Good fighters who never got a World title shot?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Blofeld, Jan 4, 2023.


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  1. Blofeld

    Blofeld Active Member Full Member

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    I was reading about Packey McFarland and it started me thinking about really good fighters who never even fought for a title. It seemed to happen more in the past with Les Darcey and Jim Driscoll also never fighting for an official world title (I believe) along with Harry Wills and Charley Burley, who often come up as best fighters never to be champs and never even got a change to fight for it. Even Sam Langford got one shot at welter!

    These days it seems less likely a decent fighter will not contest a championship of some kind, with so many floating about, but I always thought Jamie Moore could have had a shot at some point with a bit of luck. He displayed more heart and was in more wars than many champs, let alone some of the poor fighters who do get title shots at the time.

    Any other decent fighters from any era you can suggest who never got title shots, despite either being very good or exciting crowd pleasers.
     
    Blofeld, Jan 4, 2023
    Blofeld, Jan 4, 2023
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  2. heerko koois

    heerko koois Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Olympic gold medalist and european Champion- Bep vanKlaveren ( rotterdam, Netherlands )
     
    heerko koois, Jan 4, 2023
    heerko koois, Jan 4, 2023
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  3. heerko koois

    heerko koois Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Gary Mason and Horace Notice
     
    heerko koois, Jan 4, 2023
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  4. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    George Benton and Eduardo Lausse
     
    Flo_Raiden, Jan 4, 2023
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  5. Blofeld

    Blofeld Active Member Full Member

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    I just thought of one myself, Laszlo Papp! Amateur legend was signed up to fight Joey Giardello but it didn't happen.
     
    Blofeld, Jan 4, 2023
    Blofeld, Jan 4, 2023
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  6. heerko koois

    heerko koois Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I raise you....Felix Savon and
    Teófilo Stevenson
     
    heerko koois, Jan 4, 2023
    heerko koois, Jan 4, 2023
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  7. Blofeld

    Blofeld Active Member Full Member

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    Gary is a good shout, he could certainly have been in the mix but for his eye injury after fighting Lennox, infact that was his only loss. Just read the poor guy died in a cycling accident, very sad.
     
    Blofeld, Jan 4, 2023
    Blofeld, Jan 4, 2023
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  8. Blofeld

    Blofeld Active Member Full Member

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    Great suggestion, will read up about Bep now, never heard of him before.
     
    Blofeld, Jan 4, 2023
    Blofeld, Jan 4, 2023
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  9. Blofeld

    Blofeld Active Member Full Member

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    Savon was offered money to fight Tyson and Stevenson was offered a fight with Ali I think? But never materialized sadly.
     
    Blofeld, Jan 4, 2023
    Blofeld, Jan 4, 2023
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  10. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    So many, but off the top of my head...

    Jimmy Warnock
    Halimi Gutierrez
    Toluco Lopez
    Famoso Gomez
    Baby Casanova
    Percy Bassett
    Art Hafey
    Sammy Goss
    Alfredo Urbina
    Holman Williams
    Jack Chase
    Eddie Booker
    Dave Sands
    Jock McAvoy
    James Scott
    Sam McVey
    Joe Jeanette
    Elmer Ray
     
    scartissue, Jan 4, 2023
    scartissue, Jan 4, 2023
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  11. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    All the Murderers Row!
     
    mcvey, Jan 4, 2023
    mcvey, Jan 4, 2023
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  12. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Hard to challenge for professional world title when you are an amateur.
     
    mcvey, Jan 4, 2023
    mcvey, Jan 4, 2023
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  13. Themessiah

    Themessiah El Jefe Full Member

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    All the Black Murderers Row
     
    Themessiah, Jan 4, 2023
    Themessiah, Jan 4, 2023
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  14. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    McFarland did get one shot. A 20R draw with Freddie Welsh in the UK, where even the home crowd booed the decision that reportedly should have gone to McFarland.

    You've mentioned the fighter that ranks highest on my p4p list that never got a shot, Charley Burley. A another poster has subsequently mentioned the 2nd highest, Holman Williams.
     
    Greg Price99, Jan 4, 2023
    Greg Price99, Jan 4, 2023
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  15. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Just a few more...

    Cocoa Kid
    Isaac Logart
    Wes Ramey
    Lloyd Marshall
    Jimmy Leto
    Jack Carroll
    Jimmy Bivins
     
    scartissue, Jan 4, 2023
    scartissue, Jan 4, 2023
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