Who are your favourite journeymen?
What defines a Journeyman.?
Danny Williams vs Chisora vs Price?
Printable View
Who are your favourite journeymen?
What defines a Journeyman.?
Danny Williams vs Chisora vs Price?
I like Bradley Pryce and liked him when he was good. He is still going and could have been a contender.
The classic journey man who travelled that made it for a while was Glen Johnson who had many good battles with Clinton Woods and Ronald Wright.
Reggie Strickland
Mock
Boone
I hate to say it but Augustus
Can world champions be considered Journeymen?Quote:
Originally Posted by Master
Mmmm..I suppose seeing as though you mentioned Johnson, then could Brandon Rios fit that bill or is he more of a former world champion punching bag.
Can we bring back Audley for Joe Joyce?
Boone and Augustus are the main ones I think of. Boone has beaten a few good fighters. He even knocked down Andre Ward and gave him his toughest fight of his career probably (maybe other than the first Kovalev fight).Quote:
Originally Posted by Alpha
Augustus had some decent wins but seems to be known a lot also because Mayweather always says he was the best fighter he has faced.
I thought Audley could not fight again because of head injuries sustained in boxing.Quote:
Originally Posted by imp
I always thought Matthew Hatton was a pretty good journeyman, he was decent, European level and a good measuring stick for the up and comers.
Boone's fought everyone. Knocked out Stevenson so he gets bonus points. Augustus' fight with Ward was outstanding.Quote:
Originally Posted by powerpuncherBoone and Augustus are the main ones I think of. Boone has beaten a few good fighters. He even knocked down Andre Ward and gave him his toughest fight of his career probably (maybe other than the first Kovalev fight).Quote:
Originally Posted by Alpha
Augustus had some decent wins but seems to be known a lot also because Mayweather always says he was the best fighter he has faced.
Marion titanium jaw Wilson. Demarcus Corley has turned into a hell of a journeymen. Journeymen are the necessary lifeblood of the sport and seem to always have different levels. The doormats..the guys brought in to pad a record with little hope-intent of ruining a good gig or reputation as a guy who will service a few rounds and make your guy look stellar. And you have roller coaster journeymen often pulling a notable surprise every so often to once again restart a 'run' as opponent for former champs or undefeated promising prospects. 'Game' fighters long in the tooth but pretty durable and actually plying a trade as easily as punching a clock for another days work. It's a job and it's paying the bills and if not getting fights then earning a check sparring just waiting for a phone call. The saddest level of journeymen may be the once shining star or champion now serving as a scalp. Tough experienced enough to hold own with most mid to low end guys but they've come full circle in career. Stubborn pride remains. The big city lights have dimmed, the entourages have shrunk to a couple people, hotel suites have given way to some random Motel in some small town with a broken ice machine and they hang on tightly to that great run seen by thousands so many years ago.
Good call on Corley.
Thanks man, he came in like a meteor brutal ko on Flores. Guy always came off with fight flair and world traveler too. Next week he's coming to Mississippi beat up his own journeyman.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alpha
The classic journeyman turned world champion has to be Fearless Freddie Pendleton .
The most erratic fighter ever, but on his day was top class.
Bert Cooper?
I was just gonna start a thread like this. lolololol... I did so a while back too. Not often we give attention to some legitimate journeymen who really can fight but don't come with the glitz and glamour of the pop-stars.Quote:
Originally Posted by imp
I STILL like Derrick Rossy. He had some good wins, tough losses, and I felt he could have come up one day and get a lucky shot in and win something. But reality kicked in as the newer guys just have more energy than him now- see Rossy vs. Bryant.
I also like Jesus Soto-Karass. He can make me watch him scrap. lololol.....
Journeymen are the LIFEBLOOD of the sport.
You can't be a journeyman if you've won a title....winning a title is like turning a cucumber into a pickle, it can never unbecome a pickle once it's turned. Once you've won a title you're a champion and the debate becomes 'How good of a champion are/were you?'
