Best boxers who never won a world title?

[shadowsfall]

I had this on my mind today. I could probably name more but here are a few.

Oba Carr - I had to actually look him up today to make sure he wasn't a world champ. He put down both Tito and Quartey in what I thought were good bouts.

David Tua - Always a highly dangerous opponent for everyone. Came up short in his attempts at the world title.

Angel Manfredy - beat multiple world champs...but unfortunately not when they had the title.

[chrisjs1985]

Sam Langford
Packey McFarland
Charles Burley
Jim Driscoll
Holman Williams
Billy Graham
Lew Tendler
Jimmy Bivins
Eddie Booker
Lloyd Marshall
Cocoa Kid

Those are all legitimate all-time greats that didn’t win a world title.

[shadowsfall]

I figured I would get a lot of old-timers on this thread. There was less opportunity back then to win a world title.

[Controversial]

Herol Graham, very talented but always fell short in his three title shots, he came closest losing a SD to Mike McCallum

[Woldemar]

Ike Ibeabuchi.

[scorpio83]

"Bad" Bennie Briscoe - Fought the best and big name fighters in his time. He challenged for the World Middleweight crown three times, but lost all 3, losing a decision to Carlos Monzon and lost twice to Rodrigo Valdez.

[Onetimeonly]

He wasn't one of the very best, but Ruben Castillo had a rough road to attempt. Howard Davis was a personal favorite along with Jesse Burnett. Jesse schooled conteh, the UK crowd booed that decision.

[elmersalsa]

There are others like:
Mitsunori Seki of Japan. He got the record of most attempts to win a world title with 5.

Bernardo Caraballo (Colombia)
Kenny Lane (Portland, OR)
Don Fullmer (West Jordan, UT)
Roberto Rubaldino (Mexico)
Armando "Mando" Muniz (Mexico)
Patrick Ford (Guyana)
Antonio "Buchi" Amaya (Panama) He got robbed big time in Japan

There was a guy from Chile in the 1970s decade that was very good in the Flyweight division. I don't remember his name, but he fought for the world title about 4 times.

All of them good fighters.

[scartissue]

There are others like:
Mitsunori Seki of Japan. He got the record of most attempts to win a world title with 5.

Bernardo Caraballo (Colombia)
Kenny Lane (Portland, OR)
Don Fullmer (West Jordan, UT)
Roberto Rubaldino (Mexico)
Armando "Mando" Muniz (Mexico)
Patrick Ford (Guyana)
Antonio "Buchi" Amaya (Panama) He got robbed big time in Japan

There was a guy from Chile in the 1970s decade that was very good in the Flyweight division. I don't remember his name, but he fought for the world title about 4 times.

All of them good fighters.

I believe you're thinking of Martin Vargas. A real hard banger, and a good choice. I would also add in guys like
Willie Joyce, Freddie Dawson, Georgie Araujo, Halimi Gutierrez, Fernando Cabanela, Famoso Gomez, Joey Archer, Art Hafey, Pedro Montanez, Ernie Lopez, Richie Kates, Jerry Quarry, Eddie Machen, Zora Folley and Ruben Navarro. So many, I could keep going.

[scartissue]

Just thought of a bunch more

Jack Chase, Jesus Pimental, Superfly Sandoval, Bernard Taylor, Toluco Lopez, Harold Petty, Alan Rudkin, Spider Webb, Dave Sands, Jorge Ahumada, Georgie Abrams, Jimmy Warnock, Tancy Lee, Ron Lyle, Dwight Hawkins, Len Matthews, Adolph Pruitt, Isaac Logart, Gaspar Ortego, Clyde Gray. Man, there is no end.

[orbtastic]

Surely Jaurez holds the record for failed tilts at titles with 5? 7 if you count the two interim tries.

[chrisjs1985]

Jose Medel is another one. A sublime counter puncher and excellent finisher. Very skilled and talented fighter.

[Counter-puncher]

He wasn't one of the very best, but Ruben Castillo had a rough road to attempt.

always the answer that comes to my mind

[chrisjs1985]

Surely Jaurez holds the record for failed tilts at titles with 5? 7 if you count the two interim tries.

Yaqui Lopez was also 0-5 in world title attempts.

[Bodyshot3]

From a UK perspective.

Alan Rudkin ….mentioned up the thread
Mike Watson
Colin Jones
Kirk Laing
Herol Graham
Chris and Kevin Finnegan
Dave Boy Green
Carl Johanneson
Martin Murray

[chrisjs1985]

From a UK perspective.

Alan Rudkin ….mentioned up the thread
Mike Watson
Colin Jones
Kirk Laing
Herol Graham
Chris and Kevin Finnegan
Dave Boy Green
Carl Johanneson
Martin Murray

I'd definitely add Jock McAvoy, Walter McGowan and Tancy Lee to that list also.

[scartissue]

From a UK perspective.

Alan Rudkin ….mentioned up the thread
Mike Watson
Colin Jones
Kirk Laing
Herol Graham
Chris and Kevin Finnegan
Dave Boy Green
Carl Johanneson
Martin Murray

I'd definitely add Jock McAvoy, Walter McGowan and Tancy Lee to that list also.

