George Chuvalo early in his career was matched with seasoned fighters like Bob Baker Julio Mederos Howard King x2 Robert Cleroux x3 Yvonne Durelle He also tangled with . Alex Miteff Mike Dejohn Willie Besmanoff Joe Erskine Tony Alongi Then later, Zora Folley Floyd Patterson Buster Mathis Joe Frazier Jerry Quarry Manuel Ramos Ernie Terrell Oscar Bonavena and Muhammad Ali x2 Any challenger meet a stronger field?
You left off Foreman ! ...... yes, Chuvalo fought a menacing bunch of heavyweights, throughout his career. Lost to the best more often than not, but always put up a real fight. Interesting, was lined up as Liston's next likely opponent when Liston died.
James "Quick" Tillis challenged Mike Weaver for the WBA heavyweight title in 1981, and went on to fight a pretty strong field of heavyweights throughout the decade. Admittedly losing to almost every good fighter he faced, but sometimes (when in shape and not just there for the payday) putting on a good fight. Mike Weaver Earnie Shavers Pinklon Thomas Greg Page Tim Witherspoon Carl Williams Gerrie Coetzee Tyrell Biggs Mike Tyson Frank Bruno Evander Holyfield Gary Mason Tommy Morrison Alexander Zolkin There are some big punchers in the above list, he also fought : Marvis Frazier Joe Bugner Adilson Rodrigues and dangerous young prospects nearly-contenders : Mike Williams Johnny DuPlooy ..... but again, he lost to all those guys, except Shavers.
I wouldn't exactly call the journeyman Everett " big foot " Martin a challenger in the sense that George Chuvalo was. However, he did have one of the toughest lists of opponents that I've ever seen. - George Foreman - Bert Cooper - Johnny Duplooy - Dwight Qawi - Gery Mason - Pierre Coetzer - Francesco Damiani - Boncrusher Smith - Michael Moorer - Riddick Bowe - Tim Witherspoon - Tony Tucker - Larry Holmes - Herbie Hide - Tony Tubbs - Wladimir Klitscko - Lamon Brewster - Joe Hipp - Timo Hoffman - Ruslan Chagaev
Willie Joyce: Henry Armstrong (x4) Ike Williams (x4) Chalky Wright (x2) Lew Jenkins (x3) Beau Jack All five are Hall of Famers renowned for their punishing attack. What's remarkable is that Joyce was never stopped.
How could you even contemplate taking on Williams and Armstrong 4 times each ? Wright and Jenkins had serious power as well and Jack just wore you out,Joyce must have been a tough cookie!