Who are the top Heavyweight contenders that never got to be champion

When i think of a heavyweight that was a good but never got a belt Ernie Shavers comes to mind.

Ron Lyle springs to mind

Was david tua ever a world champ?

I'm pretty sure the only belt Ken Norton ever got was the NABF. If that's the case, I think he wins.

Golota lost every title fight he was in?Harry Wills and Sam Langford only won the negro belts, Langford got a draw in his one shot against 25 lbs heavier Jack Johnson. Jerry Quarry lost all his title fight too I believe.Two Ton Tony lost in his one shot against Louis...cant think of any others.

Ken Nortan was the wbc champion actually in 1978 and then lost it to larry holmes.

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Originally Posted by Mr140

Ken Nortan was the wbc champion actually in 1978 and then lost it to larry holmes.

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Correct. They gave it to him when Leon Spinks fought Ali. Norton never won the title in the ring tho.

Earnie Shavers
Jimmy Young
David Tua
James Tillis
Razor Ruddock
Bert Cooper

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Originally Posted by amat

I'm pretty sure the only belt Ken Norton ever got was the NABF. If that's the case, I think he wins.

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Norton got awarded the Heavyweight Title but he never won it off someone.

This list of fighters:

Sam Langford
Cleveland Williams
Jerry Quarry
Earnie Shavers
Razor Ruddock

Is better than this list of fighters:

Marvin Hart
Tommy Burns
Primo Carnera
Max Schmeling
James J. Braddock.


(please note I have not included such luminaries as Shannon Briggs, Francisco Damiani, Gerry Coetzee etc as none of them were ever 'World' Champion, just alphabet boy titleholders.

Butterbean! ;D

Yea but Nortan still had a title so i don't put him as a contender.

James Toney :-X :-\

are you joking or are serious when you say James toney is a top heavyweight contender.

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Originally Posted by X

This list of fighters:

Sam Langford
Cleveland Williams
Jerry Quarry
Earnie Shavers
Razor Ruddock

Is better than this list of fighters:

Marvin Hart
Tommy Burns
Primo Carnera
Max Schmeling
James J. Braddock.


(please note I have not included such luminaries as Shannon Briggs, Francisco Damiani, Gerry Coetzee etc as none of them were ever 'World' Champion, just alphabet boy titleholders.

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Schmeling wasn't a bad fighter, hard to believe he beat Louis but not a bad fighter. But the first list definitely trumps the second.

Chuvallo,Foley,Quarry

Max Schmeling,James J. Braddock, PrimoCarnera This are not contenders they have all been champions and the original question was that who was the bes that never got the championship.

Harry Wills read about this guy. Couldn't get a fight with Dempsey because of the colour line heard him mentioned quite alot when Dempsey gets brought up. Fought Sam Langford wait for it 22 times yes not a misprint 22 times and won 6 lost 2 by ko and 14 no contests. Crazy.

When people say no contest does that mean that it is a draw basically

Not sure mate in those days it was like 20 round fights and they had different rules.

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Originally Posted by Mr140

are you joking or are serious when you say James toney is a top heavyweight contender.

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Course he is ..

He could have and should have been the champ.. He beat ruiz but fwocked himself over by failing a frug test.. When everyone knows he could have beat him anyway..

Got an undeserved draw against rahman.. The judges obv didnt take into account it was toney's fight because toney knew he had more chance by using the ropes to counter and fight his fight instead of making it hard for himself in the middle of the ring.. Thats what we call ring smarts and that made him deserve more then he got

He Stopped holyfield..Only stopped once before and never again since hes been around..
Tremendous skill in that fight

Beaten some named contenders..

Deserved the win against peter in the first fight and so should have gotten his third title shot.. Where i say he beats maskaev..And Hes a middleweight fighting at heavyweight at 40 plus years of age ..Never been stopped Only ever been dropped legitimately 16 years ago that one time..

Give the man his dues..Pffttt Joking!

Really had me going there for a while until i read your last words

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Originally Posted by Mr140

Really had me going there for a while until i read your last words

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No..I wasnt joking..Iwas pfftting at the fact you thought i was joking..

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Originally Posted by Tito_BHB

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Originally Posted by Mr140

are you joking or are serious when you say James toney is a top heavyweight contender.

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Course he is ..

He could have and should have been the champ.. He beat ruiz but fwocked himself over by failing a frug test.. When everyone knows he could have beat him anyway..

Got an undeserved draw against rahman.. The judges obv didnt take into account it was toney's fight because toney knew he had more chance by using the ropes to counter and fight his fight instead of making it hard for himself in the middle of the ring.. Thats what we call ring smarts and that made him deserve more then he got

He Stopped holyfield..Only stopped once before and never again since hes been around..
Tremendous skill in that fight

Beaten some named contenders..

Deserved the win against peter in the first fight and so should have gotten his third title shot.. Where i say he beats maskaev..And Hes a middleweight fighting at heavyweight at 40 plus years of age ..Never been stopped Only ever been dropped legitimately 16 years ago that one time..

Give the man his dues..Pffttt Joking!

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CC, I agree completely. I cannot stand James Toney and the way he runs his fool mouth, but there is no denying his tremendous skill, chin, etc. Imagine what he could've done (or possibly still do) if he had been in shape in those fights.

Ike Ibeabuchi

Chuvalo and Bonavena come to mind.

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Originally Posted by Mr140

When people say no contest does that mean that it is a draw basically

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No, boxing at the time was not strictly legitimate. Any sort of formal decision was illegal so the wins and losses were all stoppages (not always KOs, sometimes though injury or simply tiredness).

In those days, newspaper reporters published who they thought 'won' on points - although there was no points system in place - and the bookies paid out according to the newspaper decisions. The records still formally show all those as No Contests though.

:) A brit comes to mind if only he had the heart of a fighter, he did all right against ALI and FRAZIER,he had the build, and the stamina, and the chin to take a punch, yes its JOE BUGNER ;)

Joe Jeanette

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Originally Posted by bronco

:) A brit comes to mind if only he had the heart of a fighter, he did all right against ALI and FRAZIER,he had the build, and the stamina, and the chin to take a punch, yes its JOE BUGNER ;)

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What puzzles me about Bugner is that he gives Frazier and Ali run for there moeny but loses to bloody Jack Boddell or however you spell his name he was terrible i just don't get boxing sometimes.

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Originally Posted by Tito_BHB

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Originally Posted by Mr140

Really had me going there for a while until i read your last words

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No..I wasnt joking..Iwas pfftting at the fact you thought i was joking..

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Damn Son..No reply :-\

I just can't believe you compare Shavers to a man like Toney i said top heavywieght contenders and you give me toney a guy who couldn't get a belt in a very weak divison makes me laugh.

Ike Ibeabuchi never became the real champ, Earnie Shavers, David Tua(prime)

Quarry, Shavers, Lyle and Satterfield come to mind. Also Jeff Merritt and Bobick. Most of the top guys in the 70's who didn't make it.

I will be waiting for a reply for you Mr Tito hope it is a good one.