Anyone know if this guy was a tanker or was he really just this bad?

[APerno]

Donnie Penelton

http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/4788

[hhaehre]

Donnie Penelton

http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/4788

Probably that bad when the Boxrec photo is of him taking a count.

[JohnMcMinn]

He’s a professional opponent. He’s not expected to win.

Another good example is Reggie Strickland. Check out his record.

[BoxBuzz]

Question is, is he somewhat proficient at his sport? Is he a danger to himself? Or would he be able to administer a pretty good whuppin' on someone who called him out in a road rage incident?

When you see this many losses, you ask yourself how someone like this keeps their license. And is there any legitimacy to his pursuit of this profession?

As I recall Reggie could take a beating right? I mean he didn't fold easy....so he appeared to many of us to be somewhat legit in terms of skills. Still.....the odds of losing so many just seem so flukish, IF there is nothing fishy going on. I notice this fella appeared to be somewhat durable and has quite a few distance fights.

[JohnMcMinn]

Those are valid questions. These guys are skilled enough to go this distance in most fights and have relatively few KO losses (especially Reggie Strickland - 276 losses with only 26 KO losses). As far as keeping a license, they mostly fought in states like Indiana, Iowa, and Tennessee that have very lax standards. I think there is some legitimacy in this kind of profession. Young fighters need opponents and these guys will give them some rounds but usually aren't dangerous enough to beat them. Of course the beating these guys will take over the course of 200 or 300 fights can't be good for their health...

[APerno]

I don't like referring to these guys as "opponents." It is one thing to use the term "opponent" when we talk about a fighter like Jessie Ferguson, a guy who will never become champion but has mastered the game. But when a guy loses that often to everyone it brings the whole game into question. At some point the term opponent no longer applies. I am not sure what is the proper term for guys like this, but they are something other than a legit opponent.

I use to attend the local fights in Hialeah back int he 80s and 90s. The local promoter would pit his guys against 'opponents' who never had a chance and we would have an under card filled with one round KOs. Then one night the local promoter matched his guys against another fight club up in Palm Beach (about two hours north) and we had a night of great fights, with the two clubs drawing about even win/lose wise.

There is no doubt that guys like these two, serve a purpose for promoters looking to build records . . . but maybe we need some kind of a league that forces the hand of the match-makers.

I was kinda hoping someone would say this guy was a tanker, but as someone above pointed out, there are too many UDs on this guys record; it is horrible to think, but did this guy really think that one day it would all come together for him and he would suddenly become a champion, or was it that getting beat night after night is still better than a minimum wage job? Either way it all looks so sad; it would be better if he was tanking.

[APerno]

Donnie Penelton

http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/4788

Probably that bad when the Boxrec photo is of him taking a count.

Yea that caught my attention as well. Sad! -- You would think the guy would offer up another photo of himself.

[JohnMcMinn]

I don't like referring to these guys as "opponents." It is one thing to use the term "opponent" when we talk about a fighter like Jessie Ferguson, a guy who will never become champion but has mastered the game. But when a guy loses that often to everyone it brings the whole game into question. At some point the term opponent no longer applies. I am not sure what is the proper term for guys like this, but they are something other than a legit opponent.

I use to attend the local fights in Hialeah back int he 80s and 90s. The local promoter would pit his guys against 'opponents' who never had a chance and we would have an under card filled with one round KOs. Then one night the local promoter matched his guys against another fight club up in Palm Beach (about two hours north) and we had a night of great fights, with the two clubs drawing about even win/lose wise.

There is no doubt that guys like these two, serve a purpose for promoters looking to build records . . . but maybe we need some kind of a league that forces the hand of the match-makers.

I was kinda hoping someone would say this guy was a tanker, but as someone above pointed out, there are too many UDs on this guys record; it is horrible to think, but did this guy really think that one day it would all come together for him and he would suddenly become a champion, or was it that getting beat night after night is still better than a minimum wage job? Either way it all looks so sad; it would be better if he was tanking.

I only use the term "opponent" because that's the term older promoters and fighters have always used when discussing guys like this with me. I really don't think Penelton or any of those guys had any illusions that it would ever "come together for him." I think it was more, as you suggested, that 12 minutes in the ring for a four round fight probably beat working a minimum wage job. There's a whole industry of guys like this who travelled the Midwest and South in the 70s-90s. Guys like SImmie Black, Wayne Grant, Billy Evans, Frankie Hines, and many others. I know I'm probably not telling you anything you don't already know, but take a look at some of those guys if you're not already familiar with them.

[skanksta]

Pah !
We've got loads better (worse) than that in the UK.

He's not even a Peter Buckley, let alone a Kristian Laight.
These guys are heroes - lifeblood of the sport.

[Tony1244]

How bad are you if your only fight is a KO by 1 to this guy?

[oogiebe]

How bad are you if your only fight is a KO by 1 to this guy?

[oogiebe]

Pah !
We've got loads better (worse) than that in the UK.

He's not even a Peter Buckley, let alone a Kristian Laight.
These guys are heroes - lifeblood of the sport.

They really are the unsung heroes. More amazing than Buckley's 256 losses is that only 10 were by KO!

[skanksta]

Pah !
We've got loads better (worse) than that in the UK.

He's not even a Peter Buckley, let alone a Kristian Laight.
These guys are heroes - lifeblood of the sport.

They really are the unsung heroes. More amazing than Buckley's 256 losses is that only 10 were by KO!

You have to be very good to be that bad

[oogiebe]

Pah !
We've got loads better (worse) than that in the UK.

He's not even a Peter Buckley, let alone a Kristian Laight.
These guys are heroes - lifeblood of the sport.

They really are the unsung heroes. More amazing than Buckley's 256 losses is that only 10 were by KO!

You have to be very good to be that bad

right!?

[oogiebe]

Donnie Penelton

http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/4788

Probably that bad when the Boxrec photo is of him taking a count.

Nice to know BoxRec has a sense of humor! LMAO!

[APerno]

He’s a professional opponent. He’s not expected to win.

Another good example is Reggie Strickland. Check out his record.

Did you notice that this guy beat Reggie Strickland, twice!

Match maker must have had a sense of humor.

[APerno]

How bad are you if your only fight is a KO by 1 to this guy?

He also has a win over the immortal Eric Crumble.

[Tony1244]

How bad are you if your only fight is a KO by 1 to this guy?

He also has a win over the immortal Eric Crumble.

0-31(31)-0 Wow. How did he do that?

[oogiebe]

How bad are you if your only fight is a KO by 1 to this guy?

He also has a win over the immortal Eric Crumble.

0-31(31)-0 Wow. How did he do that?

I imagine a lot of denial.

[Tony1244]

He also has a win over the immortal Eric Crumble.

0-31(31)-0 Wow. How did he do that?

I imagine a lot of denial.

You'd think he'd learn some survival tactics to go the distance.

[oogiebe]

0-31(31)-0 Wow. How did he do that?

I imagine a lot of denial.

You'd think he'd learn some survival tactics to go the distance.

Seriously 31 L/31 KO's. LOL!

[APerno]

I think we talked about this before, but I am of the mind that Eric Crumble may have been several different fighters. The fluctuation of his weight does not make sense.

[Abradolf Lincler]

How bad are you if your only fight is a KO by 1 to this guy?

He also has a win over the immortal Eric Crumble.

And 2 wins over Strickland himself.

[JohnMcMinn]

Did you notice that this guy beat Reggie Strickland, twice!

Match maker must have had a sense of humor.

I did notice that! I'd love to see video of those epic battles.

[Caractacus]

it sounds like they may have been "Glutton's for Punishment",