70s & 80s forgotten heavyweights.

[sweetviolenturge]

There are always a plethora of threads here discussing the mainstays of the heavyweights of that era such as Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Norton, Young, Lyle & Shavers.
But, just for a change of pace, I thought I'd discuss men like Johnny Boudreaux, Stan Ward, Randy Stephens, "Quick" Tillis, Lyn Ball etc.. As well as any others of that period that the rest of you may want to bring up.

Boudreaux always fascinated me to an extent because THE RING magazine always had him rated so highly, usually at around #5 or #6, even though, other than his dubious nod over Scott Ledoux, he'd never beaten a quality opponent. Although, he did have a draw vs Stan Ward.
His lone loss came via a split decision to contender Howard "KO" Smith.
Houston's Boudreaux was a quick, fleet-footed boxer molded in the Ali image. Unfortunately, he lacked Ali's talent, chin & had little power.
Stan Ward was a big, skilled heavyweight with average power & a knack for never winning the big ones whenever he stepped up against fellow contenders.

to be continued...

[sweetviolenturge]

George Chaplan - Good, slick boxer with career victories over Earnie Shavers, Mike Koranicki & what should have been two decision wins over Greg Page as well.

Larry Alexander - Solid, spoiler-type who had decent power & was capable of surprises like his KO of the then-unbeaten prospect Jeff Simms.

Dwain Bonds - Another solid spoiler with skills & some power. Dangerous if overlooked.

[sweetviolenturge]

( Memphis ) Al Jones - Jones never ceased to fascinate me back in the day.
The whole idea of being a journeyman/opponent was something that always intrigued me & Jones was the quintessential journeyman/opponent. Who did just what was expected of him ( meaning , of course, that he lost & usually via KO ) at a rate of roughly four out of five times & since he was a wee bit "chinny" , he usually went down several times in the process.
But, unlike many of his ilk, he happened to be a dangerous puncher that was capable of pulling the big upset if he caught someone over-looking him and/or dropping their guard. Like he did in spectacular upsets of contender Boone Kirkman & unbeaten young prospect Tony Longoria among others.

[Controversial]

Good thread. I don't know a lot about him but Walter Moore fought in the 70s and was only beaten once in 20 fights by Roy 'Tiger' Willliams by KO. He had a good KO rate with wins over former world title challengers Terry Daniels (KO6) and Jose Roman (UD10) although to be fair they were at the end of their careers. He wasn't going to set the world alight but anyone know why he quit boxing?

[scartissue]

( Memphis ) Al Jones - Jones never ceased to fascinate me back in the day.
The whole idea of being a journeyman/opponent was something that always intrigued me & Jones was the quintessential journeyman/opponent. Who did just what was expected of him ( meaning , of course, that he lost & usually via KO ) at a rate of roughly four out of five times & since he was a wee bit "chinny" , he usually went down several times in the process.
But, unlike many of his ilk, he happened to be a dangerous puncher that was capable of pulling the big upset if he caught someone over-looking him and/or dropping their guard. Like he did in spectacular upsets of contender Boone Kirkman & unbeaten young prospect Tony Longoria among others.

Not to mention Jones decked Jerry Quarry twice before getting stopped himself. Adding to this list I would name Pedro Lovell, Henry Clark, Jeff Merritt, Ruffhouse Fischer and ScrapIron Johnson.

[Tony1244]

( Memphis ) Al Jones - Jones never ceased to fascinate me back in the day.
The whole idea of being a journeyman/opponent was something that always intrigued me & Jones was the quintessential journeyman/opponent. Who did just what was expected of him ( meaning , of course, that he lost & usually via KO ) at a rate of roughly four out of five times & since he was a wee bit "chinny" , he usually went down several times in the process.
But, unlike many of his ilk, he happened to be a dangerous puncher that was capable of pulling the big upset if he caught someone over-looking him and/or dropping their guard. Like he did in spectacular upsets of contender Boone Kirkman & unbeaten young prospect Tony Longoria among others.

