Greatest Boxers to NEVER win a World Title

[Doc McCoy]

Apologies if this has been done to death before - haven't been around these parts for a while.

2 names spring immediately to mind :

Yaqui Lopez & Bennie Briscoe.

I'm interested more in WHY you think they never managed to take that all important step to winning a title.

In Yaqui's case I think the level of 175lbs in his era was phenomenal and in another time Yaqui would more than likely have won the crown though he can be a little one-dimensional at times.

Bennie seemed to run hot & cold as well as suffering from class opposition primarily in Monzon & then Valdez. If he'd been a little more consistent then I think the "Bad One" could have won the title after Monzon vacated the scene. I certainly see Bennie winning it after Hagler's reign though a fanatasy match-up with Mike Mccallum would be a good 'un.

Anyway, would be interested in anyone's suggestions on this.

[Stonehands89]

Sam, Sam, Joe, & Charley. To begin with.

[Russell]

Briscoe wasn't so much hot and cold as taking fights on short notice to make other fighters look good, often in their home towns.

Plus he was a long running member of the Philly circuit. Marvin Hagler lost to more then one of them over the course of his career (Lost to boths Watts and Monroe. Drew with Seales).

I really don't think any fighter would come out of such a talented pool of fighters unbeaten if he had to fight them all. And Briscoe did.

Not to mention fighting greats like Monzon twice, Valdez three times... Of course his record isn't going to be perfect.

[la-califa]

James Scott, He beat many top contenders who later themselves recieved title shots.
Armando Muniz, Tough competitor, whom recieved numerous title opportunities & should have recieved the decision against the great Napoles.

[rekcutnevets]

Harry Wills has yet to be mentioned.

Ken Norton and Jerry Quarry are both well accomplished fighters from the 1970's, when you had 2 titles begin floating around. I bet if they were in their primes a decade or so later, they would have snagged a title in the ring. Norton was a champion, he just did not "win" his title. You can argue that he earned or deserved it, but he did not fight a specific fighter in a specific contest and win it.

It will be hard to think of any more modern fighters, because of the number of titlists we have running around.

[smiffy]

Harry Wills has yet to be mentioned.

Ken Norton and Jerry Quarry are both well accomplished fighters from the 1970's, when you had 2 titles begin floating around. I bet if they were in their primes a decade or so later, they would have snagged a title in the ring. Norton was a champion, he just did not "win" his title. You can argue that he earned or deserved it, but he did not fight a specific fighter in a specific contest and win it.

It will be hard to think of any more modern fighters, because of the number of titlists we have running around.


in the modern day it has to be herol graham, that guy was blessed with a load of talent but never quite realised his potential.

[Russell]

in the modern day it has to be herol graham, that guy was blessed with a load of talent but never quite realised his potential.

Well, you could argue he picked up versions of alphabet titles himself.

Then again, so did Crawford Ashely. They certainly love giving their fighters chances over there.

[smiffy]

Well, you could argue he picked up versions of alphabet titles himself.

Then again, so did Crawford Ashely. They certainly love giving their fighters chances over there.


what world titles did graham win ?

[jaffay]

Andrew Golota - he's about to fight for the fifth time for the belt on 20 Dec. But first he needs to handle Ray Austin in China

[Russell]

what world titles did graham win ?

He won regional belts in the UK.

Not exactly world titles, but he was granted chances on end to win one over there

[AlFrancis]

Alan Rudkin had to fight 3 great bantam champs all at their peak when there was only 1 champ. Come close against Harada and Rose in Tokyo and Melbourne and went out on his shield against Olivares in Los Angeles.

[natonic]

I'll say Ruben Castillo based on the quality of opposition he faced when he got shots: Salvador Sanchez, Alexis Arguello, Julio Cesar Chavez. He also lost a title fight to Juan Laporte.

[smiffy]

He won regional belts in the UK.

Not exactly world titles, but he was granted chances on end to win one over there


rightly so as well. he very nearly had julian jackson out of the fight until jackson did what he does best, one punch ko. he lost a split decision to the great mike mcallum and gave up boxing after his thrid failed attempt.
only one of these fights was in the uk, the mcallum fight

[PowerPuncher]

Charles Burley
Harry Wills
Sam Langford
Lloyd Marshall
Holman Williams
Kid Chocolate
Bivins
David Tua
Herol Graham

BTW Norton briefly held the WBC

[Russell]

No, I'm talking about the WBC International SMW title Graham won and defended in the UK.