I would have said 'Bonecrusher' Smith, but he won a title so he's exempt from Journeyman status
My favorite journeymen:
Ron Lyle (fairly certain he never held a title though what a fighter!!!)
Jimmy Bivins (brilliant fighter never held a title to my knowledge)
Floyd 'Jumbo' Cummings
Buster Matthis
Lou Savarese
Sam Langford, Harry Wills, and Charlie Burley never got title shots but I'm really hard pressed to list them as journeymen, I also have not watched much of their stuff IF it is even available.
Lots of fighters mentioned here I would not classify as Journeymen.
Mark Turley wrote a book "Journeymen : The Other Side of the Boxing Business, a New Perspective on the Noble Art". Well worth a read. Highlights some of the real problems in boxing. The need to be able to sell tickets to make it at a high level. Corruption in judges refs and promoters.
U.K based? Just found it on Amazon for $8 looks to be an interesting perspective.Quote:
Originally Posted by Silkeyjoe
Pendleton was a great call!!! I would consider Bronco McKart a journeyman. Emmanual Augustus and Glen Johnson were great examples as well. I would consider Oba Carr, Robbie Simms, and Doug Dewitt journeymen. Have to think up some additional names...
Journeyman has a different meaning in the States compared with the UK (although seeing the replies the American version seems to have been adopted by modern Brits).
Virtually nobody mentioned would be considered a journeyman under the classical British term, they're all too good, had too much success. In Britain journeymen are specifically used to lose but be tough/clever enough to take prospects rounds and to save shows as last minute replacements and what not.
Blokes like Peter Buckley (32W/256L/12D) who fought everyone in Britian (from Naz to Brook over 20 years). Stopped 10 times in 256 losses (;D). Legend.
I think Pendleton a case of numbers and bad training and habits, Freddie was world class improved after a journeyman start of 12-12. Again huge difference between guys who never left the local club in the first place and even get what they agreed to and those who end career in big name main events.
Oba Carr!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeeod
He was a prospect that was going to do great things but unfortunately just failed but I would not call him a real journeyman as he did not carry on losing to fighters he should have beat.
Yori Boy Campus however is another story.
Yep UK based. Well worth a look. Changed my perspective on these fighters completely.Quote:
Originally Posted by SpicoliU.K based? Just found it on Amazon for $8 looks to be an interesting perspective.Quote:
Originally Posted by Silkeyjoe
Mickey Ward and Shea Neary also come to mind as journeymen
Shea Neary was never a journeyman, he was the opposite after he lost to Ward and Magee he retired.
Well he wasn't world class was he? He wasn't a champion was he?Quote:
Originally Posted by Master
He was WBU champion and defended it many times.Quote:
Originally Posted by El KabongWell he wasn't world class was he? He wasn't a champion was he?Quote:
Originally Posted by Master
[QUOTE=Master;1454654]He was WBU champion and defended it many times.[/QUOTEQuote:
Originally Posted by El KabongWell he wasn't world class was he? He wasn't a champion was he?Quote:
Originally Posted by Master
For the record the WBU belt is like the everyday belt you hold your trousers up with. Yes its that special.
This is how I see journeymen. People like Hastings Rasani, Andy Harris and Kristian Laight. To be fair to Harris and Laight, they have to watch their weight all the time as well, whereas Rasani kind of went up from LHW to HW in time. These fellahs are getting regularly beat up almost on a weekly basis to earn a fairly meagre living.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fenster
There must be easier ways to earn a crust, but it's what they know. It's these guys that are the lifeblood of boxing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Primo CarneraThis is how I see journeymen. People like Hastings Rasani, Andy Harris and Kristian Laight. To be fair to Harris and Laight, they have to watch their weight all the time as well, whereas Rasani kind of went up from LHW to HW in time. These fellahs are getting regularly beat up almost on a weekly basis to earn a fairly meagre living.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fenster
There must be easier ways to earn a crust, but it's what they know. It's these guys that are the lifeblood of boxing.
+1
Usually really nice fellas too. Boxing could not work without them.