Britain's greatest ever middleweight?

Discussion in 'British Boxing Forum' started by DavidC77, Oct 12, 2018.


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  1. DavidC77

    DavidC77 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    It would be interesting to hear people's opinions.

    I hope Eubank doesn't get very many votes.
     
    DavidC77, Oct 12, 2018
    DavidC77, Oct 12, 2018
    #1
    mark ant likes this.
  2. Infern0121

    Infern0121 Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    Turpin won the middleweight title of SRR so I can't vote for anyone else
     
    Infern0121, Oct 13, 2018
    Infern0121, Oct 13, 2018
    #2
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  3. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    You won this thread by TKO. Waving it off.
     
    Saintpat, Oct 13, 2018
    Saintpat, Oct 13, 2018
    #3
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  4. destruction

    destruction Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Len Harvey

    Most Successful defences of British MW title (7), 1929-1933
     
    destruction, Oct 13, 2018
    destruction, Oct 13, 2018
    #4
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  5. DavidC77

    DavidC77 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    YES!!!

    TURPIN!!!

    That was the answer I was hoping for. I would have to go with him as well.

    I think if he had lowered his sights and only concentrated on defending his British middleweight title he would have exceeded Harvey's number of defences.

    I also think Turpin would have made mincemeat of Eubank. His strength in the clinches would have been too much for Eubank.

    It's such a shame that personal issues affected Turpin's career. If he had been fully focussed I think he would have regained the world middleweight title without too much fuss when he fought Bobo Olson.
     
    DavidC77, Oct 13, 2018
    DavidC77, Oct 13, 2018
    #5
  6. Odins beard

    Odins beard Fentanyl is one hell of a drug.... Full Member

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    Regarding Turpin, excellent fighter with a great win but I'm afraid one swallow does not make a summer.
     
    Odins beard, Oct 13, 2018
    Odins beard, Oct 13, 2018
    #6
    pow likes this.
  7. thistle1

    thistle1 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    great choice, but wrong weight really... Harvey was a L-HW, but more importantly Len Harvey IS Britain's Overall Greatest Ever Fighter...

    the Benn, Watson, Eubank era is going to win it here, followed by Turpin, but the real accolade goes to Jock McAvoy & Bert Gilroy.
     
    thistle1, Oct 13, 2018
    thistle1, Oct 13, 2018
    #7
  8. DavidC77

    DavidC77 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    True but no other British middleweight can boast a win that comes close to his victory over Robinson and he was giving a good account of himself in the rematch.
     
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2018
    DavidC77, Oct 13, 2018
    DavidC77, Oct 13, 2018
    #8
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  9. DavidC77

    DavidC77 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Eubank?

    Grrrrr…..
     
    DavidC77, Oct 13, 2018
    DavidC77, Oct 13, 2018
    #9
  10. Ted Spoon

    Ted Spoon Boxing Addict Full Member

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    That's rather easy. Bob Fitzsimmons.

    He would have poleaxed everyone else.
     
    Ted Spoon, Oct 13, 2018
    Ted Spoon, Oct 13, 2018
    #10
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  11. Momus

    Momus Boxing Addict Full Member

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    One win obviously stands out and his prime was short, but Humez and Cockell (at LHW admittedly) are not to be sniffed at. He managed to win British European and Empire titles, as well as the British version of the World title. His career wasn't just about one night.

    As with a lot of these questions, if you count Fitzsimmons as British he is the greatest ever. If not, I'd go with Turpin.

    Minter deserves a mention as he was one of the few to be undisputed champ, and he beat plenty of good guys throughout his career. His record is brought down a bit by all those cut-eye losses.

    Downes is often overlooked these days, but he has more quality wins than most high-profile British middleweights.

    It obviously wasn't his best weight, but Ted Kid Lewis had a decent run at middleweight. He was very competitive in the 5 fight series with O'Dowd, and there are conflicting reports of his fight with Gibbons. He also won British, Empire and European titles.

    Benn, Eubank and Watson fought a round-robin with each other, but otherwise their records are underwhelming at 160. Benn has the big win over Barkley, but he was far from invincible. Watson and Eubank beat Benn, but at no point were any of them considered the best in the division, and Watson's loss to McCallum puts their status at the time into perspective. Benn and Eubank both had longer title runs and achieved more at 168.
     
    Momus, Oct 13, 2018
    Momus, Oct 13, 2018
    #11
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  12. Bulldog24

    Bulldog24 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Herol Graham was the best. I thought be beat McCallum and Kalambay (rematch). He schooled KALULE (who gave Leonard hell).

    Robinson was far past his best (and far past his best weight) against Turpin.
     
    Bulldog24, Oct 13, 2018
    Bulldog24, Oct 13, 2018
    #12
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  13. Bulldog24

    Bulldog24 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Eubank beat Benn and Watson in their primes which holds a lot of weight!
     
    Bulldog24, Oct 13, 2018
    Bulldog24, Oct 13, 2018
    #13
  14. Cecil

    Cecil Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Robinson wasn't far past his best at all when he fought Turpin, he'd only lost one fight out of 135 up
    till then!
     
    Cecil, Oct 14, 2018
    Cecil, Oct 14, 2018
    #14
  15. BitPlayerVesti

    BitPlayerVesti Boxing Drunkie Full Member

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    Bob Fitzsimmons, Randy Turpin
     
    BitPlayerVesti, Oct 14, 2018
    BitPlayerVesti, Oct 14, 2018
    #15
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