Continuing our discussion. Today, give me your 15 greatest contenders never to win the junior lightweight title. The rules are, they must have competed at the weight and never won a World, WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, NBA or NYSAC recognized title at the selected weight (Interim, Colored, White, IBU, BBBC, state recognized other than New York, Country only recognized or any organization south of WBO are not recognized titles, so their champions are eligible as contenders). Also, since I am not recognizing Straw, jr. fly, super fly, super bantam, super middle or cruiser, the champions and contenders in the omitted classes are eligible at the higher weight. If they did move up and win that respective title like Roman Gonzalez, they are ineligible as a contender. Easy enough? Please ask if I am gliding over something. And don't sweat the order, just give me your best 15. Here are mine: -Johnny Bizzarro -Vicente Derado -Ruben Navarro -Antonio Amaya -Kang Il Suh -Frankie Crawford -Raul Rojas -Sammy Goss -Hugo Barraza -Ray Lunny III -Tyrone Everett -Ruben Castillo -Mario Martinez -Jeff Fenech -Juan LaPorte 130 has a deeper history than just the early 60s. It saw its inception back in the Benny Bass days, so there is more untapped history there than what I explored. But these are the guys that jumped out at me. Hit me with what you have.
Ok ready for this = Jose Napoles the best Light Welter not to win this title EVER. He beat. Baby Vausquez Alfredo Ubina Carlos Hernandez Giordano Campari Eddie Perkins Adolph Pruit Johnny Santos Eugenio Espinoza. All at 135/140. keep well.
Thanks, Mike. When we get to light welter Napoles will be the first on the list. Now, what have you got for junior lightweight?
George, trying to keep this when the title actually existed. It appears to have been around from about '21 - '33. Armstrong was a 6 round fighter by the time it went into inactivity, but Arizmendi is a solid choice. Even duking it out within the weight limit. I know 130 isn't the deepest, but a good solid choice nonetheless.
Well, this division didn't really grab anyone's imagination, but there you go. I did take the liberty of adding in a few more that I thought were worthy. Anyways, here we are, the greatest junior lightweight contenders who never won the title, so deemed by the Classic Boxing Forum (always open for additions). -Seaman Tommy Watson -Baby Arizmendi -Johnny Bizzarro -Vicente Derado -Love Allotey -Ruben Navarro -Antonio Amaya -Kang Il Suh -Frankie Crawford -Raul Rojas -Sammy Goss -Hugo Barraza -Ray Lunny III -Tyrone Everett -Lionel Hernandez -Frankie Baltazar -Ruben Castillo -Mario Martinez -Jeff Fenech -Juan LaPorte -Angel Manfredy Next up: Lightweights
