Top 10 greatest heavyweight contenders

[JAB5239]

We've done top 10 greatest heavyweights, greatest heavyweight champions etc. Who are the top 10 greatest heavyweight contenders? Guys who never won a title because they were avoided or just couldn't get over the hump in a stacked era.

I'll start with Harry Wills and Jerry Quarry. Who else can be added? Should Wills and Quarry even be on this list? Post and discuss.

[Slugfester]

We've done top 10 greatest heavyweights, greatest heavyweight champions etc. Who are the top 10 greatest heavyweight contenders? Guys who never won a title because they were avoided or just couldn't get over the hump in a stacked era.

I'll start with Harry Wills and Jerry Quarry. Who else can be added? Should Wills and Quarry even be on this list? Post and discuss.

What's wrong with Wills and Quarry?

Langford was a declared contender, and big enough for that era. I will try to squeeze him through.

[Willie Pep 229]

Does Ken Norton qualify?

I think he had a strap once but I never considered him a champion. But he was a serious contender several times.

[JAB5239]

Does Ken Norton qualify?

I think he had a strap once but I never considered him a champion. But he was a serious contender several times.

I would tentatively say so.

[JAB5239]

What's wrong with Wills and Quarry?

Langford was a declared contender, and big enough for that era. I will try to squeeze him through.

Langford certainly belongs on the list. He was knocking out men much bigger than him with ease.

[JAB5239]

Jimmy Young??

[Willie Pep 229]

What's wrong with Wills and Quarry?

Langford was a declared contender, and big enough for that era. I will try to squeeze him through.

The problem with Wills is that he was often denied the opportunity to prove himself against white fighters.

He blew-out Gun Boat Smith in one round. But he may have rabbit punched him into submission.

He blew out Fred Fulton, effectively ending Fulton as a contender.

He won a 10 round UD over Luis Firpo in 1924 but Dempsey had KD Firpo nine times in four minutes. So his Firpo win didn't wow people.

Then he got beat up by Sharkey at the end.

There is a double edge sword to the color line.

People are quick to point out that the great white fighters of the day were not tested against the great black fighters of the day: Johnson and the Holy Three: McVea, Langford, Jeannette.

But this also meant the great black fighters weren't tested agsinst the great white fighters of the day, either.

So it is difficult to assess the value of his victories over the Holy Three. What is interesting is that early on, they were getting the better of him, but as he matured, or they grew old, he began to beat them pretty regularly.

IMO Wills, between 1920-1924, was a serious contender. Should have gotten a shot.

Is he on the top ten greatest contenders list? I don't know, hate those kinds of lists.

[JAB5239]

The problem with Wills is that he was often denied the opportunity to prove himself against white fighters.

He blew-out Gun Boat Smith in one round. But he may have rabbit punched him into submission.

He blew out Fred Fulton, effectively ending Fulton as a contender.

He won a 10 round UD over Luis Firpo in 1924 but Dempsey had KD Firpo nine times in four minutes. So his Firpo win didn't wow people.

Then he got beat up by Sharkey at the end.

There is a double edge sword to the color line.

People are quick to point out that the great white fighters of the day were not tested against the great black fighters of the day: Johnson and the Holy Three: McVea, Langford, Jeannette.

But this also meant the great black fighters weren't tested agsinst the great white fighters of the day, either.

So it is difficult to assess the value of his victories over the Holy Three. What is interesting is that early on, they were getting the better of him, but as he matured, or they grew old, he began to beat them pretty regularly.

IMO Wills, between 1920-1924, was a serious contender. Should have gotten a shot.

Is he on the top ten greatest contenders list? I don't know, hate those kinds of lists.

They're all very subjective and opinion only. Good for discussion though.

[mrbig1]

Wills and Quarry was the first two that comes to mind. I'm too high to think right now.

[Willow The Wisp]

Joe Jeanette