Who Was the Toughest Boxer in History? Fighters Who Never Hit the Canvas I just love someone who comes along and pens an article without any kind of research. They may have a smattering of knowledge on a subject but suddenly they're an expert. So this article was supposed to be about the 5 fighters who never tasted the canvas. And supposedly they are Monzon, Chuvalo, Toney, LaMotta and Greb. Now without researching this I can state that I agree with Chuvalo but as for the others.....? Carlos Monzon - One only has to remember the 2nd round of Monzon's last fight against Rodrigo Valdes to know this simply isn't true. There may be more early in his career but forgive me for this is off the top of my head. James Toney - I'll never forget the shot from Reggie Johnson that put Toney down (I forget the round). Also, Roy Jones put him down as well. Don't know about the early or latter stages of the career. Jake LaMotta - This dude watched Raging Bull too many times. Danny Nardico put him down for the count. Harry Greb - A ton of fights and yes, he was tough as nails, but he was knocked cold early in his career and I believe Kid Norfolk put him down as well (not to mention being the cause of his going blind in one eye) I always appreciate a good article but I truly appreciate a good researched article.
It’s easy enough to forget a fighter suffered the odd knockdown, but if you’re going to make it the focus of your whole article, a bit of fact checking would be advisable.
Watch the film of Nardico-LaMotta. Jake not only got up to beat the count, but did a fine job getting to the bell ending the seventh round when his corner wisely threw in the towel. Soldier Jones knocked down Greb in multiple bouts. The Pittsburgh Windmill remarked something like, "He fights like a bum against anybody else, but against me, he always fights like a champ1" Monzon was decked in his rookie year, then not again until Valdes II. Referee Arthur Mercante twice blew the call in Bonavena-Chuvalo. Watch the footage in super slow motion. Those two times the Canadian fell to the deck were not slips, but from clean punches. On the flip side, the notorious Tony Perez blew the call in Hagler-Roldan, and nobody counts it anymore than they consider Ali-Wepner a knockdown. Among others were Chuvalo's domestic rival, Bob Cleroux. And badly overshadowed by Chuvalo was Henry Clark who went through a heavyweight minefield. Duilio Loi reportedly was never floored. He retired as the World JWW Champion with a win over Eddie Perkins to tie their rivalry at 1-1-1. Even more impressively, Loi went 2-1 against Carlos Ortiz, who Loi even decked in the sixth round of their rubber match. Carlos Palomino was decked in the early going of Muniz I, where Muniz bowled him over. Then he took a flash KD against Duran, but Palomino wasn't hurt either time.
The only boxer I've seen that wasn't legitimately put on his butt, at any stage of his career was Marvin Hagler. He's the only one I can think of.... Maybe Tex Cobb.
Uzcudchin. Until his final fight with a prime Joe Louis at 36, Uzcudchin hadn't been knocked down and had fought Wills, Baer, Carnerax2, Schmelingx3, Godfrey and Schaaf. He went 2-6-1 against that group but he ran the table against Scott, Charles, Haymann, Otto Van Portat, Knute Hansen, Schonorath and Journee. They were all over 6 ft 2. And theres a few others he beat those are just the ones I've heard of. No ones really gotten further on the merit of just their chin. Uzcudchin was a multiple time IBU champ even if people don't consider it a major belt nowadays.
Nah...his glove touched the canvas, I think against Moseley, but the ref of course protected his record.
Carlos Palomino was actually dropped a couple of more times. He was decked by Andy 'The Hawk' Price and by Zovek Barajas. But regardless, still a great jaw.
Floyd had one official KD called against him but ironically not from a punch he received but from one he gave, when he broke his hand during the Hernandez fight.
Wayne McCullough had a fantastic chin. Never knocked down in his career. And although he lost to Naseem Hamed and Erik Morales - he ended both fighters KO streaks going into their bout with him. Hamed 18 consecutive knockouts and Morales 9.