Name the best challenger these champions failed to meet

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by janitor, Aug 25, 2007.


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  1. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    John L Sullivan

    (If Peter Jackson then name a number 2 choice)

    Jim Corbett

    (If Peter Jackson then name a number 2 choice)

    Jim Jeffries

    (If Jack Johnson then name a number 2 choice)

    Jack Johnson

    (If Sam Langford then name a number 2 choice)

    Jack Dempsey

    (If Harry Wills then name a number 2 choice)

    Gene Tunney

    Joe Louis

    Ezzard Charles

    Rocky Marciano

    Floyd Patterson

    Muhamad Ali

    Larry Holmes

    Michael Spinks

    Mike Tyson

    Evander Hollyfield

    Lennox Lewis
     
    janitor, Aug 25, 2007
    janitor, Aug 25, 2007
    #1
  2. KTFO

    KTFO Guest

    :rofl :rofl :rofl


    This thread was so predictable.
     
    KTFO, Aug 25, 2007
    KTFO, Aug 25, 2007
    #2
  3. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    So who do you pick then?
     
    janitor, Aug 25, 2007
    janitor, Aug 25, 2007
    #3
  4. ChrisPontius

    ChrisPontius March 8th, 1971 Full Member

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    ChrisPontius, Aug 25, 2007
    ChrisPontius, Aug 25, 2007
    #4
  5. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Wills is such an obvious choice that I think it more usefull to discuss the second most deserving challenger that Dempsey never faced.

    Where the No 1 shafted contender is a no brainer I have asked for another name.
     
    janitor, Aug 25, 2007
    janitor, Aug 25, 2007
    #5
  6. ChrisPontius

    ChrisPontius March 8th, 1971 Full Member

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    I see, i thought it had something to do with the color line, since you only mentioned it for the early champions. Who do you think Dempsey should've fought other than Wills?
     
    ChrisPontius, Aug 25, 2007
    ChrisPontius, Aug 25, 2007
    #6
  7. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    I think that Harry Greb did enough to deserve a shot at the title. He beat most of the fighters Dempsey defended his title against and tried to get a fight with Wills to establish himself as the No1 challenger.

    Some sources suggest that Dempseys managment saw Godfrey as a big risk though Godfrey was never quite consistent enough to position himself as the No1 challenger.

    The big what if is Godfrey fighting Wills to determine which of them was the outstanding challenger for Dempseys title. Godfreys managment tried to arrange such a fight.
     
    janitor, Aug 25, 2007
    janitor, Aug 25, 2007
    #7
  8. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I believe Gene Tunney avoided Jack Sharkey. Sharkey had beaten George Godfrey, Harry Wills, Jimmy Maloney and had that crazy fight with Dempsey which splashed him across the media despite the loss. Drawing with Heeney and then Tunney choosing Heeney as the challenger was grasping for a life preserver because Sharkey was the box office attraction at this time, not Heeney. I believe it would have been a great fight.

    If there was anyone Joe Louis could have fought and didn't, I think it would have been Jimmy Bivins, primarily because he held the duration title while Louis was in the service. But this is thin since Louis fought everyone.

    If there was anyone Marciano didn't fight (and I won't use the word 'avoided' with Marciano) it would have been Nino Valdez. Beat Charles the year before Marciano's 2 fights with Ezzard and should have been given the shot instead of Don Cockell. And BTW, he stopped Cockell in 3 after Don's fight with the Rock.

    Just like I believe Al Weill was the guy who avoided Valdez, I believe it was Cus D'Amato who avoided Zora Folley. How long was he number 1 contender or at least top three? I think throughout the '56-'62 era in which Patterson held the title.

    Scartissue
     
    scartissue, Aug 25, 2007
    scartissue, Aug 25, 2007
    #8
  9. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    If the general forum had existed at this time a lot of people would have been saying that he should have fought Jack Sharkey or Johny Risko instead of Tom Heeney. That seems to have been the opinion on the ground at the time.

    It should be noted however that Heeney did win a tournament to get the title shot.
     
    janitor, Aug 25, 2007
    janitor, Aug 25, 2007
    #9
  10. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    Super Greg Page!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
     
    JohnThomas1, Aug 25, 2007
    JohnThomas1, Aug 25, 2007
    #10
  11. Robbi

    Robbi Marvelous Full Member

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    JT. Quick question. Who has been the best heavyweight since Ali retired in 1978?.
     
    Robbi, Aug 25, 2007
    Robbi, Aug 25, 2007
    #11
  12. ChrisPontius

    ChrisPontius March 8th, 1971 Full Member

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    Dempsey did knock out Sharkey to get his shot against Tunney. I think this put Sharkey a bit down as worthy challenger for the moment.
     
    ChrisPontius, Aug 25, 2007
    ChrisPontius, Aug 25, 2007
    #12
  13. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    Super Greg, and barring him definitely Lennox Lewis

    ;)
     
    JohnThomas1, Aug 25, 2007
    JohnThomas1, Aug 25, 2007
    #13
  14. Robbi

    Robbi Marvelous Full Member

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    Holmes would have smoked Page. Late TKO.
     
    Robbi, Aug 25, 2007
    Robbi, Aug 25, 2007
    #14
  15. Dempsey1238

    Dempsey1238 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Holmes does not have a "Super" in his name. We all know the winner would have to be Super to be able to beat Holmes lol.
     
    Dempsey1238, Aug 25, 2007
    Dempsey1238, Aug 25, 2007
    #15
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