I don't think the title of greatest journeyman can even be bandied about without adding in Johnny Risko. 121 bouts and he was only stopped 3 times. Sort of on the pudgy side, he didn't look like a fighter but look who he went toe to toe with: World champs - Gene Tunney, Jack Sharkey (twice), Max Schmeling, Max Baer (twice), Tommy Loughran (5 times), Jack Delaney (twice), John Henry Lewis, Bob Olin, Bob Godwin, Jimmy Slattery, Mike McTigue, Paul Berlanbach and Mickey Walker (3 times). Also, top contenders - Young Stribling (twice), Tom Heeney (twice), Paulino Uzcudun (twice), George Godfrey, Ernie Schaaf (twice) and Tony Galento. And he beat several of the aforementioned
Ezra Sellers is a good shout also Bert Copper gotta love a massive puncher that is killed or be killed always entertaining the pair of them. More my faves then the best I guess if a journeymen was really good they would have likely risen to a higher level like a gatekeeper.
Emmanuel Augustus Fight anyone any time just give me time to get there. Also look up the record of Buck Smith. I met him when he fought Antonio Margarito in Ft Worth Texas. At the time his record was something like 104 -12. He was amazing , fought 2 different fighters same day, often fought 2-3 times a month. Anyone ,Anywhere just show me the money
I saw the thread and immediately thought of Marion Wilson...was flicking through the answers ready to post at the end , then I saw you beat me to it ! He was deffo the first to spring to my mind.
Some names here I would consider as a gatekeeper. IMO a journeyman is a step below that. Glen Johnson: Gatekeeper Dingaling Man WIlson: Journeyman. Reggie Strickland: Journeyman all day long.
Joe Carter. Sub-murderer's row, fought in the stacked 1940s, couldn't catch a break because of his colour. Fought Cocoa Kid 5 times, Holman Williams four times, Lloyd Marshall twice, Charley Burley and actually holds a victory over Aaron Wade. Came within a hair of beating Marshall, beat a creaking Cocoa Kid...not to be confused with Joe E Carter who fought around the same time but E achieved a ranking. Joe Carter to my knowledge, did not. Astonishing number of heavyweights in the running I see