Forgotten contenders

[markusmod]

Jimmy Bivins. Probably the deepest resume for a man who never won a title.

Holman Williams, Lloyd Marshall, George Chuvalo, Billy Graham, David Tua, Yaqui Lopez, George Benton, we’re also great contenders.

Crazy things, Tua probably made the most scratch.

[Ben Bolt]

I can imagine Kid Chocolate (pro career 1927-38) hadn’t been a proper ring name nowadays. If he had been around today, the Cuban had been known by his birth name Eligio Montalvo, 136 wins (51 KOs)–10 losses–6 draws.

"Tony Canzoneri knocked out Kid Chocolate last night in a spectacular lightweight battle ... Before 13,000 wildly excited boxing followers in Madison Square Garden, Chocolate suffered his first knockout loss ... A right hand punch finished him after 2 minutes 30 seconds of the second round. But more blood and thunder was crowded into that five and one half minutes than has been seen here in years." (New York Times).

Before a crowd of 4,000, the Kid lost the World Jr. Lightweight boxing championship to Frankie Klick in a seventh-round technical knockout … Kid Chocolate may have been suffering from the knockout he had received from Tony Canzoneri only a month previously [Kid had a 10-round decision win in between]. After that fight, it was revealed that he was suffering from syphilis.

The Kid retired shortly thereafter, but came back (3½ months later) in 1934, and won 42 of his next 50 bouts. But, he never received another world title attempt.

One of all these admirable warriors of yesterday. I don’t think we quite understand, what a rough life they had to survive.

kid-chocolate-featured-777.jpg

Sources: boxrec, wiki.

[Willie Pep 229]

Fred Fulton. Tremendous puncher. Highly considered during his prime. It could be argued that Dempseys 18 second destruction of prime Fulton was the greatest win of any pre championship heavyweight champion.

I wonder If Dempsey could have done it twice. - I often wonder how blind to their opponents style fighters were in the 1920s and back. (No film avaiable, only word of mouth unless lucky enough to catch a fighter live, e.g Tunney said he learned much about Dempsey watching the Carpentier fight.)

Fulton may have had no clue what was coming; might have been better prepared for the onslaught a second time around.

P.S. I don't mean to suggest thst Fulton would have beaten Dempsey a second time around only that Dempsey wouldn't have been able to mug him. When you read the accounts it seems to have been a one punch fight, with Dempsey then finishing him off.

[QueensburyRules]

I can imagine Kid Chocolate (pro career 1927-38) hadn’t been a proper ring name nowadays. If he had been around today, the Cuban had been known by his birth name Eligio Montalvo, 136 wins (51 KOs)–10 losses–6 draws.

"Tony Canzoneri knocked out Kid Chocolate last night in a spectacular lightweight battle ... Before 13,000 wildly excited boxing followers in Madison Square Garden, Chocolate suffered his first knockout loss ... A right hand punch finished him after 2 minutes 30 seconds of the second round. But more blood and thunder was crowded into that five and one half minutes than has been seen here in years." (New York Times).

Before a crowd of 4,000, the Kid lost the World Jr. Lightweight boxing championship to Frankie Klick in a seventh-round technical knockout … Kid Chocolate may have been suffering from the knockout he had received from Tony Canzoneri only a month previously [Kid had a 10-round decision win in between]. After that fight, it was revealed that he was suffering from syphilis.

The Kid retired shortly thereafter, but came back (3½ months later) in 1934, and won 42 of his next 50 bouts. But, he never received another world title attempt.

One of all these admirable warriors of yesterday. I don’t think we quite understand, what a rough life they had to survive.

kid-chocolate-featured-777.jpg

Sources: boxrec, wiki.

- - Kid Chocolate was fringe title holder Peter Quillin's Ring moniker that made him some coin.
Peter Quillin

[Willie Pep 229]

In looking up Quillin I stumbled across Daniel Jacobs (37-3) who looks to have been a decent contender . . . Losing three title bids, two of which were to GGG and Canelo - both by UD. Recently retired he seems to deserve a mention here.

[Shadoww702]

In looking up Quillin I stumbled across Daniel Jacobs (37-3) who looks to have been a decent contender . . . Losing three title bids, two of which were to GGG and Canelo - both by UD. Recently retired he seems to deserve a mention here.

Martin Murray 0-4 in major title fights.

0-6 in all title fights.

Sergiy Derevyanchenko 0-3 in major title fights.

Just top of my head

[Marchegiano]

From the hip, I like the pretenders, or claimants, whatever you call them. Guys who held a title we call illegitimate.

Frank Craig, Tom Sharkey, Peter Maher, Panama Gans, Kid Norfolk, those sorts of fellas. Langford of course.

[Rockybigblower]

There was this one guy...I can't remember his name...but he was really good.

[L. Cipher]

Georgie Benton deserves some mention

[Willie Pep 229]

There was this one guy...I can't remember his name...but he was really good.

Yea, yea, yea . . . I remember him too.