Not to mention Jones decked Jerry Quarry twice before getting stopped himself. Adding to this list I would name Pedro Lovell, Henry Clark, Jeff Merritt, Ruffhouse Fischer and ScrapIron Johnson.

Who is this roughhouse Fischer? Only one I haven't heard of.

[Controversial]

( Memphis ) Al Jones - Jones never ceased to fascinate me back in the day.
The whole idea of being a journeyman/opponent was something that always intrigued me & Jones was the quintessential journeyman/opponent. Who did just what was expected of him ( meaning , of course, that he lost & usually via KO ) at a rate of roughly four out of five times & since he was a wee bit "chinny" , he usually went down several times in the process.
But, unlike many of his ilk, he happened to be a dangerous puncher that was capable of pulling the big upset if he caught someone over-looking him and/or dropping their guard. Like he did in spectacular upsets of contender Boone Kirkman & unbeaten young prospect Tony Longoria among others.

Not to mention Jones decked Jerry Quarry twice before getting stopped himself. Adding to this list I would name Pedro Lovell, Henry Clark, Jeff Merritt, Ruffhouse Fischer and ScrapIron Johnson.

Who is this roughhouse Fischer? Only one I haven't heard of.

Tom Fischer

http://boxrec.com/boxer/2237

[Tony1244]

Not to mention Jones decked Jerry Quarry twice before getting stopped himself. Adding to this list I would name Pedro Lovell, Henry Clark, Jeff Merritt, Ruffhouse Fischer and ScrapIron Johnson.

Who is this roughhouse Fischer? Only one I haven't heard of.

Tom Fischer

http://boxrec.com/boxer/2237

Was he the white guy who became a Muslim?

[scartissue]

Who is this roughhouse Fischer? Only one I haven't heard of.

Tom Fischer

http://boxrec.com/boxer/2237

Was he the white guy who became a Muslim?

Never heard that, but Tom Ruffhouse Fischer was a really decent clubfighter who - when he stepped up - lost to the name opponent (Dokes, Tillis). I was following him locally knowing he would never progress to the next level, but fun on a good clubfighter level.

[scartissue]

I should also add in largely forgotten heavies like Jose Luis Garcia, Bill Sharkey, former amateur star Nick Wells and Joe Alexander, who really might have been something with better management. He had huge gaps of inactivity following decent bouts which really never allowed him to get going.

[Tony1244]

Tom Fischer

http://boxrec.com/boxer/2237

Was he the white guy who became a Muslim?

Never heard that, but Tom Ruffhouse Fischer was a really decent clubfighter who - when he stepped up - lost to the name opponent (Dokes, Tillis). I was following him locally knowing he would never progress to the next level, but fun on a good clubfighter level.

I remember him now because I remember Dokes stopping him. I may be wrong about the Muslim part, but I thought I remembered the announcers saying something about that.

[keithmoonhangover]

Horace Notice.

[evrenb]

Some I like from that era....and there are many...are Al blue lewis.....Roy tiger williams....Leroy Jones...

[Bodyshot3]

Kallie Knoetze...the originial big hitting, basic and no nonsense South African heavy.

Gerrie Coetzee beat him and went much further...but Kallie beat a few good fellas in his own right.

And a bit like Coetzee and Sanders he either won big, spectacular and early or got stopped the same way.

[sweetviolenturge]

Was he the white guy who became a Muslim?

Never heard that, but Tom Ruffhouse Fischer was a really decent clubfighter who - when he stepped up - lost to the name opponent (Dokes, Tillis). I was following him locally knowing he would never progress to the next level, but fun on a good clubfighter level.

I remember him now because I remember Dokes stopping him. I may be wrong about the Muslim part, but I thought I remembered the announcers saying something about that.

