Who was the best and most talented fighter to have never won a world title. It could be morder era or we can go way back to the black and white tv days it don't matter. In no particular order here are some guys worth mentioning. 1. Sam Langford: A heavyweight force in the early 20th century. Langford faced off against multiple world champs in over 300 documented fights but due to racial segregation and the absence of an official title shot he never held a title. 2. Deverchenko: went toe-to-toe with numerous world champs, displaying elite-level skills. For all his talent never got the ultimate accolade. 4.Harry Greb: The "Pittsburgh Windmill" tore through opposition in the 1920s defeating multiple Hall of Famers. Despite his dominance never won a world title. 5.Earnie Shavers: The heavyweight division feared his power. Shavers knocked out 68 opponents but fell short in title bids forever branding him as the uncrowned champ. Who else deserves a nod in this group of extraordinary fighters who never clinched that coveted world title?
In the UK Herol Graham tends to get that title for fighters from these shores. The fact he had great moments in each of his title shots, where he just fell short, or in the case of Jackson was literally seconds away from victory, probably wins him the crown. I'd put Watson up there too, personally. Worldwide I think Briscoe is probably the best.
Sam Langford is as much a media myth as Tony Ayala Jr or Harry Greb or Luther McCarty. For me, I'd say this:- Michael Carruth came out of Ireland with an Olympic Gold Medal and never even got close to a World title fight of any meaning. He was severely mismanaged. Herol Graham would be a multiple division champ today. Maybe even 3 divisions. Briscoe likewise. Jesus Pimentel would get a few titles too, probably across different divisions at that.
Benny Briscoe an old philly fighter how could I not know that. I honestly assumed he was a champion of some sort. Good call.
You brought up a whole different topic. Olympians that never won a world title. And there a lots of those guys. Panchito bojado comes to mind.
Greb won the title. I'd nominate virtually the entire Murderer's Row, Sam Langford and Packet McFarland. There's probably a dozen lightweights around Benny Leonard's time who'd qualify too. For a more 'modern' example, Holly Mims fits the bill.
Certainly a step below "legends" but a fair bit of of very good heavyweights never got a piece of the title. Shavers, Tua, Ruddock and Golota come to mind.
Charley Burley Sam Langford Eddie Booker Packey McFarland Harry Will Billy Graham Lloyd Marshall Holly Mims Joey Archer Jimmy Bivins
Obviously Langford is top, considering that he's arguably the greatest anyway including fighters who actually won titles. He, Greb, Robinson and Armstrong are on their own exclusive mountain top achievement-wise, just in front of the likes of Charles and Duran. Their records are just too special to ever be replicated or honestly challenged, even by the likes of Pep, Ali, both the Leonards, Ross, Moore etc. McFarland isn't too far behind though imo. Amazing fighter with a phenomenal record, probably a top 20 fighter of all time. Then you're into the row with Burley, Holman Williams, Marshall, Cocoa Kid, Booker, Chase etc. I'd have the likes of Driscoll, Moran and probably Medel roughly around that level along with some of the Leonard era lightweights like George said. Medel is a personal favourite of mine and maybe the last fighter chronologically who belongs near the bottom end of the company of great old timers who never quite got there. He cleanly beat Pimentel who Irish mentioned when past his best. But yeah, he beat Harada, McGowan, Seki and every other notable contender of his era (often multiple times) and took Jofre to the absolute brink in one of the best fights of the 60s. His record is very deceptive though due to turning pro as a kid with no amateur experience and carrying on far too long at the end. He also had a lazy, journeyman attitude and fought down to the level of lesser fighters, which made him susceptible to being outworked. Similar to someone like Toney, who I'd say he was comparable to in terms of talent and skill, albeit smaller. Briscoe is a bit overrated imo. A very good/excellent fighter at his best, usually over the longer distance and against better opponents, but he lost frequently to average and mediocre fighters all the way through his career. He doesn't really stand apart from the likes of Hank, Finnegan, Benton, Mims, Giambra, Fernandez etc who were either in or close to his own era. Graham is another who crops up near the top of these lists who doesn't belong imo, though he remains a favourite of mine and a potential banana skin for lots of greater fighters around middle. He isn't even the best Brit never to win the title with the likes of Driscoll and Moran well above him and the likes of Charnley, Roderick, both Finnegans, Tarleton and Rudkin being at least as accomplished at the world level. Rudkin especially. Still an excellent fighter though with near -great ability when he was focused.
Who the fook is that guy? Is he one of those sun-deprived, raw-chicken-looking, fuzz-ball players from Ireland? Never heard of him.
Bomber, sorry. I'd forgotten that Billy had gotten a mention. The latter is one the best never to win the title.
Caraballo, Ahumada and Yaqui Lopez were all champion in most other eras types as well. Probably Freddie Dawson and Billy Petrolle too. Paolo Rosi in the 60s was an excellent fighter too. A skilled, crafty mauler in the mould of Angott and Zivic with stamina and endurance, but comi-tragically foiled by cuts and facial damage. Beat a lot of good fighters and was manhandling the great Old Bones Brown in his title shot before losing on cuts. Gave Carlos Ortiz a tough fight too
