The top 10 heavyweights never to fight for the title.

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by janitor, Mar 24, 2008.


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  1. janitor

    janitor VIP Member

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    Your 1-7 is prety much spot on.

    Dont know about Thad Spencer at 10. I could think of a number of more deserving candidates such as Jimmy Bivins or Elmer Ray.
     
    janitor, Mar 25, 2008
    janitor, Mar 25, 2008
    #16
  2. janitor

    janitor VIP Member

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    Some names that have not cropped up on any lists so far that deserve consideration.

    Frank Slavin
    Denver Ed Martin
    Fred Fulton
    Jack Dillon
    Harry Greb
    Chris Byrd
     
    janitor, Mar 25, 2008
    janitor, Mar 25, 2008
    #17
  3. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Yeah, he's more a sneaky cheaky mention because nobody else is going to pick him than anything else. Bivins for sure deserved the shot post WW2, I think he should have got it ahead of Conn, he was owed that in my view. Ray...not for me personally. But that might be a drop of bias (he and Burley did not like one another).

    Do you consider Maher as having fought for the title?
     
    McGrain, Mar 25, 2008
    McGrain, Mar 25, 2008
    #18
  4. janitor

    janitor VIP Member

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    Technicaly he fought Bob Fitzsimmons for the vacant title after Jim Corbett retired. The claim evapourated when Corbett came back out of retirment.
     
    janitor, Mar 25, 2008
    janitor, Mar 25, 2008
    #19
  5. Langford

    Langford Active Member Full Member

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    my top ten of the unfairly denied.

    1. Sam Langford (based on his total length of time he could have considered number 1 challenger)
    2. Harry Wills (same)
    3. Peter Jackson
    4. Joe Jeanette (because I think he would have had a better chance vs. Johnson)
    5. Sam McVea (less of a chance than Joe to beat Jack Johnson)
    6. Jimmy Bivins.
    7. Gunboat Smith
    8. Eddie Machen (hard to believe he never got a title shot, though he lost a few crucial fights)
    9. Michael Dokes. (Would have loved to have seen Dokes fight either Holmes or Tyson)
    10. Nino Valdez.
     
    Langford, Mar 25, 2008
    Langford, Mar 25, 2008
    #20
  6. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    It's a fair shout. And when they fough, BOTH were claiming to be champion...but having said that is it not true that every single document tracing the title through the ages sees it change hands when Fitz fought Corbett? I feel that if he had beaten Fitzsimmons, but Fitz had then fought Corbett, Fitz would still have been considered champ, although perhaps expected to meet Maher.
     
    McGrain, Mar 25, 2008
    McGrain, Mar 25, 2008
    #21
  7. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Notice may not of fought for a World title, but I would of been pick-em against him, he sucked that bad!;)
     
    TBooze, Mar 25, 2008
    TBooze, Mar 25, 2008
    #22
  8. Dave's Top Ten

    Dave's Top Ten Active Member Full Member

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    Horace Notice? wow. At least someone remembers him
    Gary Mason would be more of a worthy mention.
     
    Dave's Top Ten, Mar 25, 2008
    Dave's Top Ten, Mar 25, 2008
    #23
  9. Dave's Top Ten

    Dave's Top Ten Active Member Full Member

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    Dokes? He WON a world title
     
    Dave's Top Ten, Mar 25, 2008
    Dave's Top Ten, Mar 25, 2008
    #24
  10. Dempsey1238

    Dempsey1238 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I think a battle of Burns vs Langford would be a hard fight for both men imo. Lets not forget that the lesser Jim Flyn held a win over Langford, so its not out of the question that Tommy Burns could do it.

    I favor Langford of couse, but not by much. Whats often forgoting is that Burns was a great fighter.
     
    Dempsey1238, Mar 25, 2008
    Dempsey1238, Mar 25, 2008
    #25
  11. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    To be fair nine of them fought for or won a world title.
     
    TBooze, Mar 26, 2008
    TBooze, Mar 26, 2008
    #26
  12. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    Langford is talking Linear which is what was asked of in the thread topic. Holmes>Spinks>Tyson, Dokes never fought any of them.

     
    JohnThomas1, Mar 26, 2008
    JohnThomas1, Mar 26, 2008
    #27
  13. Holmes' Jab

    Holmes' Jab Master Jabber Full Member

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    Fabulous post and reasoning, can't really fault any of that (not sure about Ike, though). I agree entirely with your top 5 (the exact same order too). :good
     
    Holmes' Jab, Mar 26, 2008
    Holmes' Jab, Mar 26, 2008
    #28
  14. janitor

    janitor VIP Member

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    I think that Langford wore the cuffs when he lost to Flyn.

    He certainly advised his friends to bet heavily on him in the return fight.
     
    janitor, Mar 26, 2008
    janitor, Mar 26, 2008
    #29
  15. sweetsci

    sweetsci Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Holmes>Spinks>Tyson>Douglas>Holyfield>BOWE!!!

    It came way too late, but Dokes got his shot.

    I don't recall Jerry Quarry's name being listed yet, but I might have missed it.

    Razor Ruddock never really got a shot at any major title, as I recall. Although I supposed if he'd beaten Lewis he'd have been named WBC champion if Bowe had still thrown that belt in the trash.

    Several decent contenders - Page, Coetzee, Morrison, Mercer, Thomas, Byrd - never got shots at the World (linear) title even though (or because) they were organizational belt holders.
     
    sweetsci, Mar 26, 2008
    sweetsci, Mar 26, 2008
    #30
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