Jaclem wrote:re: jimmy bivins...most interesting. i knew jimmy was rated number one in both weight divisions and was the interim heavy champ but didn't he also held that lightheavy title too. i think lesnevich felt safer in the armed forces than he did against bivins.
Jimmy Bviins defeated Anton Christofordis for the duration LH title on 2/23/43 in Cleveland (dec. 15). He defended it in Cleveland against Lloyd Marshall (KO 13) on June 6, 1943.
Poor Bivins has the victim of bad timing. From June 1942 to February 1946, he went 26-0-1 and was the top contender in 1942 in both divisions. He was the top hwy contender in 43 and No. 3 in 45. (He had only one fight in early 1944, serving his country the remainder of the year). Among the guys he beat on his streak were Joey Maxim, Tami Mauriello (twice) Bob Pastor (avenging his only loss of 1942), Lee Savold, Ezzard Charles, Lloyd Marshall, Melio Bettina, (twice) Curtis Sheppard, and Lee Q. Murray (twice). He took Archie Moore apart in six round in 1945. In early 1942, he decisioned Gus Lesenvich in a non-title fight.
Problem for Bivins was that Louis and Lesnevich were off to the war. Then, when everybody finally comes home, he drops decisions to in succession to Jersey Joe Walcott, Murrray, and Charles - and he's out of the picture.
Poor timing . . . :( I doubt he could have beaten Louis, but he would have had little trouble with Gus, I think.