Which fighter's legacy has benefited most from a fight not happening?

I voted Aaron Pryor. He may or may not be a major head to head beast, but a lot of his reputation comes from SRL supposedly ducking him, even though there's nothing to suggest in his h2h strengths that he'd win such a fight.

 

I agree with you to the extent that Wills is definitely the wronged party and like Ezzard Charles is still recognized for what he did despite not being champion. Truthfully, I was never convinced that Dempsey win was a foregone conclusion. I suppose there was a money issue and more importantly Dempsey's handler's didn't want to open up the possibility that Wills beating him would bring. It would damage the credibility of the color line bull**** and people would realize that it was a way for white fighters to avoid black challengers without any consequences.

 

I could have shed some light about the winner of a Dempsey vs Wills fight that never came about...
As I have posted awhile back, while I was at Stillmans Gym, watching
the great mid 1940s fighters train, a tall grey haired man was standing
just a few feet from me, observing the two boxing rings...I found out
from an oldtime boxer next to me that this grey haired man was Harry
Wills, the oldtime heavyweight...I was young at the time and knew of
Harry Wills, but not in relation to being Jack Dempsey's main rival..
If i did know this at that time i would have not have the cojones to
have walked over and asked him about his chances with Dempsey if
they had actually met..I was young and shy at that young age, but
it would have been interesting, to have his answer to the question,
that today's ESB posters, would have liked to know, including me...

 

Harry Greb vs Les Darcy

That one could have hurt sombodys resume.

 

I believe what Nat Fleischer once wrote a reader in the1940s about Greb..He said in his opinion no middleweight could have CAUGHT up with
Harry Greb...Including Les Darcy...

 

I suppose it could have but do you think Darcy gained alot of mileage from that fight never coming off?

 

Exactly.

If the fight had come off, then sombody would have lost.

 

Bump.

I'd like to hear from the new comers on the Classic.

 

Stuck between Aaron Pryor and George Foreman. I feel both would get absolutely run through in overwhelming (almost embarrassing) fashion. Of course, both turned down those fights when the opportunity presented itself.

 

:blood The Klitschko option is mind-boggling.

 

RJJ when he didnt fight and lose to Simply the Best!

 

Harry Wills..

 

First one that comes to mind is Tyson not facing Foreman. Had he been destroyed by Foreman he would have been a laughing stock.

His rep took enough damage after losing to Holyfield but had he been beaten by old man Foreman his rep would have been even more damaged.

 

Really? The same Fleischer who had Fitzsimmons ranked above Ali and Louis? Well that's the end of that argument then. No one talks as much sense as Fleischer (except maybe Thomas Hearns).

 

tina turner had retired by that point