David vs. Goliath

[bluehorizon]

What are some of the best fighters past and present that constantly fought with a height disadvantage throughout their entire careers. Also all weight classes included what was the largest difference between the height of two fighters in a major championship bout where the smaller guy comes on top. My first guess might be Tyson vs. Tucker but I'm sure there are a few Im missing.

As for fighters fighting with a constant height disadvantage throughout their careers so far I came up with Rocky Marciano, Mike Tyson, Vinny Pazienza, Pernell Whitaker...

[dempseyfire]

Joe Walcott (5'2) and Sam Langford (5'6 1/2) had huge height disadvantages throughout their careers.

[kovit]

1. Jack Dempsey vs. Jess Willard
2. Max Baer vs. Primo Carnera
3. Joe Louis vs. Primo Carnera
4. Joe Louis vs. Abe Simon
5. Joe Louis vs. Buddy Baer
6. Mickey Walker vs. Ed "Bearcat" Wright
7. Joe Frazier vs. Buster Mathis
8. Joe Frazier vs. Manuel Ramos
9. Mike Tyson vs. Bonecrusher Smith
That's all I think about the smaller guys beating the bigger guys.

[elmersalsa]

I can include Roberto Duran vs Iran Barkley. Barkley was taller (6'1" to 5'7"), bigger, faster, stronger, younger and looked like a light heavy besides Duran if you ask me. Plus Duran was washed up and old at 37 and Barkley young and in his prime. Duran won the fight that should've lost on paper. It was a Miracle!!!

[dan1030]

For someone who consistently gave up height and reach over their whole career, how about Dwight Qawi? Either 5' 6 1/2" or 5'7," depending on which listings you want to go with. Shortest guy I know of him ever fighting was 5'10" (although there may have been some shorter), but most of his opponents were around 6' or taller. He took on some really good big guys from light heavy to heavy weight: Holyfield, Foreman, both Spinks brothers...ok, so he lost 4 out of 5 fights with those guys, he was still tough.

Going way back, Tommy Burns was 5'7" too.

[KOJOE90]

Also all weight classes included what was the largest difference between the height of two fighters in a major championship bout where the smaller guy comes on top. My first guess might be Tyson vs. Tucker but I'm sure there are a few Im missing

Two off the top of my head.

At Light Heavyweight I would think Bob Foster V Dick Tiger and at Fly weight there was a big difference in height between Dave 'Boy' Mcauley V 'Baby' Jake Matlala.

[Eric the Viking]

At Light Heavyweight I would think Bob Foster V Dick Tiger

Light-heavy/cruiser hall-of-famer Dwight Qawi was just 5'7" (one inch shorter than Dick Tiger) and fought 6'2" Evander Holyfield, 6'3" Mike Spinks and even Big George Foreman!

[Lausse]

Carmen Basilio was 5'6 and he was practically always giving away around 3 to 4 inches in height in alot of his fights.Chiquita Gonzalez was pretty darn short too at 5'1 and always seemed to be fighting guys taller then him.

[Jaclem]

..tony galento was about five five and beat buddy baer who was about six five. the beer barrell who walks like a man as he was nicknamed also gave joe louis a tough fight and knocked him down before being stopped after taking a brutal beating. galento fought a lot of top hevyweights...and joe louis was the first one to knock him off his feet.

i don't think emile griffith gave up enough height in enough fights to be considered here, but i was always impressed by his ability to outjab taller fighters with longer reaches.

willie pep gave up a lot of height to sandy saddler and did manage to beat him once.

[Jaclem]

...oops...correction...memory wrong. just checked nbox rec which has buddy baer stopping galento. damn...

[Guest]

When I saw the title on this I thought; "Stone me, I know this forum is supposed to talk about old fights, but David vs Goliath is going back a bit."