Top 5 Pre-Title Run (HW)

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by KuRuPT, Jan 25, 2013.


  1. KuRuPT

    KuRuPT Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    The other dempsey thread got me thinking... What would your top 5 HW pre-title runs be if made to choose? Does Dempsey's crack the top 5 on some lists?
     
  2. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    depends on title criteria.
     
  3. KuRuPT

    KuRuPT Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I think the criteria is pretty simple really.. Who beat the best opposition leading up to their title shot and winning the title.
     
  4. Nightcrawler

    Nightcrawler Boxing Addict Full Member

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    good question. tyson is AMAZING if you feel he won the title with spinks. frazier to had a brilliant run...if he won it with ali
     
  5. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    Liston
    Louis
    Tyson
    Frazier
    Johnson
     
  6. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    So we're counting any world recognised title?

    No particular order

    Johnson
    Liston
    Louis
    Dempsey
    Walcott
     
  7. Boilermaker

    Boilermaker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I am not so sure what everybody thinks is so great about Joe Louis's run (in an ATG sense). Starting with the Schmelling loss (which obviously wasnt impressive) he beat Sharkey, Baer and Braddock (with most others being lesser fighters). Nothing overly outstanding is it? Or am i underating his other wins in this time frame.

    If you can forgive draws, Johnson is hard to beat with wins over Jackson, Jeanette, Langford, Lang, Jeffords, Felix, Fitzsimmons, Flynn, Burns, Ross, Kaufman, Ketchell, Jeffries and others.
     
  8. mattdonnellon

    mattdonnellon Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Dont follow you, he beat Burns for the title and after that they are defences?

    Jackson, Lang, Felix, I dont think so. McVey and Ferguson, yes.
    Louis beat Carnera, Pastor, Poreda, Retzlaff, Uzcuden, Ramage, Ettore as well, Jeez I think thats good.
    Jeffries beat Sharkey , Armstrong, Griffin, Goddard and a faded Jackson as well as draws with Choynsky and Ruhlin. Hell of a run, has to be a lock for top 5.
    And here's one you wont hear too often, Marvin Hart. Wins or good draws with Choynsky, Ruhlin, Gardner, Johnson, O'Brien, Armstrong, Ferguson, Carter, a damn good run IMO.
    Lewis beat Mason, Biggs, Weaver, Ruddock, McCrory and a host of good fighter before he met Tucker in his first "world" title shot, then before the win over Holy to unify he beat Golota, Tucker, Bruno, Mercer, McCall, Akinwande, Morrison, Briggs and drew(won?) with Holy. Surely top 5?
     
  9. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    Why start from the schmelling loss? Louis has a great pre title run.
     
  10. Theron

    Theron Boxing Addict banned

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    Top 2 probably Louis Liston
     
  11. Boilermaker

    Boilermaker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I guess, because i considered it a loss as ending a "winning" run. (maybe i didnt quite answer the question correctly).

    The Marvin Hart run is very, very interesting, I will have to look down and think about that one when i get the chance.
     
  12. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    If it's about who beat the best opposition before they won the HW title, Jack Sharkey deserves a mention.

    He beat :

    Harry Wills
    George Godfrey
    Tommy Loughran
    Young Stribling
    Primo Carnera
    Jack Renault
    Mike McTigue
    Jack Delaney

    etc.


    Gene Tunney beat Harry Greb about 3 times.
    Lots of people here say Dempsey was running scared of Greb, so it's got to count for something on Tunney's resume, no ?
     
  13. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    Sonny Liston had a good run, but he should have KO'd Eddie Machen really.
    Ingemar Johansson had already destroyed Machen in 1 round in his own pre-title days.
    Machen went the 12 round distance with Sonny.
     
  14. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    Obviously Jack Dempsey's pre-title run was one of the best in history.
    A lot of bollocks being said on that other thread won't change the fact.
     
  15. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    With Tyson and Frazier it's unclear what counts as 'pre-title'.
    Different people have different ideas on that.

    For Frazier it could mean pre-Mathis, or pre-Ellis, or pre-Ali.
    With Tyson, it's usually pre-Berbick (WBC), pre-Tucker (unified), or pre-Spinks (linear/truly undisputed).

    Obviously, the level of opposition beaten differs significantly at each of those milestones.