BoxRec

Anyone know who the oldest living men are (oldest four) who once fought for(but didnt win it) the undisputed Heavyweight crown?

Do you mean only those who didn't win the title before or since, or any unsuccessful challenges?

If the latter, then Holyfield, Holmes, Foreman and Moore.

no I mean,t men who fought for the title but lost.
Are any of the men who fought Floyd Patterson for the title still around?

Great question.
I'm not sure if Pete Rademacher or Roy Harris are still alive, but if they are then Rademacher is 81 and Harris is 76.
Definitely still living and aged over 70 are:
Brian London 75
Tom McNeeley 72
George Chuvalo 72
Henry Cooper 75
Doug Jones 72
Karl Mildenberger 72
Bob Foster 71

Pete Rademacher,born August.20.1928
He is stilll around.
Doghouseboxing interviewed Pete Rademacher in 2008.

I think all of the fighters who fought Joe Louis have passed away.
However who is still around who may have been in an exhibition bout with Joe Louis?
his last official exhibition had been
December.16.1951
against
Cpl.Buford J. DeCordova
at Taipei,Formosa(Taiwan) Exh.3

source MY LIFE by Joe Louis(1978)

There are still people around today who had met Jack Johnson in person,
back in the 1940's when they were kids ,usually when he had his yearly engagements at Hubert's Museum on 42nd street in NYC.

Brutu wrote:I think all of the fighters who fought Joe Louis have passed away

Jimmy Bivins is still alive - he is 90 years old.
To answer your original question - now that I know Rademacher and Harris are still with us, the four oldest surviving heavyweight title challengers are:
Pete Rademacher (81)
Roy Harris (76)
Brian London (75)
Henry Cooper (75)

This is a more difficult question to answer,
but who are the oldest living fighters who were
once ranked in the top ten,
but who never got a title shot for one reason or another?
I wonder if any of them were interviewed today what stories they may perhaps really unload and tell of that era,
now that most are gone,and probably avoid lawsuits,like when Barbara Walters said,when she published
her autobiography last year.She said she had to wait till about everyone she knew passed away.

Roland LaStarza passed away last September,
Who is still around that once fought Rocky Marciano before he became Heavyweight Champion?

Brutu wrote:Roland LaStarza passed away last September,
Who is still around that once fought Rocky Marciano before he became Heavyweight Champion?

Tiger Ted Lowry is still around, I believe.

What about Elmer Ray?

Also who is still around who had fought Floyd Patterson or Sonny Liston prior to them becoming HW Champs?
(other then Roy Harris in Liston's case of course)

Saurfang wrote:What about Elmer Ray?

His whereabouts got lost along the way, so it's hard to tell - it's unlikely though.

although i cannot find an obituary, i think HARRY HAFT (born 1925) passed away only a year or so ago. HAFT fought rocky and was KO'D in the 3rd. HAFT'S story is worth knowing though.