Best run of world class wins by a Brit

[Autobarn]

Was rewatching recently Wayne McCullough’s very exciting battles versus Victor Rabanales, Yasuei Yakushiji & Jose Luis Bueno. Impressively he achieved this in a period of less than two years.

Rabanales was a very tough opponent for, essentially, a world title eliminator.

Wayne then went to Japan to dethrone a solid champion in Yakushiji. Yasuei had certainly won some controversial - or if you’d prefer, close - fights, yet he was on very good form. Having beaten Tatsuyoshi in one of the biggest domestic world title fights ever in Japan. Although that fight may have at once established, and depleted somewhat, the popular Japanese fighter.

And in McCullough’s final title defense, he beat an early Nacho Beristain standout in Bueno. It’s one of the most extraordinary fights ever staged in Britain. Razor thin, bloody and exhausting. And IMO the best performance of either man’s career. McCullough’s ear was bleeding, he took some scything, disorientating shots around the temple - yet never stopped punching, to ever so slightly outwork his man. Neither ever won another world title fight.

Any thoughts? Any other terrific runs of victories within a fairly short space?

[bigjack]

Froch's title run will take a lot of beating.

[Autobarn]

Yes, Froch v Pascal, Taylor and then Dirrell is one hell of a run.

Pascal & Taylor were Super 6 caliber fights before the S6. And two remarkable battles. Taylor still had something left -and Froch’s turnaround in the 12th was unbelievably dramatic. A future 175 champ, Pascal would get big wins in the future vs Bute & Dawson, in bad fights. And vs Diaconu in two great fights. He’d get beaten up by prime Kovalev in yet another thriller, yet still had enough to thrill in a draw with contender Yunieski Gonzalez, and to batter in exciting fashion prospect Elbiali.

Dirrell is also a maddeningly difficult and contrary opponent. Froch didn’t win decisively but I never had a problem with the result.


In his last reign, Froch’s revenge win over Kessler, controversial thriller with Groves, KO of the year rematch of Groves - all following an absolute hammering of Lucian Bute, who was unbeaten and favoured to pummel him, is another hugely impressive run of big wins for a UK fighter.

[brilo33]

Bjs has had a good run going back to spike John ryder eubank jr Lee Monroe lemiux

[lillywhite14]

Bjs has had a good run going back to spike John ryder eubank jr Lee Monroe lemiux

How many of them are world class? None?

[brilo33]

Bjs has had a good run going back to spike John ryder eubank jr Lee Monroe lemiux

How many of them are world class? None?

Thing is though no one has put anything off note yet. Joe calzaghe .lacey,,.?Kessler Hopkins Jones old men maybe though I wouldn't say so.

[mickey1975]

Bjs has had a good run going back to spike John ryder eubank jr Lee Monroe lemiux

How many of them are world class? None?

What’s World Class?

[Autobarn]

Buchanan’s two great wins over Laguna within 12 months - one in Puerto Rico, one a very hard fight in NYC - sandwiching 2 non title fights & one world title defense - shortly after winning the British title!

[brilo33]

Bjs has had a good run going back to spike John ryder eubank jr Lee Monroe lemiux

How many of them are world class? None?

lee won the world championship , eubank fought world champion ,Ryder looks like he will get a shot at a world title ,willie fought world champs , Lemieux fought for world title , spike might get a shot at a world title , so all the fighters are in world title fights or due , all apart from lee are still active and still in the mix

[Boxing Prospect]

Hatton went Tszyu, Maussa, Collazo, Urango and Castillo which is worthy of a mention

Hamed went Kelley, Vazquez, Mccullough, Ingle, and Soto which isn't a bad run

[bigjack]

Hatton went Tszyu, Maussa, Collazo, Urango and Castillo which is worthy of a mention

Hamed went Kelley, Vazquez, Mccullough, Ingle, and Soto which isn't a bad run

Maussa was dreadful but the rest were ok after Tszyu.

[Coco]

Hatton went Tszyu, Maussa, Collazo, Urango and Castillo which is worthy of a mention

Hamed went Kelley, Vazquez, Mccullough, Ingle, and Soto which isn't a bad run

Add Bungu to that and also Sanchez, wasn't he the last man to beat PBF? I'll have to check that, also he beat Johnson too before that.
In fairness Hamed took on everyone, he would have had MAB earlier too if he hadn't been knocked out

[Coco]

Hatton went Tszyu, Maussa, Collazo, Urango and Castillo which is worthy of a mention

Hamed went Kelley, Vazquez, Mccullough, Ingle, and Soto which isn't a bad run

Add Bungu to that and also Sanchez, wasn't he the last man to beat PBF? I'll have to check that, also he beat Johnson too before that.
In fairness Hamed took on everyone, he would have had MAB earlier too if he hadn't been knocked out

[dr_devious]

Lennox had several very good runs of world class wins punctuated by the losses to McCall and Rahman

[brian13]

In his last reign, Froch’s revenge win over Kessler, controversial thriller with Groves, KO of the year rematch of Groves - all following an absolute hammering of Lucian Bute, who was unbeaten and favoured to pummel him, is another hugely impressive run of big wins for a UK fighter.

