Pinning down the definition of "journeyman" for heavyweights

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by cross_trainer, Jul 25, 2022.


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  1. cross_trainer

    cross_trainer Liston was good, but no "Tire Iron" Jones Full Member

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    "Journeyman" is a frequently disputed term. Let's try to pin it down with a few examples.

    Name three heavyweights you would consider the quintessential journeymen. Not exceptional journeymen. Not journeymen who managed to get a title. And not terrible journeymen either. Actual, normal guys who you'd look at and say, "That guy defines 'journeyman' for me. His picture belongs in the dictionary next to the 'journeyman' entry. He's exactly right for that title."

    Who are your three guys, and why?
     
    cross_trainer, Jul 25, 2022
    cross_trainer, Jul 25, 2022
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  2. SuzieQ49

    SuzieQ49 The Manager Full Member

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    Tiger Ted Lowry

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  3. AwardedSteak863

    AwardedSteak863 Boxing Addict Full Member

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  4. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Bigfoot Martin, Jesse Ferguson, Rocky Sikorski.

    I would argue that most competent journeymen are also gatekeepers. They’re capable of the odd upset but mostly they beat the guys they’re supposed to beat and lose to the guys they’re supposed to lose to — I guess you can argue that Ferguson was a contender but that’s really a ‘one upset leads to title challenge then right back to journeyman status’ situation.
     
    Saintpat, Jul 25, 2022
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  5. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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  6. highlander

    highlander Active Member Full Member

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    scrap iron johnson, tony galento, bert cooper
     
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  7. Kid Bacon

    Kid Bacon All-Time-Fat Full Member

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    Journeyman: "have gloves; will travel and fight for food".

    Johnson, Cooper, Chisora, maybe?
     
    Kid Bacon, Jul 25, 2022
    Kid Bacon, Jul 25, 2022
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  8. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    To me, a journeyman was a fighter who had skills and talent, and at one point was considered a prospect and maybe even a contender, who started losing and then became a guy a number of rising contenders would beat along the way (and other rising guys occasionally failed to defeat when you thought they should've).

    Scott Ledoux is an example. Jesse Ferguson always comes to mind. Bert Cooper, as someone mentioned, was another (although he really fell off, maybe too much to qualify).

    Today, Chisora fits the bill.
     
    Dubblechin, Jul 25, 2022
    Dubblechin, Jul 25, 2022
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  9. BCS8

    BCS8 VIP Member

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    :lol:

    Somebody is salty
     
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  10. The G-Man

    The G-Man I'm more of a vet. banned Full Member

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  11. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    ?
     
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  12. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Mark Wills beat Greg Page twice, also gave Witherspoon one of his hardest fights, pushed a prime Gary Mason.

    Marion Wilson went the distance with pretty much everyone.

    James Tillis after a promising start to his career, turned into a journeyman. He was the ultimate gatekeeper and tested all the upcoming prospects, normally giving them good tests Carl Williams, Greg Page, Mike Tyson, etc.
     
    Dynamicpuncher, Jul 25, 2022
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  13. FastLeft

    FastLeft Well-Known Member Full Member

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  14. 15 rounds

    15 rounds Member banned Full Member

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    Winner winner chicken dinner. A good journeymen is expected to lose and vs very good journey man has the ability to upset. They are rare.
     
    15 rounds, Jul 25, 2022
    15 rounds, Jul 25, 2022
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  15. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    He had a 15 fight “prime” in which he only lost to Fury. After that, he beat Wallisch and lost to Povetkin and Ortiz. I think he made it to fringe contender.
     
    NoNeck, Jul 25, 2022
    NoNeck, Jul 25, 2022
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