I really wish I could remember this guy's name, the fight I saw happened about 30 years ago. Anyway, 'this guy' was brought in as an opponent for a local prospect, and he was expected to lose. As per the script, he was getting a beating, and after 6 rounds, his corner wanted to pull him out of there between rounds. He shouted "NO, NO!" so vehemently that they let him continue. He took a beating for the remainder of the fight, but he went the distance. A moral victory. It made me think a lot. He had nothing to gain. Nobody was rooting for him. He had no chance of winning. Nobody would have blamed him for retiring on his stool. But he didn't. He fought on like a warrior. He showed so much heart and pride that it always stuck with me. I just wish I could remember his damn name.
Everett “Bigfoot” Martin. Just check out his record. Fought 9 champs in a row. Won a decision over Witherspoon but stayed a journeyman.
Also went the distance with Wladimir Klitschko, George Foreman, Michael Moorer, Tony Tucker, Larry Holmes, Tony Tubbs and Herbie Hide, Dwight Muhammad Qawi.
Freddie Pendleton improved to the point that he was above Journeyman.. Ko 6 Roger Mayweather. D 12 Frankie Randall D 10 and Tko 10 Livingstone Bramble Then gave Pernell Whitaker a tough 12 round fight and later won and defended the IBF lightweight title
He began as a solid prospect and contender and over time diminished to journeyman level. Lots of fighters coast in and out of the role. Like Pendleton
I was a big fan of Glen Johnson the Road Warrior. His trilogy with Clinton Woods were fun. I used to watch Johnson vs Yusef Mack and Khalid Jones fights a lot. The systematic way he cut off the ring and hunted them down, plus his tight earmuff defense. I'm still surprised at how effective it it just to hold your hands up and why top level fights ignore this and go for more complex reflex based defense. Glen could be plodding at times but he didn't take huge clean shots often. I'm a big fan of the cover counter type high guard boxing style (Baby Bull Diaz, Artur Abraham, Mickey Ward). Johnson was so humble. One of my fav boxing quotes is from him. After the Jones fight he said "I'm not the best, I'm just a guy who's willing to fight the best. fight'. To see him succeed was a win for the everyday fighter. He wasn't blessed with massive power, nimble feet or elte reflexes. He was blessed with being one of the toughest SOBs though. He would constantly come forward, the ultimate grinder type of fighter, he will try and try again, he will find a way just through effort.
