Fighters who had the deepest quality of wins prior to winning their first major world title

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by dmt, May 10, 2025.

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  1. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

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    Which Fighters who had the deepest quality of wins prior to winning their first major world title? Major title would include only WBA, WBC, IBF, or WBO. Or undisputed world championship.

    Ezzard Charles would be my pick mainly cause no one would give him a shot at 175 lbs. He beat Archie Moore x 3 times, Jimmy Bivins, Lloyd Marshall etc.
     
    dmt, May 10, 2025
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  2. MaccaveliMacc

    MaccaveliMacc Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Jack Johnson & Sonny Liston.
     
    MaccaveliMacc, May 10, 2025
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  3. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Prior to beating Alan Minter for the title, Marvin Hagler had beaten Bennie Briscoe, Willie Monroe, Bobby Watts, Cyclone Hart, Sugar Ray Seales, Mike Colbert, Kevin Finnegan and Johnny Baldwin. Not to mention a draw with Vito Antuofermo. Not too shabby.
     
    scartissue, May 10, 2025
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  4. Bukkake

    Bukkake Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Harry Greb is the obvious answer!

    Greb took the middleweight crown from Mickey Walker in his 280th(!) fight - and had before that defeated 13 future HOFers, a total of 30 times. A clear "winner" of this question!
     
    Bukkake, May 10, 2025
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  5. bolo specialist

    bolo specialist Boxing Addict Full Member

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    He took the crown from Johnny Wilson actually, but that was still after he'd already beaten the likes of Tunney, Loughran, Gibbons(es), & a host of others.
    (Note that he did win American recognition as LHW champ from Tunney, but that doesn't fit into the OP's criteria for a major title.)

    SRR would be a close runner-up IMO - wins over the likes of Armstrong, Zivic x2, LaMotta x4, Angott x3, Servo x2 before ever getting his 1st shot @ a title.
     
    bolo specialist, May 10, 2025
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  6. Bukkake

    Bukkake Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Shame, shame on me for making a mistake like that!

    Of course Greb became champion by beating Wilson. This blunder will be hard to live down... so it'll probably be some time, before I dare to show my face here again!
     
    Bukkake, May 10, 2025
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  7. Devon

    Devon Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Gene Tunney.
     
    Devon, May 10, 2025
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  8. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    A lot of the best answers have been named but Archie Moore and Joe Louis are good additions.
     
    catchwtboxing, May 10, 2025
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  9. zadfrak

    zadfrak Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    And a lot of these as the road warrior. That itself is as rare as guys going through shark infested waters before their championship reign
     
    zadfrak, May 11, 2025
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  10. FThabxinfan

    FThabxinfan Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Sammy Angott.
    Leo Rodak,Bob Montgomery,Freddie Miller, Lew Jenkins,Baby Arizmendi and Davey Day in his resume.
     
    FThabxinfan, May 11, 2025
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  11. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Pep too if I'm not mistaken.
     
    George Crowcroft, May 11, 2025
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  12. RockyValdez

    RockyValdez Member Full Member

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    Joey Giardello was past his prime when he won the title and had a lot of good wins.
     
    RockyValdez, May 11, 2025
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  13. Mandela2039

    Mandela2039 Philippians 2:10-11 Full Member

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    Davey Day... wish there was footage of the guy
     
    Mandela2039, May 11, 2025
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  14. FThabxinfan

    FThabxinfan Well-Known Member Full Member

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    That was 4 fights after his first 15 rounder,in which he got his title and relinquished it too.
     
    FThabxinfan, May 11, 2025
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  15. Pugguy

    Pugguy Ingo, The Thinking Man’s GOAT Full Member

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    Too hard on yourself dude. If we all took a hiatus everyone time we made a mistake the traffic around here would be pretty quiet.
     
    Pugguy, May 12, 2025
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