who is uk ,s best fighter not to get a world title.

True, but newspaper reports of the time paint him as being very prone to cuts: never being stopped in THAT many bouts? His resume is weak (and apparently in some way imbellished) but he beat a lot of good contenders.

 

Thing is he didnt conform to the National Sporting Club that ruled boxing in that period, hence why he never got his title challenges, but this also ruled out alot of oppenents because they were NSC affiliated and were barred from fighting him. So alot of his opponents were 'toughman' non-professional level boxers.

 

The early 1900's built men tough Greg that's for sure.

 

Definitly.

 

Also, Pat Cowdell

 

Speaking of Owen, how do you think he matches up with Henderson? Questions for anyone.

 

I'll be honest I dont know too much on his style but he appears to have been a very good 'pure' boxer, Flea Man knows more about him, and rates him higher.

 

A great fighter, and beat some notable Bantams, including 'Jock' Wallace and Dirk Windibank. Owens ranginess and toughness wouldn't be an issue as Henderson outpointed heavyweights in his day.

Owen would probably cut Henderson to shreds and outpunch him down the stretch. Hendersons lack of power would cost him against more 'modern' judges that's for sure, from the reports I've read he makes Ivan Calderon sound heavy handed

 

Henderson was abit ahead of his time in certain ways, clinched far to much though.

Alot os his fights are unconfirmed and are mostly made up of non (or semi) professional club fighters often with 3 or 4 fights a night against very limited opposition, in some cases think drunk people where he gets his case for beating Heavyweights, he never beat a 'named' or even professional opponent above Middleweight.

He often did not train and often weighed around the Feather or even Lightweight limit in many of his fights, especially in his famous tours.

 

compared to the likes of elky clarke, johnny hill, alan rudkin, owen moran, jem driscoll, dave charnley, jock mcavoy, len harvey , bomber graham, johnny pritchett and michael watson, henry cooper hardly deserves a mention.some of these men came within a whisker of a world title.ali wasn't champ when cooper landed that hook