Can you think of any fighters who were considered journerman but were actually world class or had world class skills?
Luis Resto? (lol) Nah, Jerry Quarry is seen as a journeyman of the 60s/70s and shouldnt be. He was a great fighter in his own right, as were many in that day. Tony Galento was somewhat of a journeyman - fighting as a second job and giving top class fighters tough fights. However hes more skilled and a better fighter than hes given credit.
Sanderline Williams gave a lot of future world very good and close fights Iran Barkley, James Toney, Frank Tate, Reggie Johnson, Nigel Benn. Also other good fighters like Herol Graham, Don lee and Merqui Sosa. That says something about Sanderline's quality.
Journeymen are journeymen for a reason IMO There are Champions, Contenders, Journeymen. I have a very hard time calling guys like Oba Carr or Jerry Quarry "journeymen" when they are one of the best guys in their division.
Tom "The Bomb" Bethea upset a few national champs in their backyards like Mark Rowe British Champ and Nino Benvenuti World Champ, Sadly for Tom it was a Non-Title Fight with Nino - Nino won with the title on the line. A real tough competitor was Mr Bethea.
One of my favorites. The one guy I don't mind clowning around. It looks like he's more like having a good time than he's trying to humiliate the other guy.
I think Harold Brazier was a journeyman fighter who worked his way to word class level. Same with Freddie Pendleton.
I was about to start a thread like this about the 1980's and 1990's HW journymen/Gatekeepers, Bert Cooper, Jesse Ferguson, Leon Spinks, Lionel Buttler, Jimmy Thunder, Mike Evans, Bonecrusher Smith, Mike Weaver, Darrol Willson, David Izon, Everett Martin, Elijah Tillery, Mike Hunter, Oliver McCall, John Tate, Tyrell Biggs, Jose Ribalta, James Tillis, Ros Purrity, Michael Dokes, Orlin Norris.