Forgotten top contenders

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by janitor, Jan 29, 2010.


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  1. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    This thread is devoted to forgotten contenders who never made it to the top, but were only a step away from it in their day.

    Gus Ruhlin
    The average boxing fan today holds Tom Sharkey in high regard as a top fighter in his era but often sees Gus Ruhlin as a second rater. The facts on the ground at the time are that Sharkey was not thought to be in Ruhlins class for a long period. Ruhlin was 6' 2'' with a 79'' reach and game with good fundamentals. He generaly weighed around 200lbs in lean condition.

    Johny Risko
    Som modern fight fans perceive Johny Risko as a second rater. The fact is that he was the betting favourite to suceed Gene Tunney as champion after the latter retired. In his prime run he posted wins over Jack Sharkey and George Godfrey amongst others. This guy was a force to be reckoned with in his day.

    Give me some more names.
     
    janitor, Jan 29, 2010
    janitor, Jan 29, 2010
    #1
  2. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Frank Moody

    Why is more of a fuss not made about Moody? The Welsh don't let the lights go out on their fires very often, I don't think it's fair he way he's forgotten now. OK, he tended to lose at the highest level against guys like Flowers, Greb and Bogash, but he beat Kid Norfolk and Jock Malone and held future HW title challanger Tommy Farr to a draw. Not bad for a middleweight contender.
     
    McGrain, Jan 29, 2010
    McGrain, Jan 29, 2010
    #2
  3. ChrisPontius

    ChrisPontius March 8th, 1971 Full Member

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    Jack Renault. Decent heavyweight contender in the 20's, but never got much attention.
     
    ChrisPontius, Jan 29, 2010
    ChrisPontius, Jan 29, 2010
    #3
  4. mattdonnellon

    mattdonnellon Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Technicaly this guy did make it to the top but Jack Root was the betting favourite v's Hart and had a great record.
    Gunboat Smith is another, he beat a peak Langford, Willard and a slew of others. Maher of course was a top 5 guy or better for 10 years and Slavin and Goddard were others who were considered top men in their time but are underated now. Jeff Clarke also had a great record and Mike Gibbons was rated a top, top fighter in his day.
     
    mattdonnellon, Jan 29, 2010
    mattdonnellon, Jan 29, 2010
    #4
  5. anarci

    anarci Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Ruben"Maravilla kid"Navarro LIghtweight Contender of the 70s only lost to the best and beat some good fighters too.

    Ernie "Indian Red"Lopez Big bro of Danny and Top Welter contender would have been champ if it wasnt for some guy name Jose Naopoloes.

    Tony Baltazar- Big puncher and entertaining in his prime would have grabbed a title if he were fighting today.

    Armando Muniz- Almost pulled it off against Palomino before getting stopped in the last round very tough fighter beat some good fighters and even gave some great ones all the y wanted.

    Oscar Muniz- Very good boxer and beat then Champion and ATG Jeff chandler(too bad it was a non title fight) Lost in the rematch.

    Frankie Duarte- Man this guy was very exciting and had a lot of balls. HE was robbed big time in a title shot against Bernardo Pinango. Also had memorable wars with Albert Davila and Richie Sandoval.
    Just thought id give a shout out for a couple local fighters from the area who were very good and better than many guys who have held titles
     
    anarci, Jan 29, 2010
    anarci, Jan 29, 2010
    #5
  6. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Some good shouts.
     
    janitor, Jan 29, 2010
    janitor, Jan 29, 2010
    #6
  7. Stonehands89

    Stonehands89 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Luther McCarty

    Ironically enough, Jack Johnson may have had lady luck on his side when 6'4 McCarty died at 21. Only 18 fights but this guy seemed to have it, and was anything but a typical white hope-dope. Anyone here read "Ten Seconds of Sunlight" by Barney Nagler?
     
    Stonehands89, Jan 29, 2010
    Stonehands89, Jan 29, 2010
    #7
  8. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Joe Knight. Fought a draw with Slapsie Maxie for the title and was ranked for 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35. In '32 he beat Rosenbloom.
     
    McGrain, Jan 29, 2010
    McGrain, Jan 29, 2010
    #8
  9. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    I would for sure be interested to see what a 24 year old McCarthy would look like.
     
    janitor, Jan 29, 2010
    janitor, Jan 29, 2010
    #9
  10. Stonehands89

    Stonehands89 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Damn Right. Word is he could punch, take a shot, and had skill to go with his size.

    With a little experience and as Jack Johnson got older, he may have beaten him... and then taken on Willard and who knows what next. Dempsey may have been another name mentioned on this thread had McCarty faced Dempsey in 1919 instead of big lumbering Jess...

    Imagine.
     
    Stonehands89, Jan 29, 2010
    Stonehands89, Jan 29, 2010
    #10
  11. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    joe baksi and roscoe toles.
     
    choklab, Jan 29, 2010
    choklab, Jan 29, 2010
    #11
  12. anarci

    anarci Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Enrique Bolanos Very popular in LA almost beat Ike Williams.
    Jimmy Edgar
    Cecil Hudson
    RUdy Cruz
     
    anarci, Jan 29, 2010
    anarci, Jan 29, 2010
    #12
  13. Stonehands89

    Stonehands89 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Wesley Mouzon.

    A teenager who fought Ike Williams himself to a draw and cooled Bob Montgomery in 2.
     
    Stonehands89, Jan 29, 2010
    Stonehands89, Jan 29, 2010
    #13
  14. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    This is turning out to be a good thread!
     
    janitor, Jan 29, 2010
    janitor, Jan 29, 2010
    #14
  15. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Baltazar was fun, but if you could not beat him, you had little chance of being world class,

    Duarte is a brilliant story and his comeback was that close to being a fairytale, but he did ultimately show himself to be slightly below the very best.
     
    TBooze, Jan 29, 2010
    TBooze, Jan 29, 2010
    #15
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