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Guys Who Could Have Been World Champion...
Posted: 15 Dec 2009, 18:07
by HomicideHenry
But unfortunately never did because of injury, ring death, politics, etc.
I nominate Laszlo Papp, three time Olympic gold medalist and European MW champion, as being the most likely man to have been champion had the Hungarian government not got involved in his career and made him call it quits.
Re: Guys Who Could Have Been World Champion...
Posted: 16 Dec 2009, 14:35
by Controversial
Charley Burley
Re: Guys Who Could Have Been World Champion...
Posted: 16 Dec 2009, 14:59
by Expug
"Gypsy Joe"Harris.
Caught hell from Emile Griffith but could have definitely won a title somewhere along the line except he was blind in one eye and had his license yanked.
Tyrone Everrett. Notorious woodsman shot by one of his harem.
Re: Guys Who Could Have Been World Champion...
Posted: 16 Dec 2009, 15:14
by raylawpc
Jimmy Bivins almost certainly would have become light-heavyweight champion had he gotten a shot. Blame the war and racial prejudice.
Re: Guys Who Could Have Been World Champion...
Posted: 16 Dec 2009, 15:17
by Idisagree
I nominate Welterweight Billy Graham.

Re: Guys Who Could Have Been World Champion...
Posted: 16 Dec 2009, 15:19
by SaadOffTheDeck
Besides the obvious guys like Holman, Sam & harry. I'd say Shavers would have collected a belt in most other era's. He had stamina and chin problems so I wouldn't expect a long reign unless it was today. Vitali's performance last week was among the most pathetic I've ever witnessed.
Re: Guys Who Could Have Been World Champion...
Posted: 16 Dec 2009, 15:22
by HomicideHenry
Expug wrote: "Gypsy Joe"Harris.
Caught hell from Emile Griffith but could have definitely won a title somewhere along the line except he was blind in one eye and had his license yanked.
Tyrone Everrett. Notorious woodsman shot by one of his harem.
Expug I got to give it to you, you know your fighters!

Re: Guys Who Could Have Been World Champion...
Posted: 16 Dec 2009, 17:06
by boxing_fanatic_87
George Godfrey who was relentlessly ducked by Jack Dempsey because Dempsey felt Black fighters had no right to challenge for the Heavyweight title. That's code for. That black guy would've kicked my a$$.
Re: Guys Who Could Have Been World Champion...
Posted: 16 Dec 2009, 17:09
by HomicideHenry
boxing_fanatic_87 wrote:George Godfrey who was relentlessly ducked by Jack Dempsey because Dempsey felt Black fighters had no right to challenge for the Heavyweight title. That's code for. That black guy would've kicked my a$$.
Actually Dempsey ducked Wills, and it was Tunney who ducked Godfrey.
Re: Guys Who Could Have Been World Champion...
Posted: 16 Dec 2009, 17:32
by Brutu
Joe Choynski for sure.
Re: Guys Who Could Have Been World Champion...
Posted: 16 Dec 2009, 21:25
by Goodnight, Irene
boxing_fanatic_87 wrote:George Godfrey who was relentlessly ducked by Jack Dempsey because Dempsey felt Black fighters had no right to challenge for the Heavyweight title. That's code for. That black guy would've kicked my a$$.
LOL.
Re: Guys Who Could Have Been World Champion...
Posted: 20 Dec 2009, 03:04
by granberry
Expug wrote:"Gypsy Joe"Harris.
Caught hell from Emile Griffith but could have definitely won a title somewhere along the line except he was blind in one eye and had his license yanked.
Tyrone Everrett. Notorious woodsman shot by one of his harem.
Tyrone Everett was a mob hit.
They covered it up (not too well) by presenting the lady as having done it.
That STUNK to high heavens.
I talked to him a long while the day before his last fight---about a week earlier.
Everyone in Philly knew that was phony story about the female killing him.
Re: Guys Who Could Have Been World Champion...
Posted: 20 Dec 2009, 03:14
by Brutu
Luther McCarty(or Luther McCarthy)of Driftwood Creek Nebraska fame.
Re: Guys Who Could Have Been World Champion...
Posted: 20 Dec 2009, 19:27
by Brutu
Brutu wrote:Luther McCarty(or Luther McCarthy)of Driftwood Creek Nebraska fame.
