Who are the best heavies never to get a world title?

For the first two rounds, but Quarry was coming into the fight before the cut, and could have seriously tested Ali had the fight gone down the stretch given that it was Ali's first fight back from the lay off.

Gerry Cooney deserves a mention, maybe not the best to never when a HW title but he was unfortunate to have fought in such a strong era.

 

The 80s were not a strong era :bart

 

funnily enough so did i. Most fights ive seen of quarry sees him being beaten but that doesnt do him justice. Theres a great tribute of him on youtube that will give you a better insight into how good quarry was. He done a number on earnie shavers that really is impressive and was in a war with Frazier. I think Jerry would be turning in his grave at some of the guys in recent years who have become champion.

I think Ruddock should be in this list too as should jimmy young

 

If we take "best" to mean, fighters who were most dominant relative to their era:

Peter Jackson
I am certain that this guy was the best heavyweight on the planet for a few years. Sullivan was only getting older and there must come a point where Jackson could beat him. Jackson at his best was better than Jim Corbett. The Jackson that held Corbett to a draw had flu and a bad leg injury.

Sam Langford
Beat everybody worth beating multiple times while Johnson was champion. He was the outstanding challenger for a ridiculous period.

Was there a period when he was the best?

Yes.

After Jack Johnson beat Jim Jeffries he suffered a nervous breakdown. He was breifly institutionalised. After this point Langford would have probably taken him.

Harry Wills
Much is made of how he might have fared against Jack Dempsey. Perhaps too much. Before he even had to fight Dempsey he was the outstanding contender for part of the shopworn Jack Johnsons reign, and all of Jess Willards reign.

Perhaps those who endlesly debate whether he could have beaten Dempsey sell him short?

 

I agree with Quarry,


Though he fizzled at his crucial moments, Quarry managed to beat Lyle, Shavers, Foster, Mathis, Patterson, Spencer, Bodell and a few others.. His 1968 bout with Jimmy Ellis for a fragment of the vancant crown was very close as well, and Ellis was hot then...

I don't know if Quarry is number one in terms of best contenders to never get a title, but i'd say he's damn close.

 

Bonavena imho was better than Quarry

Luther McCarty was the best HW imo to never win the world title; he won the 'White Heavyweight' title during the Johnson era, but died at the age of 22.

 

Tua is the best in at least the last 20 years to not win a title, hes done everything but win a dam belt

Hes actually one of the most accomplished heavyweight contenders ever, his record speaks for itself.

Ex belt holders hes knocked out:

Rahman
Maskaev
Ruiz
Moorer

Unlucky (arguably) to draw with Ibeabuchi, KO'd Oquendo who was a decent fringe contender.

Say what you want about when he fought them or whatever but hard to name others with a record as good.

 

Certainly the best left hook never to win a HW title. there will be allot of names on this thread but Tua and Ibeabuchi probably KO the lot of them

 

Is that not an oxymoron?

I mean over the last 20 years to be the best not to of won some sort of 'world title' you have to of either been fighting in Mongolia*, or perhaps you were not quite as good as some thought.

Tua (and Ruddock) both had chances to win that elusive title, and both were found wanting.

Some who have been listed here, never got a shot, and that in some cases, was purely because of the colour of their skin...


*Even Mongolians have won titles!

 

Not too sure what you are on about? Yes this thread is about best heavyweights that were found wanting in a title fight, Tua was very definitely whupped by Lewis and regrettably Byrd (although I think he was drained because for that fight only they had him on some new diet and icebaths regime etc)

I dont know any heavyweight thats beaten so many ex or future champions, ok in the old days Ruiz and Maskaev's belts probably wouldnt have made them champs, but Rahman and Moorer were "undisputed" champs.

Tua's record is miles better than Ruddock's, its not even close IMO

Ill have to refresh my memory about Quarry and co but I doubt that they have the notches on their belt that Tua has.

 

I wont include the guys who didnt get a shot due to the colour bar but the two who stick out in my mind are Jerry Quarry and David Tua.

 

Quarry beat some good contenders but unlike Tua he lost to 3 or 4 top contenders that were never champs.
I guess the matchmaking structure was different then in terms of how fighters records should be viewed but even so, Tua has knocked out pretty much every contender hes been in with and only lost to the great Lennox Lewis and then Byrd (as Quarry lost to Jimmy Ellis) and Ibeabuchi in a razor close fight.

Id have also picked Ray Mercer if he didnt win a WBO strap if memory serves.

 

No question about it for me - Sam Langford wins it going away - also, JANITOR, who had a nervous breakdown after Johnson-Jeffries?? Johnson? if so - god never realised that - jeez poor guy

 

But that is my point, when it came down to it, and Tua was not fighting a future or past champ, but a curent one, he found a way to lose.

 

Again though, Langford won a World Heavyweight title claim on a number of occasions.