Fighters who didn't become world champ but have beaten former/future world champs

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Flo_Raiden, Sep 4, 2025.

Page 1 of 4
  1. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2010
    Messages:
    21,779
    Likes Received:
    34,911
    Who are some fighters you can think of that never had the chance to win a world title yet they have beaten a number of fighters who were either former champs or would end up becoming a champ later on?

    David Tua comes to mind who has beaten John Ruiz, Oleg Maskaev, Hasim Rahman, Michael Moorer.
     
    Flo_Raiden, Sep 4, 2025
    #1
    Boxing GOAT, d4n1elc, Fireman Fred and 4 others like this.
  2. bolo specialist

    bolo specialist Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2024
    Messages:
    4,092
    Likes Received:
    8,210
    I believe Lloyd Marshall beat a nearly double digit # of former/future champs - Charles, LaMotta, Maxim, Yarosz, Overlin, Brouillard, Mills, just off the top of my head.
     
    bolo specialist, Sep 4, 2025
    #2
    Boxing GOAT, mr. magoo, Greg Price99 and 7 others like this.
  3. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    Messages:
    10,756
    Likes Received:
    13,607
    Joe Miceli - beat Ike Williams, Virgil Akins, Bud Smith, Johnny Saxton and drew with joey Giardello

    Gil Turner - beat Gene Fullmer, Ike Williams, Beau Jack, Johnny Saxton and Virgil Akins

    Alfredo Urbina - beat Jose Napoles, Eddie Perkins, Joe Brown, Chango Carmona, Lauro Salas and drew with Sugar Ramos and Carlos Hernandez
     
    scartissue, Sep 4, 2025
    #3
    Boxing GOAT, robert ungurean, Fireman Fred and 4 others like this.
  4. Bronze Tiger

    Bronze Tiger Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2018
    Messages:
    4,428
    Likes Received:
    5,400
    Razor Ruddock
     
    Bronze Tiger, Sep 4, 2025
    #4
    d4n1elc, Fireman Fred and Overhand94 like this.
  5. Thread Stealer

    Thread Stealer Loyal Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2005
    Messages:
    42,061
    Likes Received:
    3,639
    David Tua was the first to come to mind.

    Would have had more title shot opportunities if he was with Don King. He got one shot against one of the best HWs ever, and that was it.
     
    Thread Stealer, Sep 4, 2025
    #5
    d4n1elc, swagdelfadeel, Fireman Fred and 2 others like this.
  6. HistoryZero26

    HistoryZero26 Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2024
    Messages:
    6,953
    Likes Received:
    6,008
    Marshall was the duration LHW champ.
     
    HistoryZero26, Sep 4, 2025
    #6
  7. Bulldog24

    Bulldog24 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2013
    Messages:
    11,403
    Likes Received:
    4,306
    Michael Watson did a job on an unbeaten Nigel Benn
     
    Bulldog24, Sep 4, 2025
    #7
    Fireman Fred likes this.
  8. mattdonnellon

    mattdonnellon Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2006
    Messages:
    8,776
    Likes Received:
    2,116
    Joe Choynski; Corbett, Jeffries, Maher, Johnson, Fitz, McCoy, Hart, lots of draws there but some list, nevertheless.
     
    mattdonnellon, Sep 4, 2025
    #8
    Boxing GOAT, Greg Price99 and robert ungurean like this.
  9. Saad54

    Saad54 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2014
    Messages:
    10,925
    Likes Received:
    6,802
    Harold Petty beat Daniel Zaragoza twice by decision and then stopped former lt fly and future fly champion Hilario Zapata. Zapata and Zaragoza went on to make the IBHOF. Petty was upset by future champion Greg Richardson and then fell rapidly. But for a brief period he was a serious prospect.
     
    Saad54, Sep 4, 2025
    #9
    robert ungurean, Fireman Fred and Fogger like this.
  10. Bronze Tiger

    Bronze Tiger Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2018
    Messages:
    4,428
    Likes Received:
    5,400
    Renaldo Snipes
     
    Bronze Tiger, Sep 4, 2025
    #10
  11. drenlou

    drenlou VIP Member

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2015
    Messages:
    77,875
    Likes Received:
    42,619
    Juan Lazcano. He beat Wilfredo Vasquez Sr, John John Molina, Stevie Johnston, and Jesse James Leija.
     
    drenlou, Sep 4, 2025
    #11
    Fireman Fred likes this.
  12. Fireman Fred

    Fireman Fred Active Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2014
    Messages:
    797
    Likes Received:
    1,979
    Brian Nielson. He has victories over:

    Larry Holmes
    Tim Witherspoon
    Bonecrusher Smith
    Tony Tubbs
    Carlos DeLeon
    Jeff Lampkin
    Uriah Grant
    Orlin Norris
     
    Fireman Fred, Sep 5, 2025
    #12
    Boxing GOAT likes this.
  13. Devon

    Devon Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2018
    Messages:
    7,487
    Likes Received:
    6,799
    Ike Ibeabuchi.
     
    Devon, Sep 5, 2025
    #13
    Fireman Fred, d4n1elc and swagdelfadeel like this.
  14. scribbs

    scribbs Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2013
    Messages:
    489
    Likes Received:
    261
    Tua challenged Lennox Lewis November 11, 2000 for the Heavyweight Championship (WBC, IBF, IBO titles), the WBA had stripped him for Ruiz :ibutt and the WBO wasn't worth much in those days.

    This content is protected


    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lennox_Lewis_vs._David_Tua
     
    scribbs, Sep 5, 2025
    #14
  15. scribbs

    scribbs Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2013
    Messages:
    489
    Likes Received:
    261
    Lost twice to Chris Eubank for WBO Middleweight and Super Middle titles and fought Mike McCallum for WBA middleweight title.
     
    scribbs, Sep 5, 2025
    #15
Page 1 of 4