Average fighters who got a big pay day fight?

I think that Gallento was always going to get a title shot at some point.

Lou Nova was being prety heavily hyped when Gallento beat him and Louis would probably have been forced to fight him then if he had not already done so.

 

Youre right, but I didnt put him on that list. I was simply pointing out like McNeeley's father Mathis dad fought a significant champion and King like that as a selling point for his fights.

 

Although I have always thought of Carl " the truth " Williams as a decent fighter, I think he may have received a few unwarranted big purses. His first big shot came against heavyweight legend Larry Holmes in 1985. Carl entered the ring with all but 16 pro fights and his sole claim to that point was having beaten James Tillis. Even though Williams fought galantly and made the very best of that shot, he probably shouldn't have been in there to begin with. Especially not with Pinklon Thomas and Tony Tubbs meandering around at the time. Not long after he was sparked in two by an aging Mike Weaver. By 1989, Williams had compiled a so so record of 22-2-0-17. His only real wins of note since losing to Weaver were a stoppage over Bert Cooper and a decision over a declining Trevor Berbick in a big fight on the undercard of Tyson Spinks. Somehow this proved to be enough in the eyes of the IBF, and Carl was once again in the ring with the champ. As time passed, Williams appeared again on HBO against Tommy Morrison and against Tim Witherspoon ( though I don't think it was much of an affair. ) Nevertheless, two unearned title shots in 4 years, plus a few additional good paydays against top contenders, a few on HBO or on the undercard of bigger fights, was a bit generous in my opinion.

 

He was a good fighter no doubt. But his losing effort to a 35 year old Holmes carried his career a bit futher than it should have in my opinion.

 

True, that's Don King for ya. Anything to put asses in the seats

 

Most of the answers so far have been fighters who were never great, but got a fight with a great champion in their prime.

What about fighters who had been great, but had nothing left, and got a fight based on their name?

 

How about Pete Radamacher fighting Floyd Patterson for the heavyweight title without any pro experience. Talk about being thrown in at the deep end.

 

George Foreman fighting Michael Moorer? Don't get me wrong, Foreman has enough left to defeat Moorer, but I don't think he deserved the shot with Moorer.

 

Audley FKNG Harrison!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

doubt they got paid that much

 

Recently Harrison aggainst Haye and Rahman against Klitschko

Douglas gor $20 mil for his first HW title defense. He wasn't average but this pay day was way unproportional to his boxing abilities.

Many average fighters hit the bank fighting Tyson.

 

Douglas got $24 mill fighting Holyfield and Mcneely got $540,000 fighting Tyson.

 

Agreed.

 

Donny Lalonde