Most Shameful Ducks In Boxing History

There is usually an element of interpretation with these things.

Incoming!

 

Foreman ducking Tucker.

 

OK, I'll bite. There is an interpretation. There are some issues with a cautious manager. Some chose a high profile payday over a deserving contender. Some where politics interfered. But i don't know really how many where the fighter himself said, "No way!" So let's look at a few.

John L. Sullivan - he clearly avoided his absolute top challenger in Peter Jackson by drawing the color line.

Jack Dempsey - whether it was the same reason is up for grabs, but Dempsey avoided Harry Wills

Joe Louis and Gus Lesnevich - Jimmy Bivins was the top contender at both 175 and heavyweight and was the interim champ in both classes but both fighters chose others to fight when they came back from the Service

Tony Zale - avoided his top fighters to fight Rocky Graziano. In all cases of Louis, Lesnevich and Zale, they likely fought the biggest box office attraction out there ( Louis v Conn II) to make a killing after 4 years or so of service and no money

More later

 

When Louis fought Conn in 1946 Conn was the #1 contender. His next fight was against Mauriello, who was the #1 contender. His next fight was with Walcott, who was the #1 contender. Bivins was not the #1 contender for Lesnevich when he returned from the service. First it was Archie Moore, briefly, and the it was Ezzard Charles. Freddie Mills, who Lesnevich defended against first was rated #2. His next defense was against Billy Fox who was rated #2. Then a rematch with Billy Fox who was rated #3. Then he lost his title to Mills who was way down the list of LHW contenders. During all of this time Bivins was never a top rated LHW. It was always either Charles or Moore and usually Charles.

 

Steve Collins' duck of Calzaghe.

 

Joe Louis ducked Lem Franklin 1939-1941

 

Debunked time and time again. Hard to duck a guy who was only rated anywhere near the top for a couple of months and then got knocked out the night he was supposed to sign to fight Louis...

P.S. Still waiting on your reply to getting your ass absolutely handed to you about your grandpappy... LOL

 

He was told to retire by his doctor and then did so.

 

Belt in the bin.

 

Bowe will never live down "garbage champion-gate"

 

The way he told this story in the gloves are off made him even more suspect tbh.

 

I agree. The duck was bad enough but the classless way that it happened made it worse.

 

You thinking THAT was among the MOST shameful ? Tucker was a washed up WBA ranked contender who hadn’t beaten a single fighter of note in years. And I can’t remember anyone showing great interest in that fight

 

I can’t recall any more blatant duck. Tucker wasn’t anything special at the point and Foreman still dropped a belt and openly refused to fight him in order to fight someone who he perceived to be worse.