Best fighter of each decade not to win a championship

A load of twaddle!

 

But Stevenson and Papp won several championships.

 

I'll thow James Scott into the discussion for the 1970s -- at one point he was clearly the top contender in a murderer's row of a light heavyweight division at the time. He beat Eddie Gregory (aka Mustafa Muhammad), Yaqui Lopez and a few other top-tier guys.

Wasn't going to get a title shot since he was imprisoned, but hard-pressed to find someone who had a resume like his who didn't get a crack at a belt.

The 1980s are much tougher to find the most deserving non-champ. Maybe Frank Fletcher? No way he'd have beaten Hagler (although I'd loved to have seen him try), but had the 160 title been split in the early- to mid-1980s he'd have been a prime candidate to take the other belt. Had a great run, but was one of those types who was destined to burn out with his always-in-a-war style.

 

• Eddie Gregory, who would change his name to Eddie Mustafa Muhammad after winning the WBA light heavyweight title in 1980, entered the fight as the WBA's No. 1-ranked light heavyweight contender.

• Gregory was a 4 to 1 betting favorite.

• Gregory said before the fight: "They say Scott is tough, but how tough can he be? So he fought a couple of stiffs inside the walls and he knocked them out. He hasn't had a real pro fight in almost four years. And now he wants to fight the top contender. You know he's got to be crazy. He's been in here too long. It happens when you stay in these places too long. I'll carry him for 11 rounds and knock him out in the 12th. It'll be a good workout."

• Pat Putnam of Sports Illustrated reported: "Scott took charge from the start, swarming over Gregory at close quarters, firing punishing hooks from both sides. In the fourth round, he raised an ugly lump under Gregory's left eye. . . . Scott won the fifth round, then coasted through the sixth and seventh, which he lost on all cards. From Round 8 on, he resumed command and never let up. Always it was the same: inside and savage. At the end, with his corner screaming for him to go for a knockout, Gregory was barely able to hang on."

• Jimmy DiPiano, the father and manager of WBC light heavyweight champion Mike Rossman, was ringside. After the fight, DiPiano was asked if he would allow his son to enter Rahway State Prison and grant Scott a title shot. DiPiano said, "It's going to take an awful, awful lot of money before I'll let my son in the same ring with that monster."

• Harold Lederman, who was one of the official judges for the fight, recalled in 2012: "On that day, I thought James Scott was the greatest light heavyweight I ever saw in my life. That's how great he was. On that one day when he beat Gregory, he was the best light heavyweight I ever saw. I never saw a performance like that — anywhere. I don't think Bob Foster was as good as that. I don't think Archie Moore was that good. He was prepared like I never saw in my life."

 

This is based on all the ranked heavyweights that Mavrovic DIDNT beat? lol
How many rounds did he win against Lewis?


Here are the score cards 119-109,117-112,117-111.

 

Oba Carr

 

I like your style

 

You gave Mavrovic "4 or 5 rds "in the 12 rd fight against Lewis? And ,you say," he had Lewis out on [you said of ,but I assume you meant on,] his feet " .
What do you think of the stats of the punches landed?
Lewis landed 216 of 507 punches, while Mavrovic connected on 132 of 298.
Yet you think Mavrovic won about 40/45% of the rounds?

 

Papp is a good call and i think Briscoe and Benton deserve a shout as do Yaquie Lopez and Ritchie Kates

 

Okay your score card gives Mavrovic33%-42%.
Ever wonder why nobody else scored it remotely that way?
Ever wondered why absolutely nobody has ever said Mavrovic rocked Lewis and had him out on his feet?

 

I'm talking about EVERYBODY that watched the fight and disagrees with your synopsis. Oh ,and I watched the fight live onTV.

 

I'll have to re-watch the Lewis-Mavrovic fight.

I think Mavrovic legitimately won 3 rounds, possibly 4.
5 seems like a stretch.
I'll re-watch and see.

 

Croatin Irokese?WTF?

 

I'd add, Mario Martinez and Ruben Castillo to that list. Just noticed you're talking post 80's.

 

charley burley