Hopping around on boxrec I came upon Paul Hodkinson today. I've known of him for years and watched a few of his fights, but I can't remember the last time he was brought up on the Classic forum. Won a world title (WBC) at feathweight, defended it five times. Seemingly huge power with 21 knockouts in his 22 wins. Hardly an obscure guy on paper but he just seems to of slipped between the cracks and into obscurity over the years.
Pretty damn good fight right here. I dig the old school television programming before the fight as well, the commentary team.... Good stuff. This content is protected
I met Hocko some months after he won the featherweight strap. I was in England, staying with a girl who was studying there whom I was dating at the time. She was at Manchester University and we took a number of train trips from there to see various things -- day trip to Wales, an overnight to Glasgow, etc. Well we went to Liverpool, mainly to see the Beatles sites. So we went to lunch there (big spread, I think it was on a Sunday, buffet-style place). It was in a two- or three-story place and after we ate we were walking around it checking out some of the shops there. Turn a corner and there's a sign at a men's closing shop saying Hodkinson will be there at 1 o'clock signing autographs and such. So we're probably like 30 minutes early for that, shop isn't open. Well we had things we planned to do so I figure, dang the luck, must missed him. And as we start to walk away, who shows up a dandy three-piece suit with his WBC belt over his shoulder but Hocko! This would have around springtime 1992, he was preparing to fight Stevie Cruz. We chatted for a few minutes, me telling him I'm a huge boxing fan and he let me hold the belt and my girlfriend took my picture with him. He came across as very humble and gracious, couldn't have been friendlier or more accommodating. He won me over and I rooted for him for the rest of his career.
Despite being arguably Joe Louis' most significant challenger, Lou Nova is barely mentioned around here.
Yes Lou Nova! He would have been a champ without Joe Louis to get past. another one is the guy who drew with a prime Sugar Ray Robinson and never got a rematch Henry Brimm. 117-2-1 Paul Cavaliere who had the best record of any heavyweight never to fight for the title and beat Jimmy Braddock and Tony Galento. Also Wills Red Applegate who took Marciano the distance. There is next to nothing to find on him.
Dave Charnley, the British Lightweight just preceding Ken Buchanan. A bull of a fighter and southpaw he was very unlucky to lose a decision to Joe Brown in The Ring Magazine's fight of the year in 1961. Beat good men and was only beaten by good men, but on his best night was a handful for anyone.
1961 Ring Magazine article has him 117-2-1. It is said he gave Gene Tunney a beating in a gym and could not get fights with anyone decent after that. http://www.njboxinghof.org/paul-cavaliere/
If we're talking about significant fighters from recent decades, I'd say Yuri Arbachakov is foremost among those rarely mentioned. Flyweight champion of the world from 1992 to 1997. He was 23-1, his only loss being his last fight. The first Russian professional world champion. If we're talking about fighters from 50 or 100 years ago and more, there are absolutely loads.
Do you consider Yuri a great fighter, or at least one possessing great abilities if not competition/resume? I've heard Yuri spoken of in appreciation here and there, I believe along with Orzubek Nazarov I believe?
I don't know. I barely remember Yuri Arbachakov and failed to notice the appreciation but his record and abilities seem to make him worthy enough. To me he's been as obscure as Paul Hodkinson.
I don't disagree at all, every post I've ever seen about Yuri and Nozarov have been quality though, so I figured I'd ask
