Greatest heavyweight to never challenge for a title (post color-bar)

Maybe Razor Ruddock or Ike Ibeabuchi.

 

Agreed, I’d probably say Ruddock.

 

I like your pick of Bivins as well as Ray, Baker and Valdez. i wouldn't have counted Bonavena myself as he did fight Joe Frazier 15 rounds for his portional title, but that's just me. Other good fighters have been mentioned here as well, but I'll add in Ernie Schaaf, Larry Gains, Walter Neusel and Rex Layne.

 

Great post. Gains was colour barred in the UK, (It wasn't lifted until 1948), and Neusel, who had beaten Jack Petersen, was KO'd by Tommy Farr.

My picks would be Bivins and Eddie Machen. It is also said that Al Weill wanted nothing to do with Nino Valdes.

 

If we're counting alphabet titles as "World", I would include Duration titles as well as NYSAC, which would leave Bivins and Bonavena out.

Ibeabuchi is unusual in the alphabet era, as he had major wins over two of the top heavyweights of the day, without actually challenging for a title. Obviously his abbreviated career scuppered that, and if he had continued fighting he would have inevitably challenged for a title at some point.

It's strange to think that Ruddock never fought for a title, but his prime was during a period of one recognised champion and the WBO belt being a bit of a sideshow. If he had beaten Lewis, and assuming Bowe still vacates the WBC title, he would have been awarded that belt.

Ray is the obvious choice, even with the lack of footage. There aren't any other examples that compare to a guy whose prime coincided with the title effectively being frozen, and who also had wins over the next two champions.

 

Elmer Ray and Jimmy Bivins for me

 

I agree with all of the ones mentioned so far. I'll add Leotis Martin and Ricky Womack for two very different reasons. Leotis had a rep as an absolute badass which he clearly proved when he knocked an older but still dangerous Sonny Liston. He was lined up for a title shot but had to retire because of a detached retina. Supposedly, Frazier was not to keen on fighter his fellow Philly fighter.

Ricky Womack beat Evander Holyfield multiple times in the amateurs and also had succes internationally. As pro he was right on the cusp of being ranked when he was sentenced to 25 years for armed robbery. Many folks thought this Emanuel Steward trained fighter was destined to being a top heavyweight but by the time he got out of prison he was a 40 year old man with eroded skills and he took his own life. He was an incredibly gifted fighter.

 

Valdes fight with Moore in 1955 was recognized as a world title fight by NSAC. Bivins fought Tami Mauriello for "the duration Heavyweight title". Boxer list says Walter Neusels fight with Farr was for some world title.

I'd have Layne or Ruddock.

 

Valdes lost to Archie Moore 2X and thus Archie got the title shot rightfully. If anyone Weil feared it was Archie Moore who also stopped top heavyweight Bob Baker (who beat Valdes) among other Heavyweights.

6'3" Valdes was given another opportunity to make himself a viable contender to face Marciano on 8/17/55 but was beaten badly by the 5'10 183 lb. Bob Satterfield, Valdes dropped for a 9 count in the last round.

Bob Satterfield already was ko'd in 2 by Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore in 3 so he would not be marketable.

Cus would keep Floyd in the lower division while Marciano was at the helm thus no fight 50 for Rocky.

 

But in between those losses to Moore, Valdes was ranked no1 in 53 and 54, and he beat Charles who Marciano subsequently defended against.

 

Just going according to the OP that said 'no duration titles'. Perhaps @themostoverrated needs to chime in.

 

Fair enough on the Bivins one.

 

Cheers Bummy. Good info mate.