Novice Heavyweight challengers ?

Post Reply
funso banjo baby
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Posts: 4417
Joined: 23 Sep 2005, 11:05

Novice Heavyweight challengers ?

Post by funso banjo baby »

Pete Rademacher challenged Patterson in his first prof fight....(talk about bum of the month tours).... Leon Spinks had about 14 or something thereabout....... Marvis Frazier had i think 11 wen he took on Holmes....
Which other 'Novices?' challenged for the world heavyweight title ?
kick asner
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Posts: 692
Joined: 02 Oct 2005, 00:01

Post by kick asner »

Leon had seven fights when he was given a title shot. It is hard to think of fighters who had less tha twenty fights who were given a title shot, however it would be easy to think of a lot of bad fighters who were given a shot.
BoxBuzz
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Posts: 29847
Joined: 07 Jun 2005, 16:37

Post by BoxBuzz »

I think I saw all seven of those fights by Leon, they paired him with guys that made him look very good. They were pretty exciting fights as a result.
overhand_right
Heavyweight
Heavyweight

Post by overhand_right »

Check out Larry Holmes record, he boxed a whole string of guys who were between 5 to 10 fights short of being ready to fight for the world title (whilst ducking the guys like Dokes, Page etc)
kingpawn
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Posts: 189
Joined: 16 May 2005, 08:38

Post by kingpawn »

BoxBuzz wrote:I think I saw all seven of those fights by Leon, they paired him with guys that made him look very good. They were pretty exciting fights as a result.
Rademacher tops them all. Debut for the HW championship?

You gotta admit, though. Spinks wasn't exactly brought up on the Butterbean diet either. Three of those first seven before he fought Ali were against Pedro Agosto, Alfio Righetti and Scott LeDoux (not necessarily in that order). Righetti and LeDoux were both ranked fighters, and Agosto was a seasoned veteran with fights against a lot of tough opponents.

Leon Spinks was never babied. He was more or less thrown to the wolves.
Slapsie Maxie
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Posts: 794
Joined: 22 Jun 2004, 08:22

Post by Slapsie Maxie »

I still have the Holmes/Frazier fight though have not watched it for ages.

I just recall the sight of Holmes motioning the ref to come in to stop the beating he was handing out. The ref took ages to cotton on and I think Frazier must have taken at least 20 punches he did not have to

Slapsie
dempseyfire
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Posts: 5534
Joined: 29 Oct 2003, 22:56

Post by dempseyfire »

overhand_right wrote:Check out Larry Holmes record, he boxed a whole string of guys who were between 5 to 10 fights short of being ready to fight for the world title (whilst ducking the guys like Dokes, Page etc)
Holmes DUCKED Page? When did Page deserve a title shot? When he was getting embarassed by Berbick (who Holmes beat) losing an excruciatingly poor fight with Witherspoon (who Holmes beat) or following that with a loss to the fondly remembered David Bey (who Holmes beat) . . . .???
Tycoon2002
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Posts: 21
Joined: 31 May 2005, 10:52

Post by Tycoon2002 »

dempseyfire wrote:
overhand_right wrote:Check out Larry Holmes record, he boxed a whole string of guys who were between 5 to 10 fights short of being ready to fight for the world title (whilst ducking the guys like Dokes, Page etc)
Holmes DUCKED Page? When did Page deserve a title shot? When he was getting embarassed by Berbick (who Holmes beat) losing an excruciatingly poor fight with Witherspoon (who Holmes beat) or following that with a loss to the fondly remembered David Bey (who Holmes beat) . . . .???
Damn good post :TU:
Nile4000
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Posts: 7187
Joined: 17 Sep 2005, 15:21

Post by Nile4000 »

dempseyfire wrote:
overhand_right wrote:Check out Larry Holmes record, he boxed a whole string of guys who were between 5 to 10 fights short of being ready to fight for the world title (whilst ducking the guys like Dokes, Page etc)
Holmes DUCKED Page? When did Page deserve a title shot? When he was getting embarassed by Berbick (who Holmes beat) losing an excruciatingly poor fight with Witherspoon (who Holmes beat) or following that with a loss to the fondly remembered David Bey (who Holmes beat) . . . .???
He earned his shot at the end of 83.Holmes did not want to fight him.
BoxBuzz
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Posts: 29847
Joined: 07 Jun 2005, 16:37

Post by BoxBuzz »

Slapsie I was completely confused about your post, I was thinking you were in the twilight zone that Frazier and Holmes never fought, took me to the count of 10 before I figured out you were talking about marvis.

I just never give marvis any respect at all. I dont even capitalize his name. But I should.
The Great John L
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Posts: 4351
Joined: 26 Jul 2005, 19:37

Post by The Great John L »

BoxBuzz wrote:Slapsie I was completely confused about your post, I was thinking you were in the twilight zone that Frazier and Holmes never fought, took me to the count of 10 before I figured out you were talking about marvis.

I just never give marvis any respect at all. I dont even capitalize his name. But I should.
Yeah, you should show him some respect. He certainly wasn't his father, but he had some pretty good wins during his short career. No shame in losing to Holmes and Tyson. Those were his only two loses and he beat Bonecrusher, Bugner, Tillis, Ribalta and Broad. Actualy, those sound better than big Klit's wins.
klompton
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Posts: 2738
Joined: 07 Jul 2003, 02:27

Post by klompton »

Holmes win over Witherspoon was a robbery if Ive ever seen one. One of the many cases in his career of getting preferential treatment by officials.
kick asner
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Posts: 692
Joined: 02 Oct 2005, 00:01

Post by kick asner »

overhand_right wrote:Check out Larry Holmes record, he boxed a whole string of guys who were between 5 to 10 fights short of being ready to fight for the world title (whilst ducking the guys like Dokes, Page etc)
I remember watching Chris Schenkle interview Michael Dokes on ABC back when the media covered boxing. He asked Dokes if their were any plans to unify the title, this was right after Dokes had beaten Weaver for the WBA half. Doke's response was that he didn't see it happening, he did not give an explanation. I remeber screaming at the tv, ASK HIM WHY NOT!!! That follow up question never came. To bad he didn't have John Stossle or Chris Wallace ask the question because if they were doing the interview he would have been grilled.

