Emmanuel Augustus. He had the talent to fight at the elite level - but wound up on the wrong side of too many close decisions. No doubt he was hampered by his lack of work ethic outside of the ring - but few fighters are as entertaining as the "Drunken Master" when he gets his groove going. He's still not retired. Here's to hoping he gets that last minute shot at somebody with a belt and makes it work.
I think for the most part, M.M. gets his credit as a great fighter. What I don't really like though is when people talk too much about his poor luck and timing of not landing a fight with any of the Fab 4, and not about his achievements. Even without any of the Fab 4 on his ledger, his resume is nothing to scoff at.
I'd like to give a shout out to Holman Williams. Williams was a deluxe counter-puncher and was one of the best fighter from the heavily avoided men in the 1940's black muderer's row. A small middleweight, he has one of the best resume's in the history of the sport, but is a largely forgotten name. Some of the best men he beat: Bob Satarsfield Archie Moore Bert Lytell Charley Burley Cocoa Kid (Though the kid dominated their epic series) Llyod Marshall Jack Chase Eddie Booker (who Moore thought was the best he ever fought, along with Burley) Izzy Janazzo He was avoided by the best white contenders and champions of his time, including LaMotta and Cerdan who wanted no part of him until he was washed up, and Eddie Futch rated him as one of the greatest of all time. Truly, a forgotten great, perhaps mostly on account of the dirth of footage.
I would give props to Daniel Santos, but he won't need them after this weekend. Oba Carr is another one who doesn't seem to get nearly enough pub on here. Beat, what, 5 or 6 guys who held titles, but never got one himself because he was always facing the toughest guys when he got his title shots.
Roy Jones, lol. "He was so over the hill he couldn't even compete when Tarver called his UNBEATEN ass out in the middle of the ring and then ***** slapped him to the canvas, so ya know....that doesn't count." LMFAO
On the subject of the Black Murderers Row, then we should mention Eddie Booker and Lloyd Marshall. Neither of these guys are in the Hall of Fame.
Very well said. Nor is The Cocoa Kid. With Marshall and the Kid, I think that the "fact" that these men were business fighters hurts their chances, though they should be in there. Booker? He should be in there. Patchy, but he fought and beat some great fighters, got all the way up to HW, never stopped. A great, great fighter. But I do think that, Burley aside (who gets his due these days) Williams is the most talented of that bunch, and his slippage from the mainstream is of the greatest diservice to the game.
Exactly! He is really Underrated. Im a big Virgil Hill fan. He had a great career. His resume is also great. The guy faught anybody. Boxing needs guys like Virgil Hill. A true American fighter :bbb Its sad tho that some people here think guys like Gatti should go to HOF but when I ask hey what are your thought on Hill, they say no. Hill is the man. 8)
When people talk about Gatti being a HOFer, I think of other eligible fighters who should be in there before Gatti. In addition to the disgusting ommissions of Booker and Marshall mentioned above, fighters like Brian Mitchell, Esteban Dejesus, Julian Jackson, Marlon Starling, and Donald Curry should all be in Canastota before Arturo Gatti.