Alltime Australian top 20

Sweet P · Post by **Sweet P** » 18 Mar 2007, 05:13

I was just thinking about all the great fighters we have had over the past 100 odd years and wanted to get some opinions.
Im going to do mine tonight and post tomorrow

bollox · Post by **bollox** » 18 Mar 2007, 07:03

There's a few of them when you put the names together although they're spaced out a fair bit. Some of the older names would feature prominently. Darcy, Young Griffo etc

Some of our 50's and 60's Aboriginal fighters I'm convinced would have been world championship calibre had some of them been more dedicated. And I always wondered how far Vic Patrick would have gone had he say, gone to the US for some fights

Marlin · Post by **Marlin** » 19 Mar 2007, 01:14

Can't wait to see a few lists posted here. I think I am really to young to contribute myself. I would be going off records and old tapes. However I think I can pick a few of the more notable names that will appear, Darcy, Carruthers, Fenech, Kostya, to name just a few. I wonder how much more Vic Darchinyan would have to do to be considered? If he can unify or win Titles in a couple more weight classes he would have to be knocking on the door...

Sweet P · Post by **Sweet P** » 19 Mar 2007, 03:39

This is taking longer than i thought i have about 15 at the moment and i'll need another day or so,
So far i have in no particular order.
Jeff Harding
Jeff Fenech
Les Darcy
Ron Richards
Frank Slavin
Lionel Rose
Tony Mundine
Kostya Tszyu
Dave Sands
Vic Patrick
Johnny Famechon
Lester Ellis
Barry Michaels
Jimmy Curuthers

Im not puting in any of the current fighters only retired ones.

thismodernlove · Post by **thismodernlove** » 19 Mar 2007, 03:48

Tszyu

JAHamilton77 · Post by **JAHamilton77** » 19 Mar 2007, 20:22

In no particular order (because I dont know enough about them to order them)

Dave Sands
Jeff Harding
Jeff Fenech
Les Darcy
Tony Mundine
Ron Richards
Jack Carroll
Tommy Burns
Kostya Tszyu
Barry Micheal
Hector Thompson
Lionel Rose
Vic Patrick
Paul Ferreri
Johnny Famechon
Young Griffo
Jimmy Carruthers
Colin Bell
Frank Slavin
Ambros Palmer

Decent List or No?

bollox · Post by **bollox** » 19 Mar 2007, 22:02

There's a huge difference between how great or otherwise a fighter was, and his achievements. Fenech's achievements for example, overshadow virtually everyone else although it's debatable whether he was the best fighter we ever produced (although he's right up there in the top 3 IMO)

Ron Richards - he fought Archie Moore a few? times and gave a good account of himself each time. That's no mean feat

Hector Thompson - fought both Duran and Cervantes. How good could he have been if not for the effect that the unfortunate death of 2 of his opponents had on his psyche?

Here's another name to possibly add to the list........Dave Ballard aka Charkey Ramon. Brief but excellent career in the late 60's / early 70's. One day he simply walked away with his unbeaten record intact

Grant · Post by **Grant** » 27 Mar 2007, 08:28

I have done this exercise a million times in my mind over the years.
in no particular order Former fighters only.
Rose
patrick
griffo
fammo
sands
ferrari
Tony Mundine
harding
Ambrose palmer
Tszu
mattioli
hector thompson
fenech
sands
curruthers
darcy
michael
lester ellis

ben geoghegan · Post by **ben geoghegan** » 02 Jan 2008, 20:48

"Young" Griffo of the Rocks & the "Maitland Boy" Frank Slavin are heads above the rest. They were not only great Australian fighters Griffo and Slavin were the best in the world and proved it!
Next is Darcy

Brute · Post by **Brute** » 03 Jan 2008, 20:22

Jimmy Carruthers
Lionel Rose
Les Darcy
Young Griffo
Johnny Famechon
Ron Richards
Jeff Fenech
Kostya Tszyu
Fred Henneberry
Ambrose Palmer
Vic Patrick
Jack Carroll
Tom Uren (senior)
Jeff Harding
Anthony Mundine
Dave Sands
Barry Michael
Lester Ellis
Danny Green
Charkey Ramon

No particular order. I would include Rocky Mattioli but he was at his best after he returned to Italy.

Grant · Post by **Grant** » 04 Jan 2008, 00:07

Great excercise, like most of you I have done this a million times in my head.
I am glad to see Paul Ferrari in so many lists and I am surprised only one list had Tony Mundine.

Hector Thompson is prominant as he should be.

My dad always said Terry Reilly was world class

anyway heres to a great year on Boxrec. (just had a look at TR's record, Dads memory was shot i think)

Brute · Post by **Brute** » 04 Jan 2008, 02:44

Reilly would have had to have been a better fighter than he was a referee.

Dad used to rave about Hockey Bennell. Seemed to be more about his unorthodox stance than anything else. Dad said his fists barely cleared the floor, and if they touched the floor he would have been disqualified. Must have had great balance.

Grant · Post by **Grant** » 05 Jan 2008, 04:12

OK I know I am setting myself up but here goes.
I am interested in what everyone thinks of my "talent unfullfilled" and "over rated"lists. There are so many that could go into the "services to Aust Boxing".................. anyway RIP Clynton Grybus.

