Greatest fighters to never win a title?

Gustav 'Bubi' Scholz. Fought from lw to lhw in the 50s and 60s, winning the German ww, mw and lhw and European mw and lhw title and got a shot at Harold Johnson but it was two weighclasses above his best weight and a few years past his best time. He never got over the loss because he thought he hadn´t lost because Johnson was better but because he just didn´t do enough (due to old age). He later became an alcoholic, went to prison because of malicious wounding and later because he shot his wife while drunk beeing drunk. He died in the 90s after having been diagnosed with Alzheimer´s disease and a few strokes.

Don´t know if he fits in there because of his German and European belts but he never got a shot at a world title during his prime at mw even though he was the best European mw and fellow European/German mws who were constantly beaten by him got a shot at the American top mws - for example Peter Mueller.

 

Langford won world title claims at Middleweight, Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight

My number one pick

Well no! By definition they are limited to fighters who never won titles!

 

Tony Ayala of course.

 

atsch

 

He was good, but no Frankie Duarte.

 

billy petrolle-the fargo express

 

Nice picks. Hard to look past your #4. Williams is a refreshing mention. :good

 

Billy Miske. I don't believe he ever won a title. One of the best lightheavies and heavyweights of his era (or of all time for that matter). Beat Battling Levinsky and Jack Dillon several times a peace, earned a 10-round draw against a prime Jack Dempsey, and beat many of the best heavyweight contenders of the 20's and teens.

 

Billy Petrolle,Lew Tendler,Holman Williams,Peter Jackson,Les Darcy,JimDriscoll.

 

Just for interest McVey, I believe Les Darcy was posthumasely recognised as a legitimate "Middleweight Champion of the World", by Nat Fleischer the 1950s whilst in reflection of events surounding Darcy. The finer details regarding this, I will try to post in the next day or 2..

 

Billy Graham

Arguably beat Joey Giardello three times
Arguably beat Kid Gavilan (did once officially)
Arguably beat Carmen Basilio twice (did once officially)
Arguably beat Tony Pellone three times (did once officially)
Arguably beat Rocky Castellani
Arguably beat Paddy DeMarco
Beat Art Aragon
Beat Fritzie Pruden
Beat Terry Young