Simple question. We are not factoring losses one way or the other, not even nobles losses like Lyle to Foreman or Williams to Liston. Please feel free to add to the list... LYLE Ernie Shavers Scott Ledoux Joe Bugner Jimmy Ellis Oscar Bonevena Buster Mathis WILLIAMS Ernest Terrell Alex Mitteff Wayne Bethea Amelio Agramonte Billy Daniels
You managed to exclude Billy Daniels who as mediocre as he was, was higher rated (first time he faced Williams) than any of Lyle's scalps. I'll copy and paste what I wrote in the previous thread regarding Ellis and Bonavena. Ellis at that point was drawing with the likes of Larry Middleton, who lost to several of Williams victims, and was earlier blown out by Shavers in a single round when Lyle had to go the distance. Lyle's win over Ellis isn't the feather in his cap you think it is. Bonavena had noticeably slowed down and didn't have a single notable victory in 6 years by that point in time. He'd lost to a washed Patterson at the very end of his career 3 years prior. He was also saved by a DQ win against Alvin ****Ing Lewis who'd decked him several times in '71 something Lyle failed to do. Scott Ledoux's nickname was "The Human punching bag." Had Williams faced him, you'd accuse him of padding his record. Mathis was literally at the end of his career, in his final fight and not held a ranking in years. Shavers was a good win but as powerful as he was, it didn't exactly take a world-class fighter to beat him as Bob Stallings demonstrated. Also Shavers had Lyle down in a bad way, when Lyle was saved by the bell. No way he survives even a minute earlier. Bugner was also a decent win but Shavers stopped him in two rounds while Lyle needed to go the distance. Shavers also stopped a #3 rated Ellis in a single round, while Lyle needed a decision against a further deteriorated unrated Ellis.
Oh yeah and guess who made it higher in the ratings, and has more wins between the two against rated opponents? Hint: It's not Lyle.
You have made your point, which is why we made the thread. Now let's see the voting! I will reto-actively add Billy Daniels.