The Greatest Heavyweights never to be Champions?

Vetteguy99 · Post by **Vetteguy99** » 19 May 2003, 02:27

Jerry Quarry, Ron Lyle, my dad tells me Eddie Machen ws quite a fighter.

treelo · Post by **treelo** » 19 May 2003, 04:37

dmille wrote:Why is this thread entitled "greatest heavyweights that were never champion" when it should be called "let's trash Larry Holmes' career"?

i was thinkin exactly the same thing

while not a fan, i cant understand why the thread went that way

6 Pack · Post by **6 Pack** » 19 May 2003, 17:45

SAM LANGFORD

That man was the number one contender for years! WHile Johnson looked unimpressive against guys like Jack O'Brien, Frank Moran, Jim Johnson, Tony Ross, etc.

Langford was beating the likes of Sam McVey, Joe Jeanette, Gunboat Smith, etc.

Johnson dodged the three best contenders of his day Langford, Jeanette and McVey! Can you imagine a heavywegiht champion having the title for seven years and not defending against either of the top three challengers!

Langford only lost to three men during his prime as a heavyweight (which was during Johson's title reign as luck would have it) and he beat all of those men in return (and also knocked them out!). Langford fought some 100 bouts during his prime too!

Langford beat the men Johnson ducked as champion, and in turn was ducked himself.

BTW Dempsey knocked out black heavyweight Jim Johson. Johnson fought to a draw with Jack Johnson in the first ever fight between two black fighters for the heavyweight title. Jim Johnson also knocked out Harry Wills in two rounds.

Dempsey blew him out inside a round.

Dempsey also knocked out some other black contender early in his career (can't remember his name now, he was not that great a fighter).