While looking through my collection of old boxing magazines, I came across the March 1996 edition of The Ring. This issue had a special section called "A Tale of 10 Cities" in which different boxing writers listed the top 10 boxers from US cities where boxing was paramount.
They listed Boston, New York, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Detroit, San Francisco, Chicago and Baltimore. Washington, DC did not make the cut.
Legendary boxing writer Alan Goldstein of the Baltimore Sun did the Baltimore list. His top 10 included:
1. Joe Gans
2. Harry Jeffra
3. Kid Williams
4. George (KO) Chaney
5. Joe Dundee
6. Vince Dundee
7. Vincent Pettway
8. Red Burman
9. Jimmy McAllister
10 Jack Portney
This section gave me inspiration. So I decided to put together a list of the top 10 Boxers Along The Beltway. Now I can't factually go back as far as someone like Alan Goldstein so names like Holly Mims and Bob Foster won't be on this list. But I can cover the almost 18 years that I have been watching Beltway Boxing as a member of the press. As a matter of fact, I will round this to an even 20 years.
So here is my top 10 of the past 20 years. I will go in reverse order.
10. Andrew Council (31-8-3, 20 KO's) Council was someone boxing fans all over the country respected. He was a solid body puncher who in another time, he probably would have been a world champion. Fought tough battles against Bernard Hopkins, Keith Holmes (twice), and Robert Allen. Did not perform well against a young Winky Wright. Council's best win was a ninth round TKO over a shopworn but still dangerous Buddy McGirt in 1995.
9. Darryll Tyson (50-14-1, 25 KO's) Tyson fought a who's who of boxers between 135 and 140 pounds. Bouts against everyone from Jimmy Paul (a 12-round win and a 15-round loss for the IBF Lightweight title) to Miguel Angel Gonzalez and from Livingstone Bramble to Oscar De La Hoya always showed Tyson in a positive light. Fought two of the best bouts ever seen along the Beltway: a 12th round stoppage of Reggie Green in 1994 for the NABF/USBA junior welterweight title and a 10th round TKO loss to Freddie Pendleton for the USBA title on the "Beltway Brawl" card. His dedication and approach to the game has been legendary.
8. DeMarcus Corley 31-4-1 (17 KO's) Is on this list because of his stunning first-round knockout over Felix Flores to win the WBO Junior Welterweight title as well as his ability to go the distance with the likes of Floyd Mayweather, Zab Judah and Randall Bailey. Corley brings more flash and talent to the 140-pound class.
7. Hasim Rahman (41-5-1, 33 KO's) A win next Saturday may force me to revise this list. Rahman would probably be higher on this list if he had not sqaundered chances to be an elite heavyweight against the likes of Evander Holyfield and John Ruiz. However, the impact of his stunning title victory over Lennox Lewis puts him on this list.
6. Keith Holmes (39-4, 25 KO's) Probably the most maligned champion we've had along the Beltway. Holmes never has received the respect he is due. People only remember the terrible loss he suffered in the Middleweight Championship Series against Bernard Hopkins, but when Holmes was on, he was as talented as they come. His first WBC Middleweight title win over Quincy Taylor, as well as wins over the likes of Andrew Council, Darryl Lattimore, Kelcie Banks, Hassine Cherifi and Paul Vaden proved that.
5. Vincent Pettway (43-7-1,32) This man was "Mr. Excitement" in the ring. From his thrilling loss to fellow Beltway Boxer Victor Davis in 1990,(in a bout that USA Network named one of their top 10 of all time)to his IBF Junior Middleweight title victory over Gianfranco Rosi in 1994 to his electrifying knockout win over Simon Brown at the "Beltway Brawl" in 1995 (which boxing magazines called everything from the Knockout of the Year to one of the Top 10 Knockouts of All Time), Pettway gave every thing he had everytime he stepped into the ring. Pettway was Baltimore's first world champion in almost 90 years.
4. Sharmba Mitchell (56-4, 30 KO's) A win over Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in two weeks might write Mitchell's ticket to Canastota. Mitchell ranks on this list for not only winning the WBA junior welterweight title in 1998, but also because of his excellence over a long period of time. Still needs a true marquee win but we have not had a more consistent boxer, especially over the last 10 years. Mitchell has always been a contender and a major player.
3. William Joppy (35-4-1, 26 KO's) Joppy has won three WBA middleight titles and although he doesn't have a marquee win (unless you count his knockout win over an aged Roberto Duran), he was a major player in the division for some time. His first title win over Shinji Takehara in Takehara's home country of Japan was something to behold.
2. Mark Johnson (44-4, 28 KO's) Johnson will be a hall of famer five years after he decides to hang up the gloves. He will be a first-ballot hall of famer. Johnson made the flyweight division a viable one for Americans because of his talent. The fact that he was the first African-American and second American to win the flyweight title is enough to get him in Canastota. In his prime, Johnson repeatedly made pound-for-pound lists around the world. His historic title wins over Francisco Tejedor and Arthur Johnson were phenomenal displays of punching power. And just when people thought his career was over, Johnson wins a third world title in 2003. He has had a remarkable career.
1. Simon Brown (47-12, 34 KO's) Brown was the first great Beltway Boxer of the post-Sugar Ray Leonard era. At one point, Brown was regarded as the best welterweight in the world. Brown fought some incredible battles against such foes as Tyrone Trice (twice), Al Long and, of course, who could forget his legendary battle against fellow Beltway Boxer and best friend Maurice Blocker in Vegas in 1991? Brown surprised everyone when he moved up to junior middleweight in 1993 and scored a major upset over future hall of famer Terry Norris in a bout Ring Magazine chose as the upset of the year. Even in defeat, Brown was a tremendous boxer with a boatload of heart. A definite hall of famer in my book.
So there you have it. I'm curious to know your top 10. Maybe we can have a compilation of the fan's top 10. Look forward to hearing from you.
hey gary, here is my list. i have been in the gym with all of these guys except the ones from baltimore.
ReplyDelete1)mark Johnson - he dominated for most of his career. he was more of a detriment to himself than any opponent. which is why i rate him above simon brown.
2)simon brown - he did dominate for a period when the welterweight division was lacking in really good talent. i guess after coming off the sugar ray, duran and hearns era, that division suffered. he did conquer norris in the super welter division, but looked terrible in the rematch.
3)sharmba mitchell - next to johnson, probably the most talented in the bunch. fought everybody literally and is still a sought after fighter after all his years in boxing.
4)william joppy - good champion and consