Randolph Turpin.
Posted: 30 May 2005, 14:08
What a great fighter he was, I do think he is often overlooked when people argue the Greatest British fighter. For me, Jimmy Wilde, Lennox Lewis, Ted Kid Lewis, Bob Fitzisimmons and Jack Kid Berg are the top 5. However, I think that number 6 spot is up for grabs and when we have debates here, often there are other fighters who get a mention the likes of Benn, Buchannon, Eubank, Graham - but less often mentioned are the likes of Turpin and Alan Minter (as we debated not so long ago).
Anyway, the point of this thread isn't just to say perhaps we should pay Turpin more of a tribute its just to ask the better boxing historians what do you think Turpin would have done vs some of Robinson's foes. I was looking at his boxrec record in some detail and its seems like Turpin was one of the most ducked fighters of all time. I mean, such a long reigning European champion and he only had 2 cracks of a world title (one of which he took).
I have seen the Turpin vs Robinson's fights and I have little doubt that he more than held his own for large portions of the rematch, when Robinson was motivated and desperate to win. It was a super shot that ended matters.
What would Turpin have done vs the likes of La Motta, Graciano, Fullmer etc.
Anyway, the point of this thread isn't just to say perhaps we should pay Turpin more of a tribute its just to ask the better boxing historians what do you think Turpin would have done vs some of Robinson's foes. I was looking at his boxrec record in some detail and its seems like Turpin was one of the most ducked fighters of all time. I mean, such a long reigning European champion and he only had 2 cracks of a world title (one of which he took).
I have seen the Turpin vs Robinson's fights and I have little doubt that he more than held his own for large portions of the rematch, when Robinson was motivated and desperate to win. It was a super shot that ended matters.
What would Turpin have done vs the likes of La Motta, Graciano, Fullmer etc.