~~~the Official Philly Fighters Appreciation Thread~~~

[yt]4_Qw_-b767o[/yt]

Warrior Personified:deal

 

This content is protected

Bennie Briscoe

"Bad Bennie"

66-24-5 / 53 KO / 1 NC

North Philly - Middleweight

Gritty, murderous-punching fan favorite had a long and great career including three shots at the title. One of the best-ever never to win a championship.

Born: 2/8/43

"Anybody I hit has got to go, and if they don't, they'll be fouled up for the rest of their career."​

i think he personified philly fighters more due to his lack of supreme talent but heart toughness and technique.

 

This content is protected

Jimmy Young

33-19-2 / 11 KO / 1NC

North Philly - Heavyweight

Elusive and tricky ring artist defeated George Foreman and Ron Lyle but his heartbreaking, razor thin losses to Muhammad Ali & Ken Norton kept the title out of grasp.

Born: 11/16/48 - Died: 2/20/05

 

This content is protected

Willie Monroe

"The Worm"

40-10-1 / 26 KO

North Philly - Middleweight

Lanky, smooth-boxing pro gave Marvin Hagler a real beating at the Spectrum in 1976 but losses in the two return bouts helped to keep him out of title contention.

Born: 6/5/49

 

This content is protected

Tim Witherspoon

"Terrible Tim"

55-13-1 / 38 KO

South Philly - Heavyweight

Eventually a two-time title holder, Terrible Tim made his first big splash in a controversial decision loss to Heavyweight Champion Larry Holmes in just his 16th fight.

Born: 12/27/57

 

This content is protected

Ike Williams

125-24-5 / 60 KO

Trenton, NJ - Lightweight

Deadly praying mantis with graceful moves and lethal punching power was the crown jewel of Blinky Palermo's stable during a wonderful career and lengthy run as 135 pound champ. Split two savage battles with arch rival Bob Montgomery in Philly.

Born: 8/02/23 - Died: 9/05/94

 

This content is protected

Bobby "Boogaloo" Watts

38-7-1 / 20 KO

North Philly - Middleweight

Perhaps the most skilled of the 70's Philly middles, this top-10 contender came out on top in an all-Philly tournament but a shot at the title or with Briscoe never materialized.
Was the first man to beat Hagler.

Born: 11/11/49

"If I knew then what I know now, I would've been middleweight champion."​

 

This content is protected

Lew Tendler

114-16-6 / 38 KO / 35 ND

Lightweight - Welterweight

South Philadelphia lefty was one of the greatest fighters never to win a title, losing championship bids to boxing immortals Benny Leonard & Mickey Walker. Beat Pete Herman and Johnny Dundee and was elected to the Hall of Fame.

Born: 9/28/98 - Died: 11/05/70

 

This content is protected

Meldrick Taylor

"The Kid"

38-8-1 / 20 KO

North Philly - Jr. Welterweight

Quick all-action fighter won Olympic gold in 1984 and pro titles at 140 and 147 pounds. Best remembered for heartbreaking 2-seconds-to-go loss to Julio Cesar Chavez in 1990.

Born: 10/19/66

 

This content is protected

James Shuler

"Black Gold"

22-1-0 / 16 KO

North Philly - Middleweight

Promising pro killed in motorcycle accident after his biggest fight, a loss to Hearns. An outstanding amateur, his gold medal dreams were snuffed by the US Olympic boycott in 1980.

Born: 5/29/59 - Died: 3/17/86

"I'm one of the few fighters around who doesn't smoke, doesn't drink and doesn't get high no kind of way."

 

Eric "I'm from Philadelphia" Harding

This content is protected

A Philly who never won a world title but should've.

Boxrec record:
http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=7759&cat=boxer

 

This content is protected

Matthew Saad Muhammad

"Miracle Matthew"

39-16-3 / 29 KO

South Philly - Lt Heavyweight

Impossibly thrilling brawler who waged the greatest wars in Philly history. Hall of Famer won the title in 1979 and defended 8 times.

Born: 6/16/54

"The jab was the teaser, the right hand was the bomb."

 

i'm hopin they get Smokin' Bert Cooper's profile up on that page someday