who were the best canuck fighters

[Barn]

good one he was a bantamweight right?

More of a Featherweight.

[Barn]

Welcome back bro, great answer!!

Thankyou, it's been a while.

[Der_Ubermensch]

Gatti certainly was a Canadian.

[New England]

i've fought my share of canadians



they're scrappers.

[MasterODisaster]

Usually we only scrap after to many Molson's or to much CC (Canadians will know what this is...LOL)!

[MasterODisaster]

not insulted at all

MasterOdisaster, I'm wholeheartedly with you in that love for Aturo! We've had that wonderful opportunity to say that the most exciting fighter in the game was coming from our city. And I'll say this once again, you were absolutly right to remind me! Thanks!

No worries guys, just wanted to make sure nobody felt like I was trying to be insulting or a jerk in any way. Arturo was my favorite fighter, and when people say he isn't a true Canadian, it just gets me because we know how much he loved Montreal and Canada.

I still can't believe that woman got away with murder though...and his money...karma is a MFer lady, watch out!

[New England]

Usually we only scrap after to many Molson's or to much CC (Canadians will know what this is...LOL)!

LOL or when you're playing hockey.

i played against and alongside canadians, and they were always involved in, or responsible for starting, the fisticuffs and the rough stuff along the boards

[danthepoetman]

Must admit I don’t know much about George Dixon, from Halifax, Nova Scotia, but yes, he has to be named here. He was at his peak during the last decade of the 1800s. Bantamweight champion of the world for a year and Featherweight champion of the world for 10 years! First champion of African descent ever in any division! He was beaten by Abe Attel and Terry McGovern at the very beginning of the 20th century (1901).

Willy De Witt and Shawn O’Sullivan, both great amateur fighters, both world amateur champions in 1983, if memory serves, and both went on to win silver medals in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. As a professional prospect and Canadian champion, Willy De Witt unfortunately became the victim of a fighter who came to epitomize “spoiler”, Bert Cooper, who almost took the heavyweight title from Evander Holyfield later on, knocking him down in the 4th round (I think) of their affair, before being stopped in the 7th. Cooper stopped DeWitt in only two rounds. De Witt kept on fighting for a while but he was a brilliant guy. I think this defeat made him think. He went back to school and became a successful lawyer.
As to Shawn O’Sullivan, he was that amazing type of fighter who gives absolutely everything in the ring without any restraint. His heart was just too big for his own good. Already as an amateur, he was taking way too much punishment. His pro career was short and he indeed ended up in bad shape. But he sure made Canadians feel very, VERY proud for his amateur accomplishments…
Rightsideup and Barnburner, great reminders!

Another fighter we could mention is former Canadian middleweight champion, Fernand Marcotte. Marcotte was more of a local figure than a real contender, but still, he didn’t gave too bad an account of himself against Ray Leonard, who knocked him out in 9, and neither against both former junior middleweight champions Rocky Mattioli (lost TKO 9) and Elisha Obed (lost by UD 10 and TKO 11) (Marcotte was a bleeder).

Marcotte was also beaten by former welterweight contender Clyde Gray, an another Canadian worth to be named for remaining amongst the top ten for several years during the 70s.

Another fighter we could name is American middleweight contender Vinnie Curto. Curto lived and fought out of Montreal for several years and was kind of adopted by the people here. He fought many of the best contenders of the 70s and beat a few of them (a victory and a draw against an old Bennie Briscoe, for instance). Canadian trainer and well known commentator Russ Anber credits him for teaching him a lot, if my memory is accurate.

Another name that comes to mind is Ray Chavez Guerrero, a Montrealer of Venezuelan origin who became a contender in the 70s. He was kayoed by Wilfredo Benitez in the 15th round in 1977 for the title. Chavez was an exceptionally gifted defensive fighter. I’ve rarely seen someone who could slip punches like him.
And surely, there are still others. Canada was and still is far from being poor when it comes to producing or welcoming good fighters…

[jaded]

Montreal's Dave Hilton Jr...brother of Matthew Hilton was married to the sister of Arturo Gatti. Gatti grew up and retired in Montreal so I'd say Canada has a right to claim him as one of their own.

[rightsideup]

how about Jimmy McLarnin?