He won the BBBofC British middleweight title too and defended it a few times.

But real titles? Yeah. Nothin'.

[PowerPuncher]

No, I'm talking about the WBC International SMW title Graham won and defended in the UK.

He won the BBBofC British middleweight title too and defended it a few times.

But real titles? Yeah. Nothin'.

'International' isnt a world title, it means nothing, it doesnt even mean top10 or top20 at the weight it just means an official WBC internationally ranked fight and is working upto mandatory status

[Bad_Intentions]

Charles Burley
Harry Wills
Sam Langford
Lloyd Marshall
Holman Williams
Kid Chocolate
Bivins
David Tua
Herol Graham

BTW Norton briefly held the WBC

Kid Chocolate won a world title.

[Bad_Intentions]

Sam Langford
Joe Jeanette
Peter Jackson
Herol Graham

the ones i only know.

[Doc McCoy]

Armando Muniz was a good example. Dead unlucky against Napoles first time around. One of my favourite "value-for-money" fighters was Armando - watched his war against Zovek Barajas again the other day. Fantastic fight.

[kickbxn5]

Jimmy Young

[Bad_Intentions]

1 more, Jerry Quarry.

[Mantequilla]

No, I'm talking about the WBC International SMW title Graham won and defended in the UK.

He won the BBBofC British middleweight title too and defended it a few times.

But real titles? Yeah. Nothin'.


Neither the British title nor the european titles that Graham held were alphabet titles.

[AlFrancis]

No, I'm talking about the WBC International SMW title Graham won and defended in the UK.

He won the BBBofC British middleweight title too and defended it a few times.

But real titles? Yeah. Nothin'.

The British title is a real title.

[mcvey]

Charles Burley
Harry Wills
Sam Langford
Lloyd Marshall
Holman Williams
Kid Chocolate
Bivins
David Tua
Herol Graham

BTW Norton briefly held the WBC
Chocolate won versions of the featherweight and Junior lightweight titles.

[mcvey]

Both very good but not great fighters,imo.
Peter jackson
Sam Langford
Joe Jeanette
Sam Mcvey
Jim Driscoll
Jock MCavoy
Len Harvey
Billy Petrolle
Lew Tendler
Leach Cross
Joe Choynsky
Mike Gibbons
Packey Mcfarland

[AlFrancis]

Owen Moran
Nel Tarlton

[john garfield]

Joey Archer. Didn't quicken pulses, but helluva fighter.

[mcvey]

Owen Moran
Nel Tarlton
Both good shouts!

[janitor]

There has been a tendency on this site for people to focus on the black dynamite heavyweights, who got shafted and overlook the ridch history of coloured middleweight and lightweight champions.

Dave Holly

Bobby Dobbs

Jack Blackburn

Panam Joe Gans

Joe Butler

Jeff Clark

George Byers

I have probably missed a few deserving names.

[AlFrancis]

Both good shouts!

I was gonna say Len Harvey as well but you beat me to it.

[McGrain]

Charles Burley
Harry Wills
Sam Langford
Lloyd Marshall
Holman Williams
Kid Chocolate
Bivins
David Tua
Herol Graham

BTW Norton briefly held the WBC

This is a good list, though i don't think Tua belongs in this company.

Add Jackson.

[la-califa]

How about Albert Davila, Who ALMOST made this list after title oportunities against the likes of Pintor,Zarate & Wilfredo Gomez. Finally on his last shot Davila was losing going into the last round of his fight with Kiko Bejines. Davila realized his dream with a knockout in the the last round. But with terrible results...

[Ramon Rojo]

Young Stribling

[Ramon Rojo]

Double Post Accident

[COULDHAVEBEEN]

How about Albert Davila, Who ALMOST made this list after title oportunities against the likes of Pintor, Zarate & Wilfredo Gomez....

The next-best fighters in the reigns of Zarate & Gomez were very unfortunate in their timing. Fighters such as Paul Ferreri from Australia would have won a world title in many other eras. But unfortunately clashed with the KO king Zarate.

Similarly, other Australians Tony Mundine Snr (Carlos Monzon) and Hector Thompson (Roberto Duran & Antonio Cervantes - doubly unlucky!) ran into all time greats, and but for poor timing could well have won world titles.