Bute had a two fight deal with Froch, first fight in Nottingham then another fight in Canada. Froch destroyed him so badly that Bute didn't want another fight. Kessler only loses to great (could be all HOF) fighters. Groves is a World champion now but to spark him cold out in front of 80,000 people is extremely impressive.

[ThereByTheGrace]

Calzaghe was the best Brit in the last 20 years. Easily. Kessler, Hopkins, Jones Jr, Eubank, Lacy, Woodhall, Im sure there are more but he was the best. Hatton was brilliant but was second best at elite. Calzaghe would have beat Froch no doubt. Even Steve Collins wasn't sure about Calzaghe back in the day.

[ElJefe]

Calzaghe was the best Brit in the last 20 years. Easily. Kessler, Hopkins, Jones Jr, Eubank, Lacy, Woodhall, Im sure there are more but he was the best. Hatton was brilliant but was second best at elite. Calzaghe would have beat Froch no doubt. Even Steve Collins wasn't sure about Calzaghe back in the day.

The thread is about consecutive fights though. Calzaghe fought those 6 names over an 11 year period with a lot of shite in the middle.

Khan must have had a decent run from Barrera onwards?

[Boxing Prospect]

Calzaghe was the best Brit in the last 20 years. Easily. Kessler, Hopkins, Jones Jr, Eubank, Lacy, Woodhall, Im sure there are more but he was the best. Hatton was brilliant but was second best at elite. Calzaghe would have beat Froch no doubt. Even Steve Collins wasn't sure about Calzaghe back in the day.

The thread is about consecutive fights though. Calzaghe fought those 6 names over an 11 year period with a lot of shite in the middle.

Khan must have had a decent run from Barrera onwards?

Salita and McCloskey ruin any sort of a run of world class opponents for Khan

[skanksta]

I think we'd need one of the old time historians to come up with anything better than Froch, Shirley ?
Calzaghe's resume is awesome on "name recognition" but we all know that B-Hop (X!) and RJJ were well past their best.
Froch's run - Pascal, Taylor, Dirrell, Kessler, Abraham, Johnson, Ward, Bute was a true murderer's row of world class, relevant-at-the-time-talent. The only one where "close-clear points" was kinda obvious, was a fading Johnson - and that was a replacement before fighting the "Son of God". Only 3 of those were @ home too.

The fact that he followed that incredible run with KESSLER, GROVES, GROVES - it's just incredible !
If he coulda/woulda just pulled out of the Yusaf Mack gimme - that 11 fight run would stand comparison to any other 11 fight run in the history of the sport.
Great anorak game finding a better run than that.

[Boxerbeetle]

I think we'd need one of the old time historians to come up with anything better than Froch, Shirley ?
Calzaghe's resume is awesome on "name recognition" but we all know that B-Hop (X!) and RJJ were well past their best.
Froch's run - Pascal, Taylor, Dirrell, Kessler, Abraham, Johnson, Ward, Bute was a true murderer's row of world class, relevant-at-the-time-talent. The only one where "close-clear points" was kinda obvious, was a fading Johnson - and that was a replacement before fighting the "Son of God". Only 3 of those were @ home too.

The fact that he followed that incredible run with KESSLER, GROVES, GROVES - it's just incredible !
If he coulda/woulda just pulled out of the Yusaf Mack gimme - that 11 fight run would stand comparison to any other 11 fight run in the history of the sport.
Great anorak game finding a better run than that.

He lost Kessler I and Ward though, the thread is about winning runs.

[mickey1975]

Virtually everyone thought Dirrell beat him, and he wasn't great, Ward bullied him, Bute ended up crap, I could go on.

[dirk2686]

Virtually everyone thought Dirrell beat him, and he wasn't great, Ward bullied him, Bute ended up crap, I could go on.

Very revisionist. Froch went into loads of 50/50 fights or as the outsider. As a fan you want to see the best fight each other and Froch clearly had that mentality.

[mickey1975]

Virtually everyone thought Dirrell beat him, and he wasn't great, Ward bullied him, Bute ended up crap, I could go on.

Very revisionist. Froch went into loads of 50/50 fights or as the outsider. As a fan you want to see the best fight each other and Froch clearly had that mentality.

Which ones were 50-50?

[skanksta]

I think we'd need one of the old time historians to come up with anything better than Froch, Shirley ?
Calzaghe's resume is awesome on "name recognition" but we all know that B-Hop (X!) and RJJ were well past their best.
Froch's run - Pascal, Taylor, Dirrell, Kessler, Abraham, Johnson, Ward, Bute was a true murderer's row of world class, relevant-at-the-time-talent. The only one where "close-clear points" was kinda obvious, was a fading Johnson - and that was a replacement before fighting the "Son of God". Only 3 of those were @ home too.

The fact that he followed that incredible run with KESSLER, GROVES, GROVES - it's just incredible !
If he coulda/woulda just pulled out of the Yusaf Mack gimme - that 11 fight run would stand comparison to any other 11 fight run in the history of the sport.
Great anorak game finding a better run than that.

He lost Kessler I and Ward though, the thread is about winning runs.

[Counter-puncher]

I'd say 50/50 or close enough would have been Pascal, Taylor, Kessler 1, Ward. Bute. At least if you're taking about expectations before the fight. He was underdog against Taylor, Ward, Bute IIRC