Who Is The Best Black Heavyweight Never To win the Crown?

For some reason i feel compelled to nominate Ken Norton...

But not compelled to mention old stager George Godfrey

I suppose Jimmy Young deserves some consideration a tough guy to beat in his short prime..

 

Elmer Ray?

 

Jackson won the British Empire title which had no color line, so you can say he did get a title shot. It just wasn't vs John L Sullivan. He also fought Jim Corbett to a draw in a high stakes match.

I would say Langford for sure is #1.

3 of the 5 were in their prime when Jack Johnson was champion. You could argue Wills did enough by 1914 to have been a good choice for Johnson as well.

 

Ken Norton was a champ wasn't he, although it was bestowed upon him, rather than him actually winning it in the ring. He went on to lose it in his first defence against Larry Holmes.

 

Larry Gains
Jimmy Bivins
Worth a mention

 

Jackson, Langford, and Wills are the obvious standouts.

I think that Langford was the greatest of the three, but I would not necessarily say that he was the best.

I would say that Jackson was the most likely to have held the title given a chance, and Wills the least likely, based purely on the competition.

 

So in other words, Corbett as Champion offered Jackson a fight in Jacksonville or New Orleans, and Jackson balked.

Peter Jackson had his chance for a title shot you buffoon. The challenger seldom picks the venue. Case closed on this one.

As for Wills, he has " Newspaper wins " over Langford and Jeanette even though the fights were called draws. In hindsight he would have been a fine pick for Johnson in 1914.

 

Ike ibeabuchi was the best.

 

Bivins worth a mention? Back to the old Joe Louis thread?

 

Not really.

You could find half a dozen better names, or more.

 

Jimmy Young

 

Langford I'm gonna say.

Prime for prime I think out of all the black men who never received a title shot, Langford is the best of the bunch.

Given the right motivation I see it an almost guarantee he lands the fight ending shot.

Interestingly enough all the great Black's would have been huge underdogs

Does Langford ever beat Johnson?
Does Jackson ever beat Sullivan?
Does Wills ever beat Dempsey?
Does Bivins ever beat Louis?

I'd day none would be favoured but someone probably would land the right shot and out of those Langford is most likely.