This is the obvious pick, but I don't think so. Yes, he was in his first pro fight, but he was the Olympic champion and to be fair, no one built him up to be something he wasn't. He was sold as the amateur champion. In his whole career, I don't think he ever lost to any fighter who was not, at one time or another, a top ten fighter. He went 15-7-1 and defeated George Chuvalo, Bobo Olson, Willi Besmanoff, and Buddy Turman. I think he defeats a fair number of other contenders if matched with them. My own worst. Terry Daniels Jean Pierre Coopman Dave Zyglewicz
Peter Okhello was one of the worst alpha-title fights ever. About as effective as Kevin Johnson was against Vitali. At least Johnson taunted his opponent. My three? Scott Frank Jean-Pierre Coopman Peter Okhello
"Jack Roper, who looked like a aged B Movie Villain" He was a B movie villain. I own a movie with Johnny Mack Brown in which Roper is one of the villains.
Roper with Louis. This content is protected This content is protected Photos ,courtesy of Raging B**l
At last somebody mentioned Brian London.His attempt against Ali was a pathetic surrender.To be fair to London he was a pretty respectable fighter,who fought a lot of good men.He fought them anytime anywhere but that night he basically **** himself and lay down.
Lastaza, kid mathews, johny willams were rated heavyweights when cockell beat them. Don was no adonis but he earned his title fight because he was a genuine contender with genuine wins against world class fighters. lastarza, charles and bucceroni were the best contenders that year, an established contender with a win against either would land a title shot that year. And that is what cockell did. Don beat a very good lastarza who had only suffered one concusion (that he got a 6 month rest from) and was still only 27 years old with a winning record of 53-4. He was not washed up.
Rademacher put Fallin' Floyd down. Leon Spinks put a whuppin' on Ali. Ray Austin? ...I don't even know what the IBO is.
A shot-to-**** 39 year old cruiserweight called Mormeck will be sacrificed to IBF, WBO and WBA heavyweight champ Wladimir Klitscho in 3 months. Poor old man needed a gift decision to beat a journeyman recently.