Great Fighters who never won a world title

Depends what you mean by world title. Many fighters, including some of those you have named have won world titles, but an awful lot of excellent to brilliant fighters have never won proper World Championships....

To my knowledge, Charley Burley won neither.

 

I am prepared for the backlash, but Teofilo Stevenson had he turned pro would have turned out to be a Top 10 ATG heavyweight. Maybe higher. I firmly believe he would have clearly beat a old muhammad of the late 1970s, knocked out foreman, his right hand would have been larry holmes kyptonite, and he had proven success in amatuers vs many of the top Alpha champs. I think his style would have adjusted to the pros very cleanly with a top trainer. Stevenson was the best prospect I have ever heard of or seen on film. At least 6'6 In shape 225lb, with extremley long reach, one of the best right hands we have ever seen, phenominal jab, outstanding finisher, Just a great all around offensive fighter with good speed and overall skill.

 

My answer is always the same: Jerry Quarry. Scoff if you like, but I'm convinced that if Quarry was fighting today, he would be the dominant champ at CW. I just can't see guys like Adamek or Cunningham beating him.

 

Sam Langford
Joe Jeanette
Harry Wills
Charley Burley
Lloyd Marshall
Holman Williams
Eddie Booker
Jack Chase
Lee Q Murray
Jimmy Bivins
Elmer Ray
Clarence Henry
Cleveland Williams
Zora Folley
Eddie Machen
Jerry Quarry
David Tua
Ike Ibeubuchi

 

The post said great fighters, I see 6 possibly 7 there ,no more

 

Billy Petrolle
Packey McFarland
Jim Driscoll
Owen Moran

 

Mike Gibbons

For whoever said David Tua: You are nuts. The guy had no dedication or motivation. No willingness to expand his arsenal. All he brought to the table was a big left hook and a good chin (the reputation of which was enhanced by his willingness to cover up and simply plod around the ring without offering any real offense once he had been stung). The guy was the most one dimensional, predictable fighter to EVER challenge for the HW championship and he actually had a shot at winning that fight (because I believe Lewis incredibly overrated and his induction into the HOF is the final nail in that piece of shits coffin) but blew it by coming in fat, out of shape, with no game plan.

 

Tommy Gibbons.

 

Herol "Bomber" Graham :happy

 

Local lad Pierre Fourie comes to mind. He was not a great fighter, but in an era where he didn't have Bob Foster or Victor Galindez as champions, he could have won a title.
He took both to points verdicts in all four fights (which is an achievement in itself considering how destructive Bob Foster was) and was never in any trouble in any of those fights, barring the first round with Foster in the first fight where he had difficulty settling down.

He went to his grave convinced he had beaten Galindez in the second fight.

 

ala villamor

 

Lew Tendler

 

From an absolutely one eyed Australian point of view I'll rattle a few off:

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: Only went 8 rounds for lightweight title with Duran, but hurt Duran like few before or since. Later challenged Cervantes at light welter. Overall 73 wins, 12 losses & 2 draws.

TONY MUNDINE (Snr) - Dominant middleweight unfortunate to be in an era when Carlos Monzon ruled the division. Challenged Monzon gamely but lasted 7 rounds. One of Australia's greatest P4P fighters. Overall 80 wins, 15 losses & 1 draws.

CHARKEY RAMON - Fought less than 4 years at light middleweight, but absolutely world class. Retired due to injury. Overall 33 wins, 1 losses & 1 draws.

PAUL FERRERI - World class bantamweight who held Commonwealth Title for 17 years! Zarate, another division ruler, took 12 rounds to dispose of him (on cuts) - most others fell in a few rounds to the Mex KO king. Overall 78 wins, 13 losses & 5 draws.

The above all fought in the days when there were few world titles and they were hard to win - a contast to today (unfortunately).

Other Aussies spring to mind such as Troy Waters, Nedal 'Skinny' Hussien & Kevin 'Bones' Kelly etc - and I've missed some, particularly from the distant past.