Did any challenger take on more iron than chuvalo?

[mcvey]

George Chuvalo early in his career was matched with seasoned fighters like
Bob Baker
Julio Mederos
Howard King x2
Robert Cleroux x3
Yvonne Durelle
He also tangled with .
Alex Miteff
Mike Dejohn
Willie Besmanoff
Joe Erskine
Tony Alongi
Then later,
Zora Folley
Floyd Patterson
Buster Mathis
Joe Frazier
Jerry Quarry
Manuel Ramos
Ernie Terrell
Oscar Bonavena
and Muhammad Ali x2

Any challenger meet a stronger field?

[Unforgiven]

You left off Foreman !

...... yes, Chuvalo fought a menacing bunch of heavyweights, throughout his career. Lost to the best more often than not, but always put up a real fight.

Interesting, was lined up as Liston's next likely opponent when Liston died.

[Doc McCoy]

You left off Doug Jones. . . . great fight!

[Unforgiven]

James "Quick" Tillis challenged Mike Weaver for the WBA heavyweight title in 1981, and went on to fight a pretty strong field of heavyweights throughout the decade. Admittedly losing to almost every good fighter he faced, but sometimes (when in shape and not just there for the payday) putting on a good fight.

Mike Weaver
Earnie Shavers
Pinklon Thomas
Greg Page
Tim Witherspoon
Carl Williams
Gerrie Coetzee
Tyrell Biggs
Mike Tyson
Frank Bruno
Evander Holyfield
Gary Mason
Tommy Morrison
Alexander Zolkin

There are some big punchers in the above list, he also fought :
Marvis Frazier
Joe Bugner
Adilson Rodrigues

and dangerous young prospects nearly-contenders :
Mike Williams
Johnny DuPlooy

..... but again, he lost to all those guys, except Shavers.

[mr. magoo]

I wouldn't exactly call the journeyman Everett " big foot " Martin a challenger in the sense that George Chuvalo was. However, he did have one of the toughest lists of opponents that I've ever seen.


- George Foreman
- Bert Cooper
- Johnny Duplooy
- Dwight Qawi
- Gery Mason
- Pierre Coetzer
- Francesco Damiani
- Boncrusher Smith
- Michael Moorer
- Riddick Bowe
- Tim Witherspoon
- Tony Tucker
- Larry Holmes
- Herbie Hide
- Tony Tubbs
- Wladimir Klitscko
- Lamon Brewster
- Joe Hipp
- Timo Hoffman
- Ruslan Chagaev

[Manassa]

Willie Joyce:

Henry Armstrong (x4)
Ike Williams (x4)
Chalky Wright (x2)
Lew Jenkins (x3)
Beau Jack

All five are Hall of Famers renowned for their punishing attack. What's remarkable is that Joyce was never stopped.

[mcvey]

James "Quick" Tillis challenged Mike Weaver for the WBA heavyweight title in 1981, and went on to fight a pretty strong field of heavyweights throughout the decade. Admittedly losing to almost every good fighter he faced, but sometimes (when in shape and not just there for the payday) putting on a good fight.

Mike Weaver
Earnie Shavers
Pinklon Thomas
Greg Page
Tim Witherspoon
Carl Williams
Gerrie Coetzee
Tyrell Biggs
Mike Tyson
Frank Bruno
Evander Holyfield
Gary Mason
Tommy Morrison
Alexander Zolkin

There are some big punchers in the above list, he also fought :
Marvis Frazier
Joe Bugner
Adilson Rodrigues

and dangerous young prospects nearly-contenders :
Mike Williams
Johnny DuPlooy

..... but again, he lost to all those guys, except Shavers.

Pretty impressive.:good

[mcvey]

Willie Joyce:

Henry Armstrong (x4)
Ike Williams (x4)
Chalky Wright (x2)
Lew Jenkins (x3)
Beau Jack

All five are Hall of Famers renowned for their punishing attack. What's remarkable is that Joyce was never stopped.

How could you even contemplate taking on Williams and Armstrong 4 times each ?
Wright and Jenkins had serious power as well and Jack just wore you out,Joyce must have been a tough cookie!