Who had the toughest start to a career? Heavyweight

icejack · Post by **icejack** » 22 Jan 2007, 11:15

I go with Pete Radacmacher ,his first fight was against Floyd Patterson ,his second against top contender Zora Folley ,his 10th against world ranked Brian London his 12th George Chuvalo, 14th fringe contender Willie Besmanoff and 18th Doug jones (the man who gave Ali a very tough fight) .That was a very tough baptism indeed ,I know he was olympic champ but when you compere say Audley Harrison today,you have to say ,he didnt pick em!

JC · Post by JC » 22 Jan 2007, 11:27

Well hard to beat a guy who fights the champ on his debut for a hard beginning. Marvis Frazier was somewhat thrown in at the deep end.

10th Pro Fight Joe Bugner
11th Larry Holmes
14th Fanso Banjo
15th James Quick Tillis
17th Bonecrusher Smith
18th Mike Tyson

Martin Sosa Cameron · Post by **Martin Sosa Cameron** » 22 Jan 2007, 12:00

Excused me, is not Heavyweight, but the Thailand Saensak Muangsurin win the WBA Jr W Title in his 3rd pro fight (!!!)

JC · Post by JC » 22 Jan 2007, 12:04

Martin Sosa Cameron wrote:Excused me, is not Heavyweight, but the Thailand Saensak Muangsurin win the WBA Jr W Title in his 3rd pro fight (!!!)

Good one Martin,

Those Thai fighters certainly don't like to let the grass grow under their feet do they!

BoxBuzz · Post by **BoxBuzz** » 22 Jan 2007, 12:17

If you click on the link below you will see that this future champion is having the toughest start you could possibly imagine.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=25171

generic screen name · Post by **generic screen name** » 22 Jan 2007, 12:18

Why everyone has to focus on heavyweights?

Holyfield had it pretty tough:

12th Qawi I
15th Tillman
17th Qawi II
18th De leon
19th Tillis
21st Dokes
.....and won them all

Martin Sosa Cameron · Post by **Martin Sosa Cameron** » 22 Jan 2007, 12:26

Thanks, JC! You are right!

In the Heavyweight; the Argentinian Alejandro Lavorante,

--1th Dean Bogany (WKO 3)
--5th Roy Harris (LPoints)
10th José Giorgetti (WPoints)
12th Tunney Hunsaker (WKO 5)
14th Zora Folley (WKO 7)
17th Willi Besmanoff (WKO 7)

Another Argentinian, Olympic Heavy Champ Rafael Iglesias, in his pro debut, and only pro bout
--1th Bob Dunlap (LKO 3)

Ingo Johansson win the Scandinavian Title in his 4th pro fight

--6th Werner Wiegand (WKO 5)
10th Uber Baccilieri
12th Heinz Ten Hoff (WKO 1)
13th Joe Bygraves
14th Hans Friedrich
15th Franco Cavicchi (WKO 13)
16th Peter Bates (WKO 2)
17th Henry Cooper (WKO 5)
18 th Archie McBride
19th Joe Erskine (WKO 13)
20th Heinz Neuhaus (WKO 4)
20th Eddie Machen (WKO 1)
21th Floyd Patterson (WKO 3) (World H Title)

Martin Sosa Cameron · Post by **Martin Sosa Cameron** » 22 Jan 2007, 12:32

BoxBuzz wrote:If you click on the link below you will see that this future champion is having the toughest start you could possibly imagine.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=25171

BoxBuzz: Yes! Today, this boy may be a WBA or WBC Interim Champion

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 22 Jan 2007, 14:00

Jimmy Young was thrown to the lions quite early whilst a novice professional he had to mix with the likes of Earnie Shavers and Roy Williams. As well as more experienced fighters like Randy Newman and Richard Dunn. But unlike many this didn't crush him, he learnt as he went along and became an outstanding fighter.

Lionel Butler didn't have an easy start either against the likes of Phil Jackson, Riddick Bowe, James Pritchard and Oliver McCall in his first few fights.

JC · Post by JC » 22 Jan 2007, 14:10

Leon Spinks didn't have it easy either.

6th Scott LeDoux
8th Muhammed Ali
9th Muhammed Ali
10th Gerrie Coetzee
14th Bernardo Mercardo
15th Larry Holmes
18th Carlos De Leon

All vastly more experienced than him.

Eric the Viking · Post by **Eric the Viking** » 22 Jan 2007, 14:37

Would the thread starter please clarify: by "toughest" do you mean "toughest opposition" or "rockiest start" (i.e. got his ass beat a lot early on)?

icejack · Post by **icejack** » 22 Jan 2007, 14:58

Hi, by toughest I mean toughest opposition and/or duration of fights ,for example Max Baer just over two years in to his career fought 20 rounds with a world rated fighter and as you know many Mexican fighters are up and into 10 round fights pretty early in their careers

The Durable Dane · Post by **The Durable Dane** » 22 Jan 2007, 15:02

Pete Radacmacher...

Expug · Post by **Expug** » 22 Jan 2007, 15:05

Joe Jeannete.
I think he was thrown in with Jack Johnson or Sam Langford just about evey week in the begining of his career.

The Great John L · Post by **The Great John L** » 22 Jan 2007, 15:08

Bonecrusher Smith debuted against amateur star James Broad and then fought future CW champ Ricky Parkey in his 2nd fight.

icejack · Post by **icejack** » 22 Jan 2007, 15:19

The Great John L wrote:Bonecrusher Smith debuted against amateur star James Broad and then fought future CW champ Ricky Parkey in his 2nd fight.

Good call ! also fought Bruno in his 12th or 13th fight and then fought Holmes,Tubbs ,Witherspoon and Weaver in quick fashion afterwards

The Great John L · Post by **The Great John L** » 22 Jan 2007, 15:44

icejack wrote:
The Great John L wrote:Bonecrusher Smith debuted against amateur star James Broad and then fought future CW champ Ricky Parkey in his 2nd fight.
Good call ! also fought Bruno in his 12th or 13th fight and then fought Holmes,Tubbs ,Witherspoon and Weaver in quick fashion afterwards

Yeah, James really had a pretty full resume. He was actually a pretty good fighter, but I don’t think he ever really had a fighter’s attitude. If he could have fought every fight with the intensity he displayed in Spoon II, I think he could have accomplished quite a bit more in his career.

Ambling Alp · Post by **Ambling Alp** » 22 Jan 2007, 16:52

Here are a couple:

Sam McVey fought Jack Johnson 3 times in the first 2 years as a pro. Lost two 20 round decisons and was Ko'd in the 20 th round another time.

James Jeffries fought Ruhlin,Choynski,Goddard, and Sharkey in the first two years of his career. He had draws with Ruhlin and Choynski and beat Sharkey and Goddard.

HomicideHenry · Post by **HomicideHenry** » 22 Jan 2007, 17:48

Rocky Marciano:

-Late start (was in his late 20's)
-SHort reach (68")
-Didnt have a trainer in his first 10 or so bouts
-First few bouts was thrown in against more experienced fighters
-Had to be taught the basics (balance mostly) even when he was winning

gregor · Post by **gregor** » 23 Jan 2007, 09:57

Among active fighters I think Maskaev had pretty tough start (I know he was experienced amateur, but being pro is different):
pro debut against Miroshnichenko (21-0) - and won
6th fight against McCall
12th against Tua (almost won - Tua was saved by additional two rounds since this fight was for some kind of title)

I wonder who was his matchmaker. IMHO it would be a lot wiser to give Oleg some more fights and give him some experience as a pro before throwing him against top guys.