Forgotten champs, contenders, and others

[Expug]

There are a great number of fighters who we don’t hear discussed on this forum or really anywhere else who deserve recognition and to be remembered. Name yours.
I’ll start with Jr Middleweight champ Ralph Dupas.
Many outstanding wins and by all accounts, a solid guy outside of the ring.

[goose 5]

A superb technical boxer.

[Ambling Alp II]

Have never heard a lot about him. Obviously a very good fighter. Amazing that he had fought for so long (13 years and well over 100 fights) before he won a title. That is perseverance.

[elmersalsa]

There are a great number of fighters who we don’t hear discussed on this forum or really anywhere else who deserve recognition and to be remembered. Name yours.
I’ll start with Jr Middleweight champ Ralph Dupas.
Many outstanding wins and by all accounts, a solid guy outside of the ring.

I don't understand why he's not in the hall of fame and Barry McGuigan is in it. Something is wrong with that picture.

Paddy DeMarco is another forgotten good champion.

[Expug]

Art Hafey. Outstanding banger from Nova Scotia
In the 70s
Some good wins including a ko victory over Ruben Olivares.
Only stopped in 60 plus fights against Danny Lopez and Arguello.

[goose 5]

Raul Chato Soriano - beautiful left hand.

[elmersalsa]

Rafael Herrera of Mexico deserves a shout. I don't know why he's not in the hall of fame, either. He beat the great Ruben Olivares twice.

Jorge Lujan of Panama, was a beautiful technician. But, drugs, alcohol and women destroyed his career.

[goose 5]

I thought Albert Davila beat Lujan. Terrific boxing match.

[Expug]

Baby Arizmendi. Tough featherweight in the 30s-40s. Fought everyone.
Victories over Henry Armstrong and Freddie Miller among others. Well over 100 fights.

[elmersalsa]

Baby Arizmendi. Tough featherweight in the 30s-40s. Fought everyone.
Victories over Henry Armstrong and Freddie Miller among others. Well over 100 fights.

Good choice! One of Mexico's all-time pound per pound great boxers!

[Caractacus]

I remember reading some of the books written by Archie Moore,
and he always brought up Eddie Booker as one of his top 3 toughest opponents in his long boxing career.
he even claimed that eddie Booker was just as good if not better then "Marciano" fight.

[Expug]

Detroit Welterweight Lester Felton.
Another guy who fought the best from The late 40s through most of the 50s.
Victories over Kid Gavilan and Carmen Basilio.

[writehooks]

Great call on Art Hafey, Expug.
Another one is Larry Gains (a.k.a. 'The Toronto Terror'), who KO'd Max Schmeling, beat Primo Carnera on a decision and won the British Empire heavyweight crown by defeating South Africa's Don McCorkindale, but never got a crack at the World title. Career record of 117- 22-5.

[Expug]

Great call on Art Hafey, Expug.
Another one is Larry Gains (a.k.a. 'The Toronto Terror'), who KO'd Max Schmeling, beat Primo Carnera on a decision and won the British Empire heavyweight crown by defeating South Africa's Don McCorkindale, but never got a crack at the World title. Career record of 117- 22-5.

Larry Gains definitely fits the category too.
I looked up his record. He also held Mike Mctigue to a draw.

[Ambling Alp II]

Larry Gains is a good one.
Good fighter who has been pretty much forgotten. It's funny, but if you get a title and lose, you will probably be better remembered than a better fighter who never got a title shot.

Mike Mctigue himself is another good pick. He was a champ, but for whatever reason you hardly hear about him.

expug - it looks like we are on at the same time right now. Not sure of that has ever happened!

[Expug]

I think you’re right Alp. Good timing

I’m gonna put Jesse Burnet on here.
Light heavyweight former convict who came out and fought everyone back in a tough era.
Beat Victor Galindez and Yaqui Lopez.
Lost to a lot of the best back then, but he was thrown in tough just about every time out.

[elmersalsa]

Jimmy Carruthers

[Ambling Alp II]

How about Alfredo Escalera? Brought his snake to the ring before anyone heard of Jake the Snake Roberts.
Frank the "Animal" Fletcher and his mom screaming hysterically at ringside.
And of course Tim Tomasek. The guys would say "Jeepers".

[Expug]

How about Alfredo Escalera? Brought his snake to the ring before anyone heard of Jake the Snake Roberts.
Frank the "Animal" Fletcher and his mom screaming hysterically at ringside.
And of course Tim Tomasek. The guys would say "Jeepers".

Some real characters there.
I used to see Tomasek around local gyms and fight cards in Chicago and Hammond Indiana. He was a super nice fella. And, he was really that way with the jeepers.

[Expug]

Sixto Rodrigues. Puerto Rican Lightheavy beat Bobo Olson.
Played a great part in the movie “ Fat City”
Billy Tully, ( Stacy Keach) knocks him out in the final fight scene. He played a fighter from Mexico. (Lucero).

[Caractacus]

1930's HW contender Jimmy Adamick.
one of the few fighters to have floored Slapsie Maxie Rosenbloom.
at one point he was supposed to fight Joe Louis for the title.
(Louis had fought Tommy Farr instead)

https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/34973

[elmersalsa]

Arnold Taylor

[Caractacus]

Mike Gibbons was one of the greatest middleweights
but had never won a title.
https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/011267

[elmersalsa]

Betulio Gonzalez of Venezuela

[Ambling Alp II]

Mike Gibbons was one of the greatest middleweights
but had never won a title.
https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/011267

Yep. One of the greats from long ago that you don't hear much about. Too bad he never got a title shot. Even if he lost he would be better remembered.