I think McGowan was champ, wasn't he? I would also add in Ernie Roderick, James Scott, Young Stribling, Joe Jeanette, Sam McVey, Oscar Bonavena, Tiger Jack Fox, Len Harvey, Eddie Davis, Percy Bassett, Nel Tarleton, Hector Thompson and Billy Petrolle.

[chrisjs1985]

I'd definitely add Jock McAvoy, Walter McGowan and Tancy Lee to that list also.

I think McGowan was champ, wasn't he? I would also add in Ernie Roderick, James Scott, Young Stribling, Joe Jeanette, Sam McVey, Oscar Bonavena, Tiger Jack Fox, Len Harvey, Eddie Davis, Percy Bassett, Nel Tarleton, Hector Thompson and Billy Petrolle.

Len Harvey was champ. McGowan, actually now that you mention it I think won one out of the ring but lost in his first defense. Sort of like Kenny Norton in that regard.

[Caractacus]

Jerry Quarry and Earnie Shavers.

[scartissue]

I think McGowan was champ, wasn't he? I would also add in Ernie Roderick, James Scott, Young Stribling, Joe Jeanette, Sam McVey, Oscar Bonavena, Tiger Jack Fox, Len Harvey, Eddie Davis, Percy Bassett, Nel Tarleton, Hector Thompson and Billy Petrolle.

Len Harvey was champ. McGowan, actually now that you mention it I think won one out of the ring but lost in his first defense. Sort of like Kenny Norton in that regard.

I don't know, Chris, I would say McGowan's claim was really legit compared to Harvey's. McGowan beat the reigning flyweight champ, Salvatore Burruni over 15 with both within the flyweight limit. Burruni was going through an issue with the WBC at the time, which was - I believe - the first split title between the WBA and WBC. But everyone recognized Burruni as the champ and McGowan for dethroning him. As for Harvey, I believe his only claim to the title - after losing over 15 rounds to Marcel Thil at middle and John Henry Lewis at 175 - was in his penultimate fight, gaining BBBC recognition as light heavyweight champ. I think that held as much credibility as Lee Savold's claim to the heavyweight title. Both BBBC recognition.

[jimglen]

From a UK perspective.

Alan Rudkin ….mentioned up the thread
Mike Watson
Colin Jones
Kirk Laing
Herol Graham
Chris and Kevin Finnegan
Dave Boy Green
Carl Johanneson
Martin Murray

don't forget BERT GILROY... completely Shut Out of the title scene from 1941 - 1948, though No.1 Contender at middleweight and then L-HW from 39 - 48.

also tied to BOTH McAvoy & Roderick who are likewise mentioned in this thread, as well as McGowan who Bert couched and is seen in Walter's corner when wee Walter beat Burunni for the title.

Gilroy Facebook page with hundreds of reports, pics, programs ratings and info -https://www.facebook.com/pages/category ... 766487621/

[Controversial]

James Scott and Vilomar Fernandez

[elmersalsa]

There are others like:
Mitsunori Seki of Japan. He got the record of most attempts to win a world title with 5.

Bernardo Caraballo (Colombia)
Kenny Lane (Portland, OR)
Don Fullmer (West Jordan, UT)
Roberto Rubaldino (Mexico)
Armando "Mando" Muniz (Mexico)
Patrick Ford (Guyana)
Antonio "Buchi" Amaya (Panama) He got robbed big time in Japan

There was a guy from Chile in the 1970s decade that was very good in the Flyweight division. I don't remember his name, but he fought for the world title about 4 times.

All of them good fighters.

I believe you're thinking of Martin Vargas. A real hard banger, and a good choice. I would also add in guys like
Willie Joyce, Freddie Dawson, Georgie Araujo, Halimi Gutierrez, Fernando Cabanela, Famoso Gomez, Joey Archer, Art Hafey, Pedro Montanez, Ernie Lopez, Richie Kates, Jerry Quarry, Eddie Machen, Zora Folley and Ruben Navarro. So many, I could keep going.

That's it, Martin Vargas of Chile. Thanks.

[scartissue]

I believe you're thinking of Martin Vargas. A real hard banger, and a good choice. I would also add in guys like
Willie Joyce, Freddie Dawson, Georgie Araujo, Halimi Gutierrez, Fernando Cabanela, Famoso Gomez, Joey Archer, Art Hafey, Pedro Montanez, Ernie Lopez, Richie Kates, Jerry Quarry, Eddie Machen, Zora Folley and Ruben Navarro. So many, I could keep going.

That's it, Martin Vargas of Chile. Thanks.

I would also add in Ignacio Espinal from that era of flyweights. also, Bunty Doran, Frankie Duarte, Rogelio Lara, Johnny Bizarro, Jack Blackburn, Bunny Grant, Alfredo Urbina, Billy Graham, Gil Turner, Joey Giambra, Carlos Gimenez, Raul Soriano, Wes Ramey, Jimmy Leto and Leo Espinosa.

[bigjack]

Herol Graham, very talented but always fell short in his three title shots, he came closest losing a SD to Mike McCallum

Graham gave all 3 a hard time,as you say losing a SD to McCallum,but he had Julian Jackson in all sorts of trouble before that punch,and had Brewer down twice.