The Greatest Fighter To Never Hold A World Title

[BennyST]

does les darcy rate a mention? or tucan mcginty?

Christ, of course! Les Darcy...the greatest Australian fighter ever...in potential anyway and, like Sal Sanchez, would of undoubtedly become one of the greatest ever fighters, but sadly his career was cut short as when he finally got to America to start his destruction of the boxing world he got septicemia from an old tooth that had not been fixed and died from the complications at the tender age of 24.

[mgkirkpatrick]

im sure he was only 21.. as he had just become eligible for the war..

one of boxing's forgotten greats.

[Tony Jones]

I know historical context is an important factor when assesing a fighters merit but when i watch most of those old fighters they look, well, aweful hahaha

[KostyaTszyu44]

adding a few aussies in:

dave sands ( died in acar crash age 26, rated #3 MW in the world at the time, beat bobo olsen on points in a 10 rounder)

and les darcy

[potatoes]

he would've been a great champion, he's a true legend.

In more modern times, Eddie Machen was certainly a contender for the best non-champion award. He gave Sonny Liston a boxing lesson then got screwed by the judges. Like Jersey Joe Walcott, he would occasionally make mistakes then pay for them dearly. To be a great champion you not only need to be good, you need to be lucky.

[Kid McCoy]

In more modern times, Eddie Machen was certainly a contender for the best non-champion award. He gave Sonny Liston a boxing lesson then got screwed by the judges. Like Jersey Joe Walcott, he would occasionally make mistakes then pay for them dearly. To be a great champion you not only need to be good, you need to be lucky.

Machen did not give Liston a boxing lesson. He lost virtually every round, even taking into account the points Liston lost for low blows (one of which was questionable and which Machen milked for all it was worth). Even Machen himself conceded that Liston was the rightful winner, although he thought it was closer than the scores suggested.

[potatoes]

Machen did not give Liston a boxing lesson. He lost virtually every round, even taking into account the points Liston lost for low blows (one of which was questionable and which Machen milked for all it was worth). Even Machen himself conceded that Liston was the rightful winner, although he thought it was closer than the scores suggested.

I have never seen a quote where Machen conceded defeat to Liston. Got a link? All I have seen is the fight on video where Machen clearly out boxes Liston and rarely if ever takes a heavy hit. What I also didn't fail to notice is that in the later rounds Liston was acting like an *******. It was very much the same way MIke Tyson would act when a difficult opponent wouldn't go down. These bully-boys who depend on intimidation start to show their true colors when they have to endure adversity.

[Kid McCoy]

I have never seen a quote where Machen conceded defeat to Liston. Got a link? All I have seen is the fight on video where Machen clearly out boxes Liston and rarely if ever takes a heavy hit. What I also didn't fail to notice is that in the later rounds Liston was acting like an *******. It was very much the same way MIke Tyson would act when a difficult opponent wouldn't go down. These bully-boys who depend on intimidation start to show their true colors when they have to endure adversity.

All I see on the fight video is a boxer whose only goal was to avoid getting knocked out, to the extent that the pro-Machen crowd were pro-Liston by the end of the night. Machen was a talented fighter, and if he'd put as much effort into winning as he had taunting Liston, he might have stood a better chance. As it was, he lost handily, winning three or four rounds at most, and I must say you're the first person I've come across who thought Machen won.

No I don't have a link, it was in an interview some years ago. He said Liston was a better boxer than he expected, and thought he would gas if he could take him past 5/6 rounds, but it didn't happen.

[MarkScott]

Sam Langford
Young Griffo
Charley Burley

[warlike penguin]

David Tua... He was one of the most prominent boxers of his age, but he didn't have the chance of fighting for the world title apart from the match against Lennox Lewis. Maybe, he didn't have a good manager or promoter. His style was almost same with Tyson's.