Continuing our discussion. Today, give me your 15 greatest contenders never to win the bantamweight title. The rules are, they must have competed at the weight and never won a World, WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, NBA or NYSAC recognized title at the selected weight (Interim, Colored, White, IBU, BBBC, state recognized other than New York, Country only recognized or any organization south of WBO are not recognized titles, so their champions are eligible as contenders). Also, since I am not recognizing Straw, jr. fly, super fly, super bantam, super middle or cruiser, the champions and contenders in the omitted classes are eligible at the higher weight. If they did move up and win that respective title like Roman Gonzalez, they are ineligible as a contender. Easy enough? Please ask if I am gliding over something. And don't sweat the order, just give me your 15. Here are mine: -Toluco Lopez -Jose Medel -Bernardo Caraballo -Jesus Pimental -Alan Rudkin -Famoso Gomez -Julio Guerrero -Rogelio Lara -Venice Borkorsor -Alberto Sandoval -Frankie Duarte -Oscar Muniz -Harold Petty -Jiro Watanabe -Khaosai Galaxy Admittedly, I am way light pre-1960s. I went with what and where I was most impressed. I am open to education and enlightenment on what you have.
Nick, at first I wasn't sure about Pete. I thought he may have won a NYSAC title, but it was actually the Canadian/Montreal version. Pete was a big draw in Montreal and they created the chance for him. But he never won World, NBA or NY versions, so that is an eligible pick. Now, can you give me 14 more?
Jose Medel Alan Rudkin Toluco Lopez Jesus Pimentel Bernardo Caraballo Piero Rollo Freddie Gilroy Frankie Duarte Pete Sanstol Bennie Goldberg Octavio Gomez Paul Ferreri Johnny Owen Alberto Sandoval Jimmy Wilde
Jose Medel Alan Rudkin Jimmy Wilde Midget Wolgast Benny Goldberg Jesus Pimentel Toluco Lopez Gilberto Roman Jiro Watanabe Khaosai Galaxy Memphis Pal Moore Pete Sanstol David Kui Kong Young Tony Olivera Luis Castillo
Chris, you made me smile when I saw Bennie Goldberg. Oh, man, talk about a great old bantamweight whom I went right past. All your other picks were spot on as well. Also, the Jimmy Wilde pick. Jimmy regularly fought bantamweights while never weighing above 112. One of my favorite results was the Joe Conn fight. Whereas today we have divisions weighing 105-108-112-115-118-122-126, Jimmy Wilde, weighing 105 knocked out featherweight Joe Conn. My God, d'ya think we baby our fighters today?
Amazing to think Wilde would even be a small straweight today yet he whipped quality bantams and even a British featherweight champ (that’s equivalent of at least a world title holder today) in Conn. A true pound for pound great.
The names listed so far all look good, and I am not in list compiling mode at the minute. I do think Eijiro Murata that scored a draw against both Pintor (I felt murata edged it) and Jeff Chandler is somebody that from 79-81??? Would be a tough night for a good many bantam champs
George, Young, Olivera and Castillo are all terrific picks from the Manuel Ortiz era. I wasn't sure if Memphis Pal Moore had a claim to the title, but really that's all it was. Johnny Ertle and he just went around defending a title that Ertle 'won' on a DQ from Kid Williams, even though he/they really had no real claim to it. So he's a legit contender and a good one. Can't believe I slid past Gilberto Roman too. You guys are keeping me on my toes.
Great additions, Al. Frankie always came up against the biggie of his day in Coulon, Williams and Herman, who kept him from the title. He had the luck of a Yaqui Lopez in that aspect. And Kane brought his wallop with him up to 118 for a late renaissance in his career. Great picks.
