Rating Black Murders Row Heavyweights pre 1960

Here are my all time ratings of the black murders row heavyweights who were shunned out of heavyweight title shots due to the color of their skin, and others perhaps due to fear. Enjoy.

Top 30 Black Murders Row heavyweights who never got a shot at the heavyweight title Pre 1960

1. Sam Langford- 5'6 175lb 76"

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2. Harry Wills- 6'3 210lb 80"

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3. Peter Jackson- 6'2 200lb 77"

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4. Elmer Ray- 6'2 195lb 81"

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5. George Godfrey- 6'3 225lb 80"

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6. Joe Jeanette- 5'10 195lb

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7. Sam McVea- 5'10 215lb 75"

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8. Jimmy Bivins- 5'9 180lb 79"

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9. Eddie Machen- 6'0 195lb 75"

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10. Lee Q Murray- 6'3 210lb

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11. Cleveland Williams- 6'3 215lb 80"

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12. Zora Folley- 6'1 195lb

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13. Clarence Henry- 6'1 185lb

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14. Larry Gains- 6'0 200lb

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15. Bob Baker- 6'2 210lb

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16. Kid Norfolk- 5'9 175lb

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17. Turkey Thompson- 5'9 205lb

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18. Tiger Jack Fox- 6'0 175lb 75"

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19. Lem Franklin- 6'2 200lb 76"

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20. Nino Valdes- 6'3 210lb 80"

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21. Harry Bobo- 6'4 210lb 78"

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22. Denver Ed Martin- 6'6 190lb 82"

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23. Hank Griffin- 6'1 200lb

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24. Bob Satterfield- 5'10 185lb

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25. Jeff Clark- 5'11 175lb

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26. Earl Walls- 6'3 200lb 78"

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27. Roscoe Toles- 6'2 200lb

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28. Eddie Blunt- 6'0 220lb

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29. Jack Trammel- 6'6 195lb 80"

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30. Frank Childs- 5'9 180lb

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HM:

Leroy Haynes- 6'1 195lb 76"

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Curtis Hatchetman Sheppard- 5'11 185lb

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Ed Bearcat Wright- 6'1 210lb

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Full List

Top 30

1. Sam Langford- 5'6 175lb 76"

2. Harry Wills- 6'3 210lb 80"

3. Peter Jackson- 6'2 200lb 77"

4. Elmer Ray- 6'2 195lb 81"

5. George Godfrey- 6'3 225lb 80"

6. Joe Jeanette- 5'10 195lb

7. Sam McVea- 5'10 215lb 75"

8. Jimmy Bivins- 5'9 180lb 79"

9. Eddie Machen- 6'0 195lb 75"

10. Lee Q Murray- 6'3 210lb

11. Cleveland Williams- 6'3 215lb 80"

12. Zora Folley- 6'1 195lb

13. Clarence Henry- 6'1 185lb

14. Larry Gains- 6'0 200lb

15. Bob Baker- 6'2 210lb

16. Kid Norfolk- 5'9 175lb

17. Turkey Thompson- 5'9 205lb

18. Tiger Jack Fox- 6'0 175lb 75"

19. Lem Franklin- 6'2 200lb 76"

20. Nino Valdes- 6'3 210lb 80"

21. Harry Bobo- 6'4 210lb 78"

22. Denver Ed Martin- 6'6 190lb 82"

23. Hank Griffin- 6'1 200lb

24. Bob Satterfield 5'10 185lb

25. Jeff Clark- 5'11 175lb

26. Earl Walls- 6’3 200lb 78”

27. Roscoe Toles- 6’2 200lb

28. Eddie Blunt- 6'0 220lb

29. Jack Trammel- 6'6 195lb 80"

30. Frank Childs- 5'9 180lb


HM:

Leroy Haynes 6'1 195lb

Hatchetman Sheppard 5’11 185lb

Ed Bearcar Wright 6'1 210lb

 

Damm that took me a lot longer than I thought! Lot's of good names

 

Edited: Fogey I decided to put satterfield in. Number 24.


Satterfield. I had such a difficult time with him. Bottom Line is of the guys I put on the list, most of these men were in position to get title shots. Satterfield was never ever rated higher than # 8 by Ring Magazine. He barely broke the top 10 twice. while he did score some big victories in his career, he suffered quite a few bad losses too.
Satterfield was never in position for a title shot against Marciano, according to papers. Nor was he ever in position to fight for the vacant title when Marciano retired. Satterfield was a very dangerous fighter when he was on, but he was never considered a serious title challlenger. Henry was considered a serious title challenger during walcott and charles reigns, valdes was considered a serious titlle challenger from 1953-1959, baker was considered a serious title challenger from 1951- marcianos retirement. Walls was considered a potential marciano title opponnent and joe louis himself was trying to promote it. I left Bob off. I am not happy about it, as I feel he could and did beat some of these men on the list, but thats the way it is. In fact if I made this list tomm, I would def include him. I just decided not too today. I will move him into honorable mention.


John Holman- Big strong and hard hitting. That's it. Not really world class. the other big men valdes, baker, jackson, walls were a clear step above him in skill department. Holman recorded some nice wins, and he did earn a title eliminator against baker when rocky retired...but he was never in good position to challenge for the title. I would rate satterfield over him.

 

I decided to leave Armstrong off. I personally feel he was the worst out of the 4...Griffen, childs, Martin.

Martin defeated household names Sam Mcvea, Hank Griffen, bob armstrong, and frank childs. He was coloured heavyweight champ and considered next in line for a shot at jeffries in 1902.

Hank Griffen was beating Jeffries for 17 rounds, and beat Jack Johnson. He also drew with jack johnson in 2 other meetings.

Frank Childs was colored heavyweight champ for years and knocked out bob armstrong twice

Armstrong was more of a journeyman, who performed well against martin. He got knocked out, beaten, by a lot of journeyman of the era. The papers did not regard him too highly.

 

I decided I can't leave satterfield out. he's at 24

 

I decided to put satterfield in. Like I said the man recorded TERRIFIC wins. But bottom line, and I said it earlier, he was never rated highly in ring magazine ratings. Valdes was # 1 contender for 2 years, and top 5 for 2 other years. Bob Baker was rated in the top 5 three or four times. williams was rated in the top 5 four years in a row. walls top 5 two years in a row, walls-marciano fight was almost scheduled.

These men made waves in the ring magazine ratings. Satterfield never got himself deep in there. that's a fact fogey. Satterfield during his career only cracked the ring mags twice, and he barely squeezed in at numbers 8 and 9.

Norfolk beat up billy miske and beat harry greb. he was a top contender for a title shot vs dempsey. dempsey ducked him, drew the color line.


You could make a case I shud put harold johnson in my list. But i left him out because he never campaigned for a title shot at heavyweight, which is why you never see his name in the ring magazine ratings. If i were to include him, he would be in my top 5 on this list.