Forgotten contenders

[JAB5239]

LL clearly ducked the the rematch with Vitali. Had he just retired soon after their first fight, I wouldn't call it a duck, but the way disgusting way he handled matters and dragged things makes him look bad.

Lennox said in an interview before Johnson got hurt that he was taking one more fight after that, either Jones or Vits. Klitschko got the fight and lost, Lewis retired. I don't think it was a duck, but he shouldn't have been so wishy washy about retiring right after the fight. I think the excitement of the moment immediately after the fight and people getting in his ear made him stall his original plans which in turn I agree was a bad look. Vitaly, for all my grumbling about him and his comp didn't deserve that. He fought a helluva fight that night. Lewis owed him nothing, but he should have been more respectable of Vits instead of keeping him on that Rollercoaster wondering when he was going to make that retirement official.

[mrbig1]

Ken Norton?

Quarry was past his prime when he fought Norton. Remember Quarry was a small HW. Sometimes fighting at 197 pounds.

[QueensburyRules]

Lennox said in an interview before Johnson got hurt that he was taking one more fight after that, either Jones or Vits. Klitschko got the fight and lost, Lewis retired. I don't think it was a duck, but he shouldn't have been so wishy washy about retiring right after the fight. I think the excitement of the moment immediately after the fight and people getting in his ear made him stall his original plans which in turn I agree was a bad look. Vitaly, for all my grumbling about him and his comp didn't deserve that. He fought a helluva fight that night. Lewis owed him nothing, but he should have been more respectable of Vits instead of keeping him on that Rollercoaster wondering when he was going to make that retirement official.

- - He planned 5 more fights in an interview satisfied he was finally acknowledged as the top heavy in boxing.

All out the window thanks to the Ks and his mummy...You're welcome...

[JAB5239]

- - He planned 5 more fights in an interview satisfied he was finally acknowledged as the top heavy in boxing.

All out the window thanks to the Ks and his mummy...You're welcome...

So you agree Sanders was nothing special never having beaten a top 10 fighter before or after Wlad and he was just baby sitting a trinket for the recognized and lineal champion. Excellent, I knew you would come around!!!!

[billeau2]

No world title for McFarland as far as I can tell. It's been said he is the best fighter to never win a world championship.

I don't know if Slapzie Maxzie (Max Rosenbloom) ever held a title. He was by all accounts a sensational fighter.
Choyinski as well? supposedly had a great punch, Koed and subsequently helped mentor JJ (Jack JOhnson).
Then of course Burley. Charlie was a fighters fighter.

[Willie Pep 229]

I don't know if Slapzie Maxzie (Max Rosenbloom) ever held a title. He was by all accounts a sensational fighter.
Choyinski as well? supposedly had a great punch, Koed and subsequently helped mentor JJ (Jack JOhnson).
Then of course Burley. Charlie was a fighters fighter.

I know this is sacrilegious on this forum but I think Burely was untested. Only his fights with Zivic and Holman Williams were of note. He went 2-1 against Zivic (who then took out a ready to be taken Armstrong and then lost the title to a journeyman [Cochran] in his first defense.

Against Holman Williams he was 3-2-1.

But it also it looks as though either Williams figured Burley out or possibly aged better but their last three fights went Williams way 2-0-1. Also the fights Williams won seemed more important: Colored MW Title and the elimination fight (that should have given Holman a shot at Zale; which he didn't get.)

I would argue that Williams would have had a better chance of winning a title if both had been given the title shots they should have gotten.

Not that any of this is Burley's fault but this susposed greatness seems more based on the legend of being ducked then coming from an actual resume.

[QueensburyRules]

I know this is sacrilegious on this forum but I think Burely was untested. Only his fights with Zivic and Holman Williams were of note. He went 2-1 against Zivic (who then took out a ready to be taken Armstrong and then lost the title to a journeyman [Cochran] in his first defense.

Against Holman Williams he was 3-2-1.

But it also it looks as though either Williams figured Burley out or possibly aged better but their last three fights went Williams way 2-0-1. Also the fights Williams won seemed more important: Colored MW Title and the elimination fight (that should have given Holman a shot at Zale; which he didn't get.)

I would argue that Williams would have had a better chance of winning a title if both had been given the title shots they should have gotten.

Not that any of this is Burley's fault but this susposed greatness seems more based on the legend of being ducked then coming from an actual resume.

- - Largely due to Eddie Futch in becoming such an icon was impressed by Burley as a kid much like Nat was impressed by JJohnson.

That and Burley beat up a 200+ journeyman hvy that not even SRRobinson would attempt.

Anyway, adios in advance as Russia busy rearranging the borders of Ukraine thanks to unprecedent weakness in the Western nations, esp the US melting their economy in the Corona Panic of 2020 unable to supply masks for months on in as the so called greatest country in the history of the world. I made my own in 5 min with scotch tape, string, and two conical coffee filters to show how inept the US had become. Such inept oversight resulted in massed burning, looting riots and a storming of DC twice.

Much depends on PoopsyBiten reactions, but a surgical nuke makes my most internationally symbolic state capital in the US the perfect target with me being only a few miles from the capitol. The internet is also a target to disrupt all commerce, banking, and leaving us with passenger pigeon communications that Kublai Khan used across his much larger empire. Judging by the mask fiasco, that might take a year to implement and we might have to go begging to China...

[Marchegiano]

Gonna post on Robert Delaney again. Just quicker.

Delaney beat up everyone in his era, was never crowned champion by any historian but was the clear best of his time frame. His career is short because he was frozen out, but he unbeaten, and has two champions on his resume during an era when most are lucky to get one. If he's not a champion he's damn sure top contender, and, forgotten. Not even mentioned as a footnote in the story of champions.

[billeau2]

I know this is sacrilegious on this forum but I think Burely was untested. Only his fights with Zivic and Holman Williams were of note. He went 2-1 against Zivic (who then took out a ready to be taken Armstrong and then lost the title to a journeyman [Cochran] in his first defense.

Against Holman Williams he was 3-2-1.

But it also it looks as though either Williams figured Burley out or possibly aged better but their last three fights went Williams way 2-0-1. Also the fights Williams won seemed more important: Colored MW Title and the elimination fight (that should have given Holman a shot at Zale; which he didn't get.)

I would argue that Williams would have had a better chance of winning a title if both had been given the title shots they should have gotten.

Not that any of this is Burley's fault but this susposed greatness seems more based on the legend of being ducked then coming from an actual resume.

Burley also beat the Mongoose really badly (Archie Moore). Its not sacrilege... Some people see limited tape of Burley and believe they can infer a lot. I am of that school lol. I also think we have to evaluate Great Black fighters who had to fight each other constantly, with slightly different standards. I profess not to know what standard that might be... But my inference comes from thinking: If Dempsey had fought Tunney 8 times, what would the result be? Just think there might be some differences in that regard.

[markusmod]

Gonna post on Robert Delaney again. Just quicker.

Delaney beat up everyone in his era, was never crowned champion by any historian but was the clear best of his time frame. His career is short because he was frozen out, but he unbeaten, and has two champions on his resume during an era when most are lucky to get one. If he's not a champion he's damn sure top contender, and, forgotten. Not even mentioned as a footnote in the story of champions.

Nice catch.