Decent boxers turned Journeymen?

[warriorbox]

Just read the Nobby nobbs boxers thread and remembered the Ramsey brothers who were good amateurs who turned journeymen. Which got me thinking what boxers are there that do it nowadays(as in good amateurs/good pros turned journeymen) I know decent amateurs that turn pro have ambition and pride and don't like going down that route but very few make any money of note whilst chasing the pot of gold which very few reach but there's some real good money to be made being a decent journeymen much more then being an average or even quite a bit above average pro. And if you can ride the punches which most decent boxers can and want to earn money them that's the way forward IMO Does anyone know of any ex amateur stand outs doing this now? Even though I'm against it happening as a boxing fan and think the board do a terrible job in cracking down on it as a boxer if I had my time again after realising I was too lazy/fat/unfit/rubbish to do anything of note I'd do a few years taking the queens shilling and doing what I was told in the ring just as MOST journeymen do. Also is Nobby Nobbs still alive? I'd like to know how his fighters became journeymen as in did they come and say Nobby turn me into a journeyman/did he tell his boxers that's the route for earning money/or did he just get tagged as a journeyman's stable I don't know enough about him or his fighters to comment on the thinking behind it all but I remember most used to come to lose. Did he ever write a book or do any interviews about it does anyone know?

Does Danny Williams fit the bill as a decent am, very decent pro at times, now in full journeyman mode?

[Coco]

Nobby took a lot of guys pretty much off the streets without any amateur experience and prob made the the best out of them, it could be said he was pretty much a social worker! He still had a number of Midland area champs, Tony Hanna had a British title shot as well.
Off the top of my head from guys I fought, David Kehoe was an England amateur international who was originally with Barry Hearn, Mark Callaghan was also with Hearn and won an area title as well as having shots at bigger ones.
Julius Francis too.

[mickey1975]

All journeymen are/were decent. They need the skillset to apply their trade. Those who are just crap pack in after a few bouts. It is no mean feat going the distance with most pros out there, even if you do nothing!

[Coco]

All journeymen are/were decent. They need the skillset to apply their trade. Those who are just crap pack in after a few bouts. It is no mean feat going the distance with most pros out there, even if you do nothing!

I think that is something we do not get enough credit for, it's damn hard work regularly going in against guys a few levels above you and fiddling your way through a fight, especially when all the other things are loaded against you too.

[wrimc]

The case of Howard Clarke is an interesting one went from fighting Fernando Vargas for the IBF title on the undercard of Lewis Holyfield to being one of the most prolific journeyman on the scene. I think he unfortunately has suffered some bad effects from his time in the ring and only in his 40's is suffering from dementia.

http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_ ... r&pageID=2

[Coco]

The case of Howard Clarke is an interesting one went from fighting Fernando Vargas for the IBF title on the undercard of Lewis Holyfield to being one of the most prolific journeyman on the scene. I think he unfortunately has suffered some bad effects from his time in the ring and only in his 40's is suffering from dementia.

http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_ ... r&pageID=2

One thing with Howard though is that he was a very cute boxer, he really did not take many shots, I don't know if perhaps he had a physical make up which was more prone to it.
However it highlights again what a hard sport it.

[Counter-puncher]

All journeymen are/were decent. They need the skillset to apply their trade. Those who are just crap pack in after a few bouts. It is no mean feat going the distance with most pros out there, even if you do nothing!

I think that is something we do not get enough credit for, it's damn hard work regularly going in against guys a few levels above you and fiddling your way through a fight, especially when all the other things are loaded against you too.

I've said it before but Pete Buckley is one of the cutest defensive boxers I've ever seen. you could say it's easier to be a cute defensive boxer, if you set out with Buckley's mindset (certainly the one he adopted in his later years), but the level of skill he brought to it was undeniable.

[tear up]

Nobby took a lot of guys pretty much off the streets without any amateur experience and prob made the the best out of them, it could be said he was pretty much a social worker! He still had a number of Midland area champs, Tony Hanna had a British title shot as well.
Off the top of my head from guys I fought, David Kehoe was an England amateur international who was originally with Barry Hearn, Mark Callaghan was also with Hearn and won an area title as well as having shots at bigger ones.
Julius Francis too.

Marc callaghan s a good call he was good school boy great pro give me two great wars like everyone know s money makes the world go around

[manno]

What about Alan temple billy? Fine am,two abas and England job. Lovely boxer,plenty of bottle but just lacked a bit of strength for the top pros but still had what I would call a fine career

[flatnoseflynn]

Audley Harrison.

[keithmoonhangover]

Audley Harrison.

If he's a journeyman, he ain't very good at lasting the journey.

[spudder56]

Audley Harrison.

