BoxRec

Just thinking about British boxers that were not to world standard but put in a great performance by surpassing there best to test a highly rated boxer who was either world class or world champion. Either losing to them narrowly or beating them. I'm going to start with 2 boxers and their opponent and try to think of more.

Richard Evatt v Junior Jones. Evatt pushed Jones all the way until he ran out of gas in the 11th. Was a great effort from Richie.

Lee Murtagh v Hector Camacho Jr. Murtagh possibly only area level took Camacho the full 8 rounds. Murtagh did win an Irish belt prior.

Back in 1991 Manchester heavyweight journeyman Michael Murray went to Germany for a pay day against Marcus Bott. Murray who said he didn't like boxing and possibly didn't train for the fight beat Bott over 8 rounds.

Kevin Lueshing versus Felix Trinidad (briefly). I remember sitting up late and watching that. 20 years ago. Wow.

Jim McDonnell Vs Azumah Nelson , gave the HoF Nelson a great fight.

Billy Hardy vs Orlando Canizales 1, was unlucky to lose the decision that night.

Matt Macklin
Howard Clarke
Graham Earl

Ovil McKenzie vs Ramirez. No wonder he was called The Upsetter(even though he only got a draw).

Matt Skelton put in a very decent performance against Chagaev

Some good examples, although some of these were European / Fringe World contenders in their own right - although yes certainly considered a level below some of their opposition noted.

Willie Limond did a decent shift vs Morales. What a strange piece of match making that was.

Coventry southpaw Jim Montague, with a record of 14-21-2 (4), made his way to the States in 1978 and stopped former world title challenger Tony Petronelli in five rounds in a huge upset.

Debatable his nationality I guess - but Bentt vs Morrison.

Kevin Finnegan v Marvin Hagler

Dave Radford I think went the distance with an old Hands of stone

Old bones Ian wrote: ↑30 Jul 2019, 16:03 Jim McDonnell Vs Azumah Nelson , gave the HoF Nelson a great fight.

Billy Hardy vs Orlando Canizales 1, was unlucky to lose the decision that night.

Agreed on both

Gavin Rees vs Souleymane M'baye

Autobarn wrote: ↑31 Jul 2019, 14:10

Old bones Ian wrote: ↑30 Jul 2019, 16:03 Jim McDonnell Vs Azumah Nelson , gave the HoF Nelson a great fight.

Billy Hardy vs Orlando Canizales 1, was unlucky to lose the decision that night.

Agreed on both

To be fair Jim was a world class boxer so a bit out of the range of this subject. Jim had fought for a world title prior against Brian Mitchel and was the european champion.

Tony Booth beating then unbeaten Omar Sheika
Billy Walker beating Thad Spencer

I’m probably being rather facetious because I know that Tyson was massively faded, but you could argue that Danny Williams was domestic level because he had never won anything above British/Commonwealth level and it was a great performance...

Neil Swain against Brodie, it was early in His career before he had a long rain as Euro champ and got jobbed for the WBC strap but he gave him one hell of a fight.

Nightmare Roy wrote: ↑31 Jul 2019, 16:44 Neil Swain against Brodie, it was early in His career before he had a long rain as Euro champ and got jobbed for the WBC strap but he gave him one hell of a fight.

One of the best fights I've seen, Swain is a nutter, but was such a handful when only half in shape, I've been told he has had a lot of probs after boxing

Coco wrote: ↑31 Jul 2019, 18:46

Nightmare Roy wrote: ↑31 Jul 2019, 16:44 Neil Swain against Brodie, it was early in His career before he had a long rain as Euro champ and got jobbed for the WBC strap but he gave him one hell of a fight.

One of the best fights I've seen, Swain is a nutter, but was such a handful when only half in shape, I've been told he has had a lot of probs after boxing

Damn that’s a shame, think he knocked it on the head after that fight, it was a cracker

Old bones Ian wrote: ↑30 Jul 2019, 16:03 Jim McDonnell Vs Azumah Nelson , gave the HoF Nelson a great fight.

Billy Hardy vs Orlando Canizales 1, was unlucky to lose the decision that night.

Hardy would have got the decision if he hadn't gone down in round three from a body shot (his old weakness). As for McDonnell, his corner's decision to send him out for the last round was horribly callous and ruined him.

I was there. He won in my eyes.

I thought he won, too, but the knockdown proved sickeningly crucial on the scorecards. Britain's Dave Parris had it 116-113 for Billy, an American judge scored 115-113 for Canizales and an Italian judge also had Canizales ahead at 115-114, so take away the 10-8 round and Hardy is champion. Canizales picked up a heavy cold in the country and looked a bit of a goalkeeper on the night in the first defence of his IBF title. He went on to make 15.

It could be argued that despite his talent, Kirkland Laing was domestic/Euro level. So beating Duran has to be up there.

bennie wrote: ↑07 Aug 2019, 06:17 I thought he won, too, but the knockdown proved sickeningly crucial on the scorecards. Britain's Dave Parris had it 116-113 for Billy, an American judge scored 115-113 for Canizales and an Italian judge also had Canizales ahead at 115-114, so take away the 10-8 round and Hardy is champion. Canizales picked up a heavy cold in the country and looked a bit of a goalkeeper on the night in the first defence of his IBF title. He went on to make 15.

Actually, on reflection, I think it's a draw without the knockdown. Billy still wouldn't have won.