BoxRec

If you look through the records of the champs and contenders of that era you will consistently find a few guys that a lot of them fought, usually in the begining or middle of their careers. These were the tough Journeymen who usually ended up at about the 500 mark for their career. They usually gave a decent account of themselves as far as showing up and giving it all. They ended up losing lopsoded decisions or more than often getting stopped but they sometimes caught the favorite slipping and pulled off an upset.

Here are some of my favorites, not in any particular order.

Leroy Caldwell (1969-1985) final record 27-31-6 with only 6 kos. He fought 13 "name fighters" Cleveland Williams, Ron Lyle, George Foreman, Greg Peralta, Joe Bugner, Oscar Bonavena, Trevor Berbick, Pinklon Thomas, Gerrie Coetzee, John Tate, David Bey, Pierre Coetzer and Henry Tillman. He drew Against Berbick over 10 in 1979.

Levi Billups (1986-1999) final Record 21-22-1 (12 kayos) His 14 "name" opponents included Orlin Norris, Micheal Moorer, Lennox Lewis, Buster Mathis Jr, Corrie Sanders, Jeremy Williams, Chris Byrd, Larry Donald, Tim Witherspoon,Vitali Klitschko, Kirk Johynson, Derrick Jefferson, Danell Nichollson and Joe Bugner. He took Lennox Lewis and 5 of those other guys the full distance.

Bobby Crabtree (1982-2002) 56-35-1 (51 ko's) the "Fighting Hillbilly" took on 13 name opponents James Tillis, Tony Tucker, Francesco Diomiani, Renaldo Snipes, James Pritchard, George Foreman, Mike Weaver. Micheal Dokes, Tryell Biggs. Trevor Berbick, Micheal Moorer, Alex Garcia, and Andrew Golota Every single one of them knocked him out, but Bobby came to KO ore get Kayo'ed. Only 10 of his 92 fights went the distance.

David Jaco (1981-19840 24-25-1 (19 Ko's) This lanky slugger took on 17 name fighters, upsetting Donovon "Razor Ruddock" and losing to Carl Williams, Tony Tucker, Pierre Coetzer, Mike Tyson, Buster Douglas, Elijah Tillery, Johnny Du Ploy, Jose Ribalta. Mike Weaver,Oliver McCall. George Foreman, Tommy Morrison, David Bey, Alexander Zolkin, Bert Cooper and Adison Rodrigues

Big Foot Martin

Canada's iron man Ken Lakusta has been mentioned on a recent thread....seemed to be someone who faced the best, wasn't afraid of them and sometimes got a result into the bargain as well.

Sweden's huge Anders 'Tiny' Ekuland started out heavily favoured and was the European champion....but he was also very vulnerable and took some proper wallopings down the line and sort of ended-up being a 'name' bona fide contenders needed on their resume.

I remember Ekuland fairly well...even though I was a kid at the time...he did not always seem to be in love with the business and had to do his fighting on the road . His story does not end well, I think he died early and in unhappy/lonely circumstances.

Spoon's KO of Eklund was one of the most devastating I've seen.

George 'Scrapiron' Johnson and Lou Bailey

Tom "Roughhouse" Fischer, the toughest and most charismatic Irish bar bouncing, beer chugging, Christmas tree cutting heavyweight in history. Good enough to go the distance with a rising Quick Tillis and give him a few scares when he was in his prime, so probably a good notch or two better than a "tomato can".

I'd also nominate "Sailor" Ibar Arrington, who remains an interesting and not-wrote-enough-about figure from the 70's and the then thriving Seattle boxing scene.

mercman wrote:

Dart340 wrote:Tom "Roughhouse" Fischer, the toughest and most charismatic Irish bar bouncing, beer chugging, Christmas tree cutting heavyweight in history. Good enough to go the distance with a rising Quick Tillis and give him a few scares when he was in his prime, so probably a good notch or two better than a "tomato can".

I'd also nominate "Sailor" Ibar Arrington, who remains an interesting and not-wrote-enough-about figure from the 70's and the then thriving Seattle boxing scene.

Arrington sparked John L Gardner in one round, when Gardner was regarded as a up-and-coming fighter.

Always a crazy footnote with that fight was the fact that the bout - which took place in England - had a very staunch British ref (can't think of who it was right off) who took umbrage with Arrington's habit of slapping with an open glove. The ref stops it, warns Arrington about slapping and Arrington then closes his fist for one of the few times in his career and promptly knocks out Gardner. It was hysterical at the time, with every magazine commenting on it. I recall even Gil Clancy commenting on it during a telecast.

Floyd jumbo cummings.

Floyd jumbo cummings.

Good shout....learned his boxing in a nasty US slammer for the seriously naughty boys and was paroled early due to his dedication to a new career?
Think he was matched hard from the get-go - as he needed to earn - and probably the only lad to make a prime Bruno look short on muscles.

Bruno said he hit like a right SOB.

No list would be complete without Tim Tomashek. Google his name and you will see the word "jeepers" comes up!

Tim Tomashek totally forgot he fought Morrison for the title! What about, Lorenzo Canady, 18 fights, 5 world champs fought!

Jimmy Thunder

Andy Gerrard was a tough journeyman here, even in his last fight against Lennox Lewis he took some big shots before being rescued in the 4th.

Mike Bruce.
Between 1965-71, Bruce lost to Joe Frazier (Smokin' Joe took an 8-count in what was his 2nd pro fight); Buster Mathis; Cleveland Williams; Chuck Wepner (twice); Jeff Merritt and George Chuvalo. His KO loss to Chuvalo on Aug. 15, 1970 at Sarajevo soccer stadium in what was then Yugoslavia marked the first time North American professional athletes from any sport were invited to compete for money behind the Iron Curtain. Chuvalo, whose parents hailed from a nearby village, took the fight just two weeks after being stopped by George Foreman in New York.