Again I don't claim any expertise, just attempting to provoke discussion 1------Sugar Ray Robinson 2------Kid Gavilan 3------Carmen Basilio 4------Billy Graham 5------Tony DeMarco 6------Johnny Saxton 7------Bobby D'ykes 8------Gil Turner 9------Charley Fusari 10----Johnny Bratton 11----Del Flanagan 12----Bernard Ducosen 13----Charles Humez 14----Tommy Bell 15----Joe Micelli ratings on what was done 1946 to 1955
Graham should be a few spots higher, but ti's still a very good list. I wonder if maybe room could be made for Zivic, even though his best years came before 1946?
and just like Zivic, Ernie Roderick was still a leading welterweight on the world's stage, and come middleweight in the UK by the late mid 40s too.
When was Roderick even rated in the top ten? between 1946 and 1950,whenhe retired he had12 fights and won just 4 of them. He is not relevant to this thread. Fritzie Zivic had 21 fights during this time scale ,losing 13 of them he doesn't belong here either ,imo.
"Graham should be a few spots higher." Yes, giving it thought, I think you are right. I would now move him up to #4 and drop DeMarco, Saxton, and Bobby D one spot. Thanks.
Maybe on my part it was partly wishful thinking, as I think there might be a good case made for Graham over Basilio, and I was hoping someone would make it. I might not agree with it, but it would an interesting discussion point.
Graham was a ring mechanic, Basilio was a crowd pleasing, ask and give no quarter swarmer.I think Carmen either holds outright, or jointly the record for appearances in the Ring's Fight Of The Year.