Aussie Greats:
Ambrose Palmer
Les Darcy
Dave Sands
Tony Mundine
Jeff Harding
Kostya Tszyu
Hector Thompson
Barry Michael
Jeff Fenech
Johnny Famechon
Young Griffo
Lionel Rose
Jimmy Carruthers
Paul Ferreri

Talent Unfullfilled:
Charkey Ramon
Ben Cruz

Performance Over Rated:
Jeff Fenech (As a bantamweight)
Kali Meehan
Lester Ellis

Award for their services to Australian boxing:
Tom Uren
Bob Mirovic
Vic Patrick (for you Dad)
Sam Soliman
Ron Richards
Jack Caroll
Tony 'Mad Dog ' Miller

Brute · Post by **Brute** » 05 Jan 2008, 05:23

Charkey Ramon did not go as far as he might because of an industrial accident. Then again, before the alphabet gang got going an Empire title was regarded as pretty good.

Marlin · Post by **Marlin** » 06 Jan 2008, 19:54

I didn't know Meehan was rated highly enough to be over rated...

Cap · Post by **Cap** » 07 Jan 2008, 11:20

What about Peter Jackson?

He learned his trade in OZ and won the Australian title before he went to tour the States. I've always regarded him as a product of Australia.

Cap

bollox · Post by **bollox** » 07 Jan 2008, 13:33

I tend to think that Hector Thompson may fit into the 'talent unfulfilled' category due to the unfortunate deaths of 2 of his opponents. Apparently he became gunshy

There would be loads of Aboriginal fighters that started off with all the natural talent in the world. I reckon they generally peak very early (Lionel Rose is a perfect example) and in the old days some of them perhaps didn't have the discipline to dedicate themselves to training as well as they maybe should have. Some of the cultural pressures they faced back then as Aborigines, wouldn't have helped

Brute · Post by **Brute** » 08 Jan 2008, 18:57

Dave Sands was fighting top level fighters when he was fifteen years old. He did not live to be thirty, but in the meantime beat future World Champion Bobo Olsen twice. When Olsen won the title he said "This should be Dave's belt."

toppity · Post by **toppity** » 09 Jan 2008, 17:25

Brute wrote:Dave Sands was fighting top level fighters when he was fifteen years old. He did not live to be thirty, but in the meantime beat future World Champion Bobo Olsen twice. When Olsen won the title he said "This should be Dave's belt."

He fought all around the world as well. Is there a book available telling the stories of people like Sands and Darcy, the past Austrailian fighters. I bet there is some stories to be told.

Aldo Pravisani · Post by **Aldo Pravisani** » 22 Jan 2008, 17:18

toppity wrote:
Brute wrote:Dave Sands was fighting top level fighters when he was fifteen years old. He did not live to be thirty, but in the meantime beat future World Champion Bobo Olsen twice. When Olsen won the title he said "This should be Dave's belt."
He fought all around the world as well. Is there a book available telling the stories of people like Sands and Darcy, the past Austrailian fighters. I bet there is some stories to be told.

If you like to read about the Sands family, I'd suggest the well researched volume of "The fighting Sands". It was written by the late great scribe Ray Mitchell some forty years ago. It has long been out of print, but I reckon you should find it in some second hand book shop or through ebay. Then there's the biographies of Lionel Rose and Johnny Famechon. On Les Darcy there have been at least two that I can think of....

shell09 · Post by **shell09** » 24 Jan 2008, 03:34

I believe that there is a certain few that really stand out when it comes to "Australia's Greatest Fighters"

I decided not to do 20 because there are a few boarderline when it comes to ranking them with the best so I'll stick to 15.

Les Darcy
Young Griffo
Kostya Tszyu
Jimmy Carruthers
Lionel Rose

Johnny Famechon
Dave Sands
Hector Thompson
Tony Mundine
Vic Patrick
Jack Carroll
Jeff Harding
Jeff Fenech
George Powell

....and at 15 I'll leave a spot for Anthony Mundine who in 4 to 5 years will fit comfortably in this group.

Cap · Post by **Cap** » 24 Jan 2008, 13:52

Why do you guys leave out Bob Fitzsimmons, Peter Jackson and Joe Goddard? All learned their trade in Australia. Goddard was born there. Bill Lang was a top contender in his day too.

Cap

Marlin · Post by **Marlin** » 24 Jan 2008, 17:55

Cap wrote:Why do you guys leave out Bob Fitzsimmons, Peter Jackson and Joe Goddard? All learned their trade in Australia. Goddard was born there. Bill Lang was a top contender in his day too.

Cap

Don't worry about it, the last lines proves shell has zero credibility...

Cap · Post by **Cap** » 24 Jan 2008, 18:57

Actually, I seem to be the first to mention these other fellows. I'm surprised Slavin and Palmer got mentioned when they ignore the other old time greats.

Cap

Marlin · Post by **Marlin** » 24 Jan 2008, 19:27

Cap wrote:Actually, I seem to be the first to mention these other fellows. I'm surprised Slavin and Palmer got mentioned when they ignore the other old time greats.

Cap

I just wanted to get in a line about shell having no credibility...