Most Overrated and Underrated heavyweights of patterson/Listons era

"your above rankings prove that Williams broke the top ten by 1958"

That is why I thought you would appreciate my posting them.

 

Could be I suppose but that was 1957 just six months into a comeback. Did Holman still have much value in his very last fight after back to back knockout defeats against valdes and Miteff? Holman was 1-6 in his last 7.:huh

 

According to an article I read a few days ago, Holman was rated the "most outstanding contender" by the NBA in April, 1956.

Yes, he then went on a losing streak, but I think all the men who beat him were highly rated.

Valdes outpointed Holman. He did not KO him.

Holman scored a number of impressive knockouts, clearly had a big punch, and was probably the most physically imposing fighter of the era. Valdes was heavier, but it was more like "aging" thickness. Holman looks like someone who should be playing Hercules in the movies. Broad shoulders, narrow waist, the whole package. Of course that doesn't mean he automatically defeats Tony Galento or Don Co-ckell.

 

So even if Harris was NBA #2 (and there is no reason why he couldn't be since on 1958 resume Harris and Folley were a toss up) machen and Folley still would have fought the elimination with Harris absent in service?

 

It's a very thin case for Williams then. Nobody could argue Williams was not given oppertunties with that kind of early gift rating. Sonny Liston, Henry Cooper, Machen, Muhammad Ali and Ingo johansson had to do a lot more to break into the ratings if that was the case.

 

Exactly even if Galento and kockell beat him, with those looks I recon Holman would still score petty high with SuzieQ49 :good

 

Williams had two wins over fighters who had been top ten at one point--Agramonte and Holman.

I don't see the problem you see. Don't forget Williams also has an impressive statistical record.

 

Yes that goes a long way. I accept that. But current form and rivals recent form must come into it. Two faded names in seven years and 38 fights isn't really enough for most. That's 36 gimmies if you take out Satterfeild and Jones isn't it?

 

Williams apparently knocked Holman out for 30 minutes!

 

Poor John. ...And after a hard career too. Holman hurt Williams too apparently going off reports. So Williams did well to turn it around here.

 

Except he was 24 when he beat John Holman to get into the NBA ratings and 28 when he beat miteff to get into the Ring ratings.

There have actually been quite a few youngsters in the Ring Magazine heavyweight rankings.


Pastrano was 19

Joe Louis was 20

Tyson was 19.

Pat Comisky was 19.

Tami Mauriello was 18.

Joey Maxim 19.

Muhammad Ali 19.

 

Willie Pastrano

 

"He never actually did anything"

This of a man who was the light-heavyweight champion and won that title from Harold Johnson,

and at 19 defeated former light-heavyweight champion and still high-ranking contender Joey Maxim.

"unfruitful"

What spin do you want to put on this. Pastrano was never champion in this division. Neither was Valdes.

Much is being made of Valdes and his rated heavyweight contenders,

correction--I thought McMurtry was rated #5 when he fought Valdes, but you produced an article proving he was not rated at all by the NBA.

So Valdes probably didn't beat any top five heavyweights from 1956 to 1959.