Many consider Ron Lyle to have fit that bill rather perfectly. But has anyone given thought to the following...
Chris Arreola:
Could have beaten Adamek easily in a rematch, held his own against Vitali, in Stewards words "did more than any other fighter had against him".
And in both fights with Stiverne, he was beating him up good until one hard well placed right hand stunned Arreola and changed it.
Tony Thompson:
Good all around top contender that just unfortunately never managed to be in the right place for a trinket at the right time (except against a Klitschko of course). Still stopping prospects now in his 40's!
Andrew Golota:
Where to start! Spanked Bowe 2ce but lost the plot! Spanked Grant but mysteriously quit! Fought to a draw with Byrd which would have been a title if he'd won!
But the clincher for me is he fair and square smashed useless Ruiz! And therefore SHOULD have relieved him of his belt but was robbed!
David Tua:
Walloping out champions Moorer and Ruiz in seconds and going the distance with that crazy tank Ike Ibeabuchi in the fight with the highest output in any HW fight of all time! Not to mention KO wins against another 2 even tougher HW champions in Maskaev and Rahman!
Personally I think Golota actually DID win the title and so deserves number 1 spot.
Followed by Arreola who 2ce against Stiverne was on track to victory before being caught.
Then Tua on the merits of having stopped 4 champions (just not at the time of bout).
When Tua and Golota were on they were among the scariest HWs ever, but both were very easily frustrated and bad at adjusting,
I don't think Arreola for most of his career belongs there. He was in "OK" shape for his last fight but he's come in too many times looking like a total slob to be alongside these other names.
I agree. mentioning arreola is ridiculous. tough guy with a lot of heart but not a champion caliber talent. tua was also just way too one dimensional to be considered imo. he was obviously powerful but too damn short and slow. he couldn't get past a descent long jab. golota on the other hand had all the tools. he had the size,,,jab,,,counter punching,,,body attack etc. if he wasn't such a damn mental midget hed have easily been a champion and possibly even a dominating champ. I really thought he'd make it when he was coming up but he just didnt have the heart or mental strength. he was like a big bully that folded when things didn't go his way
When Tua and Golota were on they were among the scariest HWs ever, but both were very easily frustrated and bad at adjusting,
I don't think Arreola for most of his career belongs there. He was in "OK" shape for his last fight but he's come in too many times looking like a total slob to be alongside these other names.
Razor ruddock is another... he gave a prime mike tyson all he can handle....how about gerry cooney??? Holmes vs cooney was a huge fight back then.... tommy morrison version of the wbo belt wasnt a very recognized title at that time, but is today so i guess tommy would be excluded?
I like Golota better than Ike.
Ike wasted champion Byrd, and decisioned Tua with aforementioned credentials. So he qualifies.
I just don't think he did enough to earn it, he never fought another really good all-round HW. Tua was JUST a slugger and Byrd was ALL safety.
But I agree, had he, Ike COULD have!