If he's a journeyman, he ain't very good at lasting the journey.

x2

[dalcumly]

Kevin McAuley. I think he once won the Midlands Area title, now fighting every week, and losing !

I fully understand the arguments put forward for journeymen ,and some I've spoken to say that as soon as promoters started to realise they were trying to win fights, they dried up .

But, fans pay good money to see fights and if one fighter isn't trying then this amounts to a sparring session. Ten defeats in a row then they should be suspended and brought in front of the Board.

Of course the REAL problem is that promoters and managers don't want to risk their boxers undefeated records. It's embarassing really, where's the self respect in telling your family and friends that you've had a 100 fights and lost 85 0f them ?

[keithmoonhangover]

Kevin McAuley. I think he once won the Midlands Area title, now fighting every week, and losing !

I fully understand the arguments put forward for journeymen ,and some I've spoken to say that as soon as promoters started to realise they were trying to win fights, they dried up .

But, fans pay good money to see fights and if one fighter isn't trying then this amounts to a sparring session. Ten defeats in a row then they should be suspended and brought in front of the Board.

Of course the REAL problem is that promoters and managers don't want to risk their boxers undefeated records. It's embarassing really, where's the self respect in telling your family and friends that you've had a 100 fights and lost 85 0f them ?

The self respect is telling them it paid off half your mortgage.

[80/20]

Dan Blackwell (Younger brother of Nick) had no am exp and has been matched very tough if he had the right set up and opportunities could have made area or even british title level ...tough kid takes a shot well and seems to have decent power but thrown in at the deep end ......Maybe he has issues with tickets ....

[The Insider]

But, fans pay good money to see fights and if one fighter isn't trying then this amounts to a sparring session. Ten defeats in a row then they should be suspended and brought in front of the Board.

I belive that when a boxer registers 4 loses in a row he is called to his respective area council for a review.


Dan and Kevin are good calls, Dan can give anyone problems on his day. Dan never goes to lose and has had a few rough decisions. Top lad too.

[jonp]

Kevin McAuley. I think he once won the Midlands Area title, now fighting every week, and losing !

I fully understand the arguments put forward for journeymen ,and some I've spoken to say that as soon as promoters started to realise they were trying to win fights, they dried up .

But, fans pay good money to see fights and if one fighter isn't trying then this amounts to a sparring session. Ten defeats in a row then they should be suspended and brought in front of the Board.

Of course the REAL problem is that promoters and managers don't want to risk their boxers undefeated records. It's embarassing really, where's the self respect in telling your family and friends that you've had a 100 fights and lost 85 0f them ?

The self respect is telling them it paid off half your mortgage.

To be fair id have more of a problem telling some one i was a traffic wardon or a bailiff to pay my bills.Plus job perks such as getting to watch all the big fights for nothing.

[mickey1975]

Spud is a baliff and he gets to watch the big fights for free. And he doesn't get hit(too often...). Back on topic, Mark McKray boxes nothing like a journeyman.

[polecateddy]

Howard Eastman is one due to age.

[dalcumly]

I can get my head around travelling a few dozen miles to spar a few rounds in a gym and getting paid for my troubles. What I simply can't begin to accept is travelling a few dozen miles to a show and going into a ring in front of fans and making no effort to win and just packing your bags , getting paid and going home WITHOUT CARING.
Even when I was getting beat in sparring I wanted to batter the guy. I felt like crying , not because I was getting hurt but because he was beating me !!

[TheGoods]

Just purchased a load of old boxing monthlys and there is a terrific article about Nobby on there from about 10 year ago. Proper rascal!

[tear up]

Dougie curran won everythink as a school boy and as a pro takin most of his fights at a day notice and does a great job he s classes as a journey man but he s got a lot of hope that one day hell be a champ

[polecateddy]

I can get my head around travelling a few dozen miles to spar a few rounds in a gym and getting paid for my troubles. What I simply can't begin to accept is travelling a few dozen miles to a show and going into a ring in front of fans and making no effort to win and just packing your bags , getting paid and going home WITHOUT CARING.
Even when I was getting beat in sparring I wanted to batter the guy. I felt like crying , not because I was getting hurt but because he was beating me !!

I think the average journeyman on the uk scene does take pride in other things, like making the prospect work, not getting stopped. They know 9 times out of ten they aren't getting the decision whatever happens.

[danconnollyeire]

Glen Johnson is a world level journeyman. Leon Spinks was a gold medalist/world champion turned sort of journeyman. You could see Del Boy turning in to one if he loses his next fight

[Coco]

Michael Sprott, but is far more dangerous than a normal journeyman, Matthew Ellis turned into a tomato can, Garry Delaney at the end of his career.