Actually I meant to post that in the heavyweights that didnt make it thread.
Re: Guys Who Could Have Been World Champion...
Posted: 20 Dec 2009, 20:21
by HomicideHenry
Brutu wrote:Brutu wrote:Luther McCarty(or Luther McCarthy)of Driftwood Creek Nebraska fame.
Actually I meant to post that in the heavyweights that didnt make it thread.
McCarty made it all right, he was the 'White Heavyweight Champion of The World' during the Jack Johnson era, and certainly had he not been killed he probably would have met and defeated Johnson in Cuba, not Jess Willard. McCarty was a native of both Piqua and Sidney, OH so I know much about his career since he was a resident of my home town. He was easily the best of the white heavyweights, and he managed all that in less than two years as a pro. He was only 20-22 when he died. What might have been...
Re: Guys Who Could Have Been World Champion...
Posted: 20 Dec 2009, 20:30
by Brutu
Is Luther McCarty buried there?
I think once he became well known his manager tried to make up another past for him,
That he grew up son of a rancher
near Ogalala I believe.
Re: Guys Who Could Have Been World Champion...
Posted: 20 Dec 2009, 22:11
by HomicideHenry
He is burried in the Forrest Hill Cemetary in Piqua, Ohio about 20 miles from where I live. His father was a snake oil medicine man, his mother was some sort of performer, and McCarty's sister was known as the Woman's Bag Punching Champion (whatever that means). Its ironic McCarty won the White Heavyweight title, considering he was part Native American (his father). I reckon his mother's Irish blood was enough to fit the bill.
Re: Guys Who Could Have Been World Champion...
Posted: 22 Dec 2009, 05:36
by oliverfennell
I forgot his name, but there was a very good young talent boxing out of Kronk in the early 90s who retired undefeated due to religious reasons. Can anybody remember who I mean? There was quite a buzz about him and disappointment that the sport lost him.
Re: Guys Who Could Have Been World Champion...
Posted: 22 Dec 2009, 18:32
by Brutu
Did any local geneologists actually trace his background?
I had heard that his father may have been born in Italy.
Re: Guys Who Could Have Been World Champion...
Posted: 22 Dec 2009, 19:20
by Controversial
oliverfennell wrote:I forgot his name, but there was a very good young talent boxing out of Kronk in the early 90s who retired undefeated due to religious reasons. Can anybody remember who I mean? There was quite a buzz about him and disappointment that the sport lost him.
Jemal Hinton, he was a super-bantamweight and retired with a 22-0 (17) record. I believe he turned to Islam and gave up fighting on religious grounds.
Re: Guys Who Could Have Been World Champion...
Posted: 23 Dec 2009, 00:19
by oliverfennell
Controversial wrote:oliverfennell wrote:I forgot his name, but there was a very good young talent boxing out of Kronk in the early 90s who retired undefeated due to religious reasons. Can anybody remember who I mean? There was quite a buzz about him and disappointment that the sport lost him.
Jemal Hinton, he was a super-bantamweight and retired with a 22-0 (17) record. I believe he turned to Islam and gave up fighting on religious grounds.
That's the one, thanks! Had a real mental block trying to remember his name yesterday.
What's the deal with Islam vs boxing, though? Well, I know as with all religions there are different interpretations, but Ali, Naz, Khan, Tyson, Danny Williams to name just a few are Muslim.
Re: Guys Who Could Have Been World Champion...
Posted: 23 Dec 2009, 00:39
by Brutu
Gypsies(Romany)people where are probably most persucuted people,sometimes in other countries they tried to pass themselves off
as another ethnic group,even Native Americans.I wonder.,could be wrong.
Re: Guys Who Could Have Been World Champion...
Posted: 23 Dec 2009, 00:42
by Brutu
My grandmother's parents were from Sidney Ohio too.
She had Native American blood.
Supposedly we are related to Roy Rodgers(real last name Leonard Slye).
Re: Guys Who Could Have Been World Champion...
Posted: 23 Dec 2009, 20:58
by raylawpc
I don't think he ever would have been champ, but Terry Malloy coulda been a contender.
Re: Guys Who Could Have Been World Champion...
Posted: 26 Dec 2009, 01:06
by Nile4000
Mitch Green
Howard Davis Jr.
Bernard Taylor
Dwight Davidson
Johnny Verderosa