Tony, my man, you're not too far off with this bit of esoteric knowledge my friend.
You're just confusing "Tom "Roughhouse" Fischer a somewhat durable heavyweight journeyman of the early '80s with New Jersey fringe 175 lb contender Mike Fisher. Who, if memory serves me properly, was a white, southpaw, Muslim.
Case closed. LOL.

- Jim

[sweetviolenturge]

Good thread. I don't know a lot about him but Walter Moore fought in the 70s and was only beaten once in 20 fights by Roy 'Tiger' Willliams by KO. He had a good KO rate with wins over former world title challengers Terry Daniels (KO6) and Jose Roman (UD10) although to be fair they were at the end of their careers. He wasn't going to set the world alight but anyone know why he quit boxing?

That old career buster known as prison put an end to Moore's career.
Can't recall the charges, but for some reason I'm thinking it was murder,

[Controversial]

Good thread. I don't know a lot about him but Walter Moore fought in the 70s and was only beaten once in 20 fights by Roy 'Tiger' Willliams by KO. He had a good KO rate with wins over former world title challengers Terry Daniels (KO6) and Jose Roman (UD10) although to be fair they were at the end of their careers. He wasn't going to set the world alight but anyone know why he quit boxing?

That old career buster known as prison put an end to Moore's career.
Can't recall the charges, but for some reason I'm thinking it was murder,

Ah ok, is prison a definite as I read elsewhere he had a detached retina and had to retire?

[Scypion]

Jimmy Ellis.

[writehooks]

Tony Alongi. Mike DeJohn. Dick Wipperman.

[writehooks]

Apologies ... I was thinking "60s and 70s", not "70s and '80s."

[Tony1244]

Never heard that, but Tom Ruffhouse Fischer was a really decent clubfighter who - when he stepped up - lost to the name opponent (Dokes, Tillis). I was following him locally knowing he would never progress to the next level, but fun on a good clubfighter level.

I remember him now because I remember Dokes stopping him. I may be wrong about the Muslim part, but I thought I remembered the announcers saying something about that.

Tony, my man, you're not too far off with this bit of esoteric knowledge my friend.
You're just confusing "Tom "Roughhouse" Fischer a somewhat durable heavyweight journeyman of the early '80s with New Jersey fringe 175 lb contender Mike Fisher. Who, if memory serves me properly, was a white, southpaw, Muslim.
Case closed. LOL.

- Jim

Jim, it's strange the things we remember and forget. Sometimes I think I know something and I look it up and I have it all screwed up. I wonder how much of my life I faulty have altered.

[Tony1244]

Cookie Wallace and Stamford Harris

[Syntax Error]

Gregorio Peralta.

He fought George Foreman & Ron Lyle twice in the 1970s, going the distance with Big George once & twice with Ron Lyle.

He also went the distance with Oscar Bonavena, but that doesn't really count on this thread as it was in 1969.

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

In Europe = there were quite a few decent heavies - not world beaters but they were OK.

Al Syben - the Belgian who fought John L. Gardner for the European title - he had a compatriot who was pretty decent named Rudy Gauwe (who if I remember - might have fought Gardner for the Euro title).

Pantera Rodriguez, the heavyweight champion of Spain who drew twice with Alfredo Evangelista and drew in the UK with the reigning British heavyweight champion David Pearce - Rodriguez later died of a brain hemorrhage. He was one tough hombre.

Toyi Castro who was Spanish heavyweight (or was he cruiserweight) champion - was pencilled in for a fight with Gary Mason for the EBU strap that was vacant but was jailed for a thousand years for drugs offences in Spain so had to pull out. A Spanish boxing journalist was asked how he would do against Mason and the journalist said 'Castro would be lucky to last a round'

'The Bronze Bomber' Bobby Wells, who won bronze in the 1984 Olympics, a much decorated amateur but couldn't find that form as a pro.

[elmersalsa]

Tyrell Biggs. After losing to the great Mike Tyson, he was completely forgotten!