Wins that did more for a fighters legacy than winning a title ever did?

Allot of fights with Charles, Moore, Bivins, Burley, Holman Williams. Again like yourself I'm taking easy examples. Although would we know about those guys if Charles and Moore didn't win titles? We'd know less about how good they were.

Gatti-Ward
Eubank Jr-Benn Jr

How about the top men who never won a title? Bomber Graham, Harry Wills, that Aussie fella who died young in Harry Greb's era, Huricane Carter smashing Emile Griffith

 

@McCallumsJab reckon you are referring to Les Darcy.

He’s a national hero here.

 

Charles three wins over Moore are prime examples.

 

I am "here" and sorry to say in my entire life no one but this forum has brought him to my attention. Here in AUS (in my exp) Lionel Rose is barely remembered by anybody but old guys who saw him on TV Jeff Fenech is gone and Kostya is old news I couldn't ask anyone young for any of these names exception is MAYBE Fenech and they'd probably never watched a bout. Love this country but a boxing country we are not.

 

Jack Johnson is another obvious one, certain fights considered individually or collectively, outshining his title winning fight and defences thereafter - precluding, of course, the concept of the so called Coloured HW Title.

 

Add Johnny Famechon to that list mate.

I grew up watching Jeff Fenech, Lester Ellis, Barry Michael, Jeff Harding, etc. You’ll no doubt remember the days when Aussie world title fights were shown on network TV, long before Foxtel came to town. You are right that we are not exactly a “boxing country” but our best guys have always been world class.

Anyway, I digress…I am surprised you were not aware of Les Darcy outside of this forum. i learned about him at high school.

 

Johnny was a helluva fighter and all those others guys were really good pros I'm familiar with. I don't remember those days I am in my early 20s haha.

 

If we're talking about wins where the world title didnt change hands:

Greb's wins over Tunney, Loughran and the Gibbons brothers.

All of Sam Langford's (most notably over Wills, Jeanette, McVey, Ketchel and Gans) Packey McFarland's (most notably over Britton, Welsh, Duffy, Yanger and Wells) and Charley Burley's (most notably over Moore, Williams, Lytell, Chase and Wade) key wins.

Terry McGovern's wins over Frank Erne and Joe Gans, assuming you consider the latter to be on the level.

 

Rose was a great fighter

 

I will go a step further: Young; a fighter who didnt became champion, but his legacy is basically built on losing to Ali in a controvertial decision and beating an out-of-the-game Foreman.

 

Corrie Sanders taking a bullet for his family and giving up his life to protect them during a hold-up.

Not a huge fan of him as a fighter but that is the kind of thing that makes someone a bona fide hero.

 

I think Corbett going 61 against a very good Jackson opposed to outlasting a wreck of Sullivan

 

He really went like 25 after he broke Jacksons ribs neither fighter could continue but the ref wouldn't stop it so they just awkwardly went around in circles for 40 rounds.

 

Charles is probably about the best example we can think of. Never won a title at light heavyweight but some consider him the best ever in that class. Lot of big wins in non title fights