Who do think are some of the best heavyweight journeman? One of them who comes to mind for me is Ross Purity. Most of his losses were mainly decisions to streaking fighters, and he has some 31 victories with 27 KO's and wins over a few very good fighters. He also has the right blend of a solid chin, big punch and reasonably good stamina. He lacked speed and skill though, but hey something had to make him a journeyman.
I always like Purity. Deserved the nod in his draw against Morrison, I think. Dropped Morrison twice and took everything Tommy could throw at him. But no one gives his chin the credit of, say, Mercer. He also ate absolutely everything Wlad threw at him for 11 rounds, until the man was literally so tired he couldn't stand up and Puritty just beat him down. He's got an ATG chin, in my opinion.
Bob Stallings and Tiger Ted Lowry were a couple of guys with approximately .500 records who were nonetheless highly competitive with, even drawing with and beating on occasion, numerous world-class fighters.
I tend to place Dempsey in this category, although the masses may not like it. I'm not trying to irritate his fans, but the guy wasn't that great. What Dempsey proved is he was an entertaining journeyman, nothing more.
bobby crabtree fought pretty much everyone. ok,he got clattered by most of them but he did manage the odd surprising result
What do you mean by journeyman? If you mean the best fighter who functioned as a journeyman at some stage of his career then Jack Johnson and Jack Dempsey fall into the frame. Virtualy anybody prior to 1940 in fact. If you mean the best fighter who never really got past journeyman level then it would be the one who had the strongest claim to be called a contender rather than a journeyman.
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Greatness isnt all that Jack Dempsey. It has proved itself to be a desirable atribute nothing more.