I always thought that it was Don King keeping it from happening rather that either fighter ducking the other one. Holmes did defend his title against some lackluster opponents, but that just seems to be the route that boxing went.
cfang
Middleweight
Posts: 946
Joined: 23 Jan 2014, 16:50

Re:

Post by cfang »

:TU:
Tycoon2002 wrote:
dempseyfire wrote:
overhand_right wrote:Check out Larry Holmes record, he boxed a whole string of guys who were between 5 to 10 fights short of being ready to fight for the world title (whilst ducking the guys like Dokes, Page etc)
Holmes DUCKED Page? When did Page deserve a title shot? When he was getting embarassed by Berbick (who Holmes beat) losing an excruciatingly poor fight with Witherspoon (who Holmes beat) or following that with a loss to the fondly remembered David Bey (who Holmes beat) . . . .???
Damn good post :TU:
Controversial
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Posts: 9185
Joined: 13 Jul 2002, 18:29

Re:

Post by Controversial »

dempseyfire wrote:
overhand_right wrote:Check out Larry Holmes record, he boxed a whole string of guys who were between 5 to 10 fights short of being ready to fight for the world title (whilst ducking the guys like Dokes, Page etc)
Holmes DUCKED Page? When did Page deserve a title shot? When he was getting embarassed by Berbick (who Holmes beat) losing an excruciatingly poor fight with Witherspoon (who Holmes beat) or following that with a loss to the fondly remembered David Bey (who Holmes beat) . . . .???
Yeah I have to agree. Personally I never got all the fuss about Dokes, apart from beating the notoriously slow starting and chinny Weaver who else did he beat? Dokes underachieved and had talent, well that applies to thousands of fighters.
Ambling Alp II
Super Middleweight
Posts: 15181
Joined: 04 Nov 2012, 18:31

Re: Novice Heavyweight challengers ?

Post by Ambling Alp II »

He had some talent, but wasted it, probably primarily because of drugs.
Dokes' next biggest win was the first round KO of Ocasio. this was before Ocasio's career fell apart and he was still decent.
He also beat Tex Cobb a couple of times.

After Dokes lost to Coetzee, he sort of went into a funk. He pretty much just fought a couple of journeyman a year for the next six years.
Too bad. It would have been interesting to see him against Thomas, Witherspoon, Page etc.

He did put in a good effort against Holyfield. He gave a prime Holyfield all that he could handle.
Boxing Prospect
Light Heavyweight
Posts: 6592
Joined: 25 Jun 2012, 14:35

Re: Novice Heavyweight challengers ?

Post by Boxing Prospect »

Michael Bentt?
tiny_acres
Middleweight
Posts: 9463
Joined: 17 Feb 2014, 14:43

Re: Novice Heavyweight challengers ?

Post by tiny_acres »

Boxing Prospect wrote:Michael Bentt?
Good call. :TU:
Ade L
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Posts: 600
Joined: 21 Aug 2009, 11:18

Re: Novice Heavyweight challengers ?

Post by Ade L »

Leon Spinks :bag:
tiny_acres
Middleweight
Posts: 9463
Joined: 17 Feb 2014, 14:43

Re: Novice Heavyweight challengers ?

Post by tiny_acres »

Dereck Chysora was only 15-2 when he faced Vitali.
Not a novice but far from a seasoned pro
jaclem3
Super Welterweight
Posts: 153
Joined: 02 Apr 2015, 01:07

Re: Novice Heavyweight challengers ?

Post by jaclem3 »

....i think leon's record before fighting ali was 6 and one draw. if i'm wrong buzzy will be certain to correct me. in fact he'll even do it if i'm right.
BoxBuzz
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Posts: 29847
Joined: 07 Jun 2005, 16:37

Re: Novice Heavyweight challengers ?

Post by BoxBuzz »

jaclem3 wrote:....i think leon's record before fighting ali was 6 and one draw. if i'm wrong buzzy will be certain to correct me. in fact he'll even do it if i'm right.

lol You are correct sir! That draw was with Scott LeDoux
HomicideHenry
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Posts: 18722
Joined: 08 Sep 2005, 00:43

Re: Novice Heavyweight challengers ?

Post by HomicideHenry »

This goes back to the turn of the 20th century.... but.... essentially "The Maori Wonder" Herbert Slade fought John L. Sullivan in his professional debut. True, he fought several exhibitions with his trainer, manager, mentor Jem Mace... but that was the extent of his previous boxing experience. I think Mace worked on Slade for a number of years prior to Sullivan. Slade fought exhibitions with some others, but no legit pro fights until Sullivan.

However, we have to understand, in those times the Marquis of Queensbury rules was considered a novelty... Sullivan was presenting it to the American public and world and offering cash money to anyone who could last four rounds with him... "Real" championship fights were still under the London Prize Ring rules and most people didnt quite understand the MQ rules prohibited wrestling. Slade was a powerful and prodigous wrestler, and it was thought that his size and abilities in THAT sport would help him defeat Sullivan with or without gloves.

The result? Sullivan hit Slade so hard he knocked him UP AND OVER THE TOP ROPE.
Post Reply