. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    Watson
    Cory Spinks
    Winky Wright
    Howard Eastman
    D-Chenko
    Korobov
    Paul Williams
    Echols
    Glen Johnson
    Lamar Parks
    Thomas Tate
    Herol Graham
    James Shuler
    Hamsho
    Roldon
    Gibson
    Fletcher
    Dwight Davison
    Stopping at 1980
    ...except for Willie Monroe
     
    NoNeck, Jan 27, 2021
    NoNeck, Jan 27, 2021
    #2
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  3. Bujia

    Bujia Well-Known Member Full Member

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    And 15 more who haven’t been mentioned!

    Joey Giambra
    Laszlo Papp
    Eduardo Lausse
    Ezzard Charles
    Aaron Wade
    Leo Houck
    Jeff Smith
    Jimmy Clabby
    Eddie McGoorty
    Les Darcy
    Mike Gibbons
    Jack Dillon
    Jock Malone
    Holly Mims
    Rocky Castellani
     
    Bujia, Jan 27, 2021
    Bujia, Jan 27, 2021
    #3
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  4. Bronze Tiger

    Bronze Tiger Boxing Addict Full Member

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    It’s really a shame that some of these guys never got title shots.....but look how far we’ve come
     
    Bronze Tiger, Jan 27, 2021
    Bronze Tiger, Jan 27, 2021
    #4
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  5. The Fighting Yoda

    The Fighting Yoda Active Member Full Member

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    + Gustav Scholz
    + Sam Langford
    + Tommy Gibbons
    + Don Fullmer
    + Bennie Briscoe
    + Luis Manuel Rodriguez
    + Jean Claude-Bouttier
     
    The Fighting Yoda, Jan 28, 2021
    The Fighting Yoda, Jan 28, 2021
    #5
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  6. BitPlayerVesti

    BitPlayerVesti Boxing Drunkie Full Member

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    This and Light Heavyweight even more so are absurdly deep for greats who never who the title.
     
    BitPlayerVesti, Jan 28, 2021
    BitPlayerVesti, Jan 28, 2021
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  7. thistle

    thistle Boxing Junkie

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    Henneberry
    McAvoy
    Villemain (though a WW really).

    loads & loads of them, the greatest division - the LITTLE Bigmen.
     
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2021
    thistle, Jan 28, 2021
    thistle, Jan 28, 2021
    #7
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  8. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

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    My list would be:

    - Mike Gibbons
    - Leo Houck
    - Ezzard Charles
    - Billy Conn
    - Lloyd Marshall
    - Charley Burley
    - Holman Williams
    - Archie Moore
    - Bert Lytell
    - Holly Mims
    - Jack Dillon
    - Luis Rodriguez
    - Jack Chase
    - Eddie Booker
    - Michael Watson
     
    George Crowcroft, Jan 28, 2021
    George Crowcroft, Jan 28, 2021
    #8
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  9. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    NoNeck, the only one I would object to would be Cory Spinks, who never contended at the weight. He was really a career welter/jr. middle who once ventured and fought for the middleweight title and than came right back to 154. Other than that, they're great. One thing I have to ask. When you mentioned Gibson, did you mean Tony Sibson?
     
    scartissue, Jan 28, 2021
    scartissue, Jan 28, 2021
    #9
    Richard M Murrieta likes this.
  10. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Outstanding picks by everyone. Wow!
     
    scartissue, Jan 28, 2021
    scartissue, Jan 28, 2021
    #10
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  11. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Add
    Dauthuille
    Richards
    Lytell
    Villemain
     
    mcvey, Jan 28, 2021
    mcvey, Jan 28, 2021
    #11
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  12. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

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    I'd add Jose Basora to my list, for someone who I don't think has been mentioned.
     
    George Crowcroft, Jan 28, 2021
    George Crowcroft, Jan 28, 2021
    #12
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  13. Clinton

    Clinton Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Love the fact you mentioned Jock. Cheers Lad
     
    Clinton, Jan 28, 2021
    Clinton, Jan 28, 2021
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  14. Clinton

    Clinton Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Excellent. Mike Watson. Cool
     
    Clinton, Jan 28, 2021
    Clinton, Jan 28, 2021
    #14
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  15. Clinton

    Clinton Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Home run, Lad
     
    Clinton, Jan 28, 2021
    Clinton, Jan 28, 2021
    #15
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