I had this idea on the back burner for quite a while and ever since the string of robberies this year I decided that maybe we should start a thread or a section about the best boxers that were denied their place in history due to circumstances beyond their control (ducking champions, robberies, colour bar.)

My personal favourite has always been Charley Burley, I've read every newspaper clipping and seen every single fight album I've ever managed to get my hands on and god damn he's a beautiful boxer. I can say without shame that I am in awe of him. Best way I can describe him is a mixture of Sweet Pete and Jack Johnson. Note that I'm not implying he's better than either or both but that's how his style is best described in my eyes.



I look forward to reading about your favourite historically eluded boxers.



P.S

I found this with haste there was a far better album but here's a good one http://www.myspace.com/160116894/photos/15024997

Not got an article but Pete Sanstol is worth a look into, an excellent fighter who in his prime was a none stop ball of action.

Sam Langford also comes to mind, you have to be really good for even the Jack Johnson to duck you.

Herol Graham fought Brewer in his last ever fight and was 106 years old. Bomber had put on a good series of comeback wins against an undefeated Canadian and Vinny Pazienza before he fought Brewer. In that fight Graham fought away from home, knocked down Charles, who injured his ankle as he went down. Brewer sucked it up and stopped Graham on the ropes. A younger version of Graham would have won the fight easily.

When you say 106 years old I'm hoping you mean figuratively....For his sake

Originally Posted by DavilaJones

When you say 106 years old I'm hoping you mean figuratively....For his sake

Yes I was.

there was this one guy... i'd tell you about him but you'd've never heard of him.

Originally Posted by DavilaJones

Sam Langford also comes to mind, you have to be really good for even the Jack Johnson to duck you.

Like the Burley and Langford picks. Both would be on my top ten atg list.
Others rarely mentioned would include,

Lloyd Marshall
Jack Chase
Holman Williams
Eddie Booker
Elmer Ray
Herbert Lewis
Aaron Wade

All stable mates of Burley and robbed just as he was.

George Dixon. First black champion ever who may have had 600 fights or more.
Even guys like Locche and Jofre.
George Benton.
Billy Miske
Jimmy Barry
Harry Wills
Mike Gibbons
Jimmy Bivins

Originally Posted by IamInuit

Originally Posted by DavilaJones

Sam Langford also comes to mind, you have to be really good for even the Jack Johnson to duck you.

Like the Burley and Langford picks. Both would be on my top ten atg list.
Others rarely mentioned would include,

Lloyd Marshall
Jack Chase
Holman Williams
Eddie Booker
Elmer Ray
Herbert Lewis
Aaron Wade

All stable mates of Burley and robbed just as he was.

George Dixon. First black champion ever who may have had 600 fights or more.
Even guys like Locche and Jofre.
George Benton.
Billy Miske
Jimmy Barry
Harry Wills
Mike Gibbons
Jimmy Bivins

I like this list of yours. Thank you. I'll look them up and see if I can find any good tapes on them.

Originally Posted by DavilaJones

Originally Posted by IamInuit

Originally Posted by DavilaJones

Sam Langford also comes to mind, you have to be really good for even the Jack Johnson to duck you.

Like the Burley and Langford picks. Both would be on my top ten atg list.
Others rarely mentioned would include,

Lloyd Marshall
Jack Chase
Holman Williams
Eddie Booker
Elmer Ray
Herbert Lewis
Aaron Wade

All stable mates of Burley and robbed just as he was.

George Dixon. First black champion ever who may have had 600 fights or more.
Even guys like Locche and Jofre.
George Benton.
Billy Miske
Jimmy Barry
Harry Wills
Mike Gibbons
Jimmy Bivins

I like this list of yours. Thank you. I'll look them up and see if I can find any good tapes on them.

Nice list did not know about most of this.

Joe Simonich, from right here in Butte, Montana. He fought Dave Shade, Pinky Mitchell, Willie Ritchie, Joe Dundee, Mickey Walker, Pete Latzo, Tommy Freeman, and Sgt. Al Baker. Boxrec lists him at 31-30, but he actually had close to 200 fights. At one point he was called the "Uncrowned Welterweight Champ" because of a victory over Latzo in a non-title bout. He was stopped once in his career, his last fight against the Alabama Kid, when he was 40, in 1935.

Oh wow there's a lot more great unknowns than I though there would be. Good thing today is Friday I'll have the weekend to look over these guys and see what I find, I'll make a fight album of sorts if I can and post it up.