Lyle's chin was better than Briggs. He just fought in an era where people knew how to fight. So, it got tested fairly often. And, he was far tougher than Briggs. Lyle KO 5 over Briggs. Prime George Foreman KO 1 over Briggs.
I guess i ll do a Briggs /Lyle match,i think Briggs had more refined skills ,Lyle was a bit to slow for my liking ,Briggs also has killer body shots and rocked Lewis who was no push over ,his main fault is poor stamina with asthma .
If he beats Browne, which I don't think he will but will be a live underdog, then he'll at least merit consideration for the reasons the op laid out well. 2nd oldest hw belt holder, only one to have a belt in three different decades, record for 1st round ko's. Plus some quality names on ledger, like Foreman and Mercer(though asterisks on both), got an uncredited kd on Lewis. If anyone who was never a true top 5 hw of his era would deserve in the Hall, he would. But then that's the rub, isn't it.
Good post for the most part, but not sure what your problem with the K's are. Vitali isn't a "possible" hofer, he's a lock which is clear to anyone outside the irrational haters
It would be hard for him not to get in considering he'd be a three time, three decade champ with the first round knockout record who fought three ATG heavyweights in entertaining fights and won the belt from Liakovich in dramatic fashion. He's personable, popular in the US and Europe, and American. He's also basically a class act outside of the ring. If he does some mainstream commentary or training after retiring, you can count him in. He'd still probably make it without that. The bar is set really low for American heavyweights. I'm not saying he'd deserve it, but he'd likely make it after two or three ballots.
Good post, not sure I'm as firm that he'd get in as you but good argument. I guess I'd rout for him to get in. But he's need to beat Browne first, and while I'll rout for him for that, I think he's a live underdog at best.
He is possible because he isn't in yet. Your post gives off serious crazy vibes there man. Not everything is about Klitschko.
Lucas Browne is considered a "bum" when a 40-year-old Wladimir was rumoured to be facing him. I don't see Browne's name in any reasonable independent top tens. Shannon Briggs has been around for years but during all that time was hardly ever worthy of a top ten place himself. He's rarely been a serious contender. He wasn't one of the top fighters in his own era, nevermind now. I fear for his safety.
Huh? Well, I guess crazy knows crazy, yeah? Seems fairly clear to be crazy to be calling one of the best of all time a possible hofer when he's a lock, kinda like calling Peyton Manning a possible nfl hofer.
Any active fighter is a possible HOF fighter. Saying that doesn't correlate to having a problem with a fighter. Floyd, Pacquaio, Hopkins, Jones Jr are all possible HOF fighters because they're not yet eligible. The exact same as Wladimir and Vitali. I don't vote for the HOF entry so I've no idea how such a vote will go once those fighters are eligible. That doesn't mean I'm an irrational hater about all the above fighters. I've no idea who Peyton Manning is.
I like Briggs even though he is a bit crazy. The way he took that pummeling from Vitali, how could you not like him? He's the real Rocky Balboa, forget Wepner. Also when he fought Lennox it was viewed as a mismatch, he stunned Lewis and kept getting up, and the photo-finish he pulled against Lyachovich knocking him out of the ring and between the ring apron and a table with I think 1 or 2 seconds left in the fight.