Australian World Champions

aussie · Post by **aussie** » 04 Mar 2007, 07:23

As an Aussie I'm naturally proud of all the world champs we've produced but I'd love to get opinions from this forum on just how well recieved they have been from countries around the world.
Tszyu, Fenech, Ellis,Rose etc are all household names here but just how they sit in the eyes of the rest of the world would be interesting to find out
Thanks guys, hope to get plenty of responce

barry · Post by **barry** » 04 Mar 2007, 09:22

Well of course the Aussie world champions were top quality fighters, but I am more interested in the careers of Aussie contenders such as Vic Patrick, Elley Bennett, Jack Hassen, Trevor King, Ron Richards, Tony Mundine, Mickey Miller, Clive Stewart, Jack Carroll, Alan Westbury, George Kapeen and so on.

Personally, I think that Vic Patrick was one of the best fighters, if not the very best, that Australia has ever produced, but Les Darcy and Young Griffo are also elite and if you consider Bob Fitzsimmons as an Aussie then he would rank right at the top. It's unfortunate that Patrick was never given a title shot...he probably would have won the lightweight title had he gotten a shot prior to 1945, but after 1945 he would have had to fight Ike Williams for the lightweight title and unless he just caught Williams on a bad day then I don't think he could have beat him, but then again Patrick had that one-punch knockout power and anyone with that kind of punch always has a chance regardless of who they are fighting.

scartissue · Post by **scartissue** » 04 Mar 2007, 16:18

Dave Sands and George Barnes were top notchers. Sands tragically was killed in an car accident but Barnes was invited to participate in a tourney for the vacant welterweight title after Basilio's abdication, but for some reason would not leave Australia to participate. Truly curious, a chance at the title but won't travel. However, my personal opinion for greatest ever Aussie goes to Hector Thompson. Worst luck meeting two of the greatest in his two title shots.

Scartissue

Collins2000 · Post by **Collins2000** » 04 Mar 2007, 17:00

scartissue wrote:Dave Sands and George Barnes were top notchers. Sands tragically was killed in an car accident but Barnes was invited to participate in a tourney for the vacant welterweight title after Basilio's abdication, but for some reason would not leave Australia to participate. Truly curious, a chance at the title but won't travel. However, my personal opinion for greatest ever Aussie goes to Hector Thompson. Worst luck meeting two of the greatest in his two title shots.

Scartissue

Paul Ferreri was a great little boxer - he too was unlucky in meeting a great champ who was at the top of his game in Carlos Zarate.

Arbachakov · Post by **Arbachakov** » 04 Mar 2007, 17:20

scartissue wrote:Dave Sands and George Barnes were top notchers. Sands tragically was killed in an car accident but Barnes was invited to participate in a tourney for the vacant welterweight title after Basilio's abdication, but for some reason would not leave Australia to participate. Truly curious, a chance at the title but won't travel. However, my personal opinion for greatest ever Aussie goes to Hector Thompson. Worst luck meeting two of the greatest in his two title shots.

Scartissue

Didn't Thompson break some of Duran's ribs in their fight?.

scartissue · Post by **scartissue** » 05 Mar 2007, 14:10

I didn't hear about the ribs but I did read that Duran's right hand was bandaged after the fight and his left eye was swollen. Seriously, Thompson really didn't deserve a title shot at that time. He hadn't beaten anyone of note on a world class scale. He had nice wins over Jeff White, Joe Tetteh and Manny Santos and held the Commonwealth title but gave a good account of himself regardless. Now, had Duran fought him a year later where he had time to season himself against the likes of Carlos Gimenez, Jimmy Heair and Alfonso Frazer he would have really known he was in a fight.

Scartissue