BoxRec

I'll start with three.

1.Les Darcy. Arguably the best Middleweight in the World at age 20, and dead the following the year.

2.Salvador Sanchez. At age 23 and at 5-8 he was certain to go up a weight class or two.

3.Freddie Steele. Before he suffered his eventual career ending injury against Fred Apostoli he was 122-2-11 and only 25 yrs old.

Great picks so far.

From the old timers, I'll add Luther McCarty.

Stanley Ketchel. Undoubtedly a great MW, but we probably didnt see the best of him as he died at 24

Hector Camacho if only he had a heart.

Roy Jones Jr would have been a top 20 all time if he would have beaten Gerald McClellan, Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank and Dariuz Michaelchewski...Four great champions.

Wilfredo Gomez if he would have beaten Salvador Sanchez

Floyd Mayweather Jr could still do it. A win with Miguel Cotto here and another win with others like Antonio Margarito will put him in the top 20 status.

Kid Gavilan if he could have kept the welter title much longer.

Evander Holyfield if he would have beaten Lennox Lewis CONVINGCINGLY and then retired.

Even though no one questioned by picking Freddie Steele, I decided to give my reasons why I think he could have ended up as one of the 20 Greatest Fighters of All Time.

Freddie Steele had a pro record of 37-1-9 before his 18th birthday. When he was 15 yrs old he demolished veterans who were 9-4-3 and 14-6-3 in 4 and 1 round respectively. He lost his first bout to experienced Tony Portillo, when he was only 17, and then beat Portillo decisively in 2 return bouts.

In 1932, he put Ceferino Garcia (who just missed being voted into the IBHOF) out cold for nearly 5 minutes in the 2nd round, and then 4 minutes later put Garcia away again in the 2nd round. Later that yr, Steele, still only 19, lost his second fight when he dropped a 4 rd decision to Tommy Herman, who he then beat by a clear decision the following month.

After reeling off 12 straight victories, he faced the very experienced Johnny "Bandit" Romero, who would go on to post victories over Lloyd Marshall and Archie Moore. Romero lasted just 2 rounds. Later that yr his win streak was interrupted by a draw with Gorilla Jones, but Steele would win there two return bouts and become the only man in 141 fights to put the iron jawed Jones on the canvas.

In 1935 he destroyed perennial contender Baby Joe Gans (career record 121-25-11) in 3 rds. Later that yr he gave Vince Dundee, who had been World Middleweight champion less than a year earlier, the worst beating of his career with the referee mercifully stopping the bout in the 3rd after Dundee had been down 11 times ! Almost 2 yrs later Dundee gave Billy Conn a very tough battle.

In his remaining bouts, Steele beat Babe Risko for the World title by a wide decision. One of 3 clear decisions he would take from Risko. Destroyed Gus Lesnevich in just 2 rds. Disposed of top contenders Paul Pirrone and Frank Battaglia in 1 and 3 rds respectively, AND then knocked out Ken Overlin in 4 rds. The only man to accomplish that feat since Overlin's 3rd pro bout.

Seamus wrote:Even though no one questioned by picking Freddie Steele, I decided to give my reasons why I think he could have ended up as one of the 20 Greatest Fighters of All Time.

Freddie Steele had a pro record of 37-1-9 before his 18th birthday. When he was 15 yrs old he demolished veterans who were 9-4-3 and 14-6-3 in 4 and 1 round respectively. He lost his first bout to experienced Tony Portillo, when he was only 17, and then beat Portillo decisively in 2 return bouts.

In 1932, he put Ceferino Garcia (who just missed being voted into the IBHOF) out cold for nearly 5 minutes in the 2nd round, and then 4 minutes later put Garcia away again in the 2nd round. Later that yr, Steele, still only 19, lost his second fight when he dropped a 4 rd decision to Tommy Herman, who he then beat by a clear decision the following month.

After reeling off 12 straight victories, he faced the very experienced Johnny "Bandit" Romero, who would go on to post victories over Lloyd Marshall and Archie Moore. Romero lasted just 2 rounds. Later that yr his win streak was interrupted by a draw with Gorilla Jones, but Steele would win there two return bouts and become the only man in 141 fights to put the iron jawed Jones on the canvas.

In 1935 he destroyed perennial contender Baby Joe Gans (career record 121-25-11) in 3 rds. Later that yr he gave Vince Dundee, who had been World Middleweight champion less than a year earlier, the worst beating of his career with the referee mercifully stopping the bout in the 3rd after Dundee had been down 11 times ! Almost 2 yrs later Dundee gave Billy Conn a very tough battle.

In his remaining bouts, Steele beat Babe Risko for the World title by a wide decision. One of 3 clear decisions he would take from Risko. Destroyed Gus Lesnevich in just 2 rds. Disposed of top contenders Paul Pirrone and Frank Battaglia in 1 and 3 rds respectively, AND then knocked out Ken Overlin in 4 rds. The only man to accomplish that feat since Overlin's 3rd pro bout.

Yes, he should probably be in everybody's top ten list, but he isn't. He's scarcely even mentioned now among the greats. Steele was a wonderfully talented fighter and one wonders how far he might have gone as a champion had he not suffered that crippling injury in the Apostoli bout. The fact the deserves to be in the top 20 - but isn't - justifies your pick.

The better pick is most underrated champion. Steele was a true "phenom." Yet nobody mentions him anymore. It's a shame, really, that this great fighter is virtually forgotten even among hard core fans.

i love the respect you guys give Freddie Steele. he was a great warrior from the Northwest. good to hear him getting some recognition

Moe, I note that you are from Seattle. I know that Steele died some years back, but did you ever meet him? Do you know anyone who knew him?

Would you guys say Young Stribling could have been an ATG at say LHW ?

Pancho Villa.
A great little fighter . Died at 24 .

raylawpc wrote:Moe, I note that you are from Seattle. I know that Steele died some years back, but did you ever meet him? Do you know anyone who knew him?

I was in Aberdeen last week and visited Steele's gravesite for the first time. He lived his last years in the Westport area, as many know.

Greg Page
Donald Curry
Marlon Starling.

Charley Burley if he had gotten the opportunities he deserved. Archie Moore if he didn't have to wait so long for a title shot.

well they are all-time greats anyway, but would have been thought of 'quicker' or without much thought,
Jersey Joe Walcott
Lloyd Marshall

Britain's Len Harvey & Jock McAvoy!

Why do you think Len Harvey and Jock McAvoy could have been top 20 p4p all time? Top 20 p4p from Britain sure, but they both got a title shot against John Henry Lewis, and both lost on points.

Meldrick Taylor if he hadn't been to brave for his own good

buster douglas he showed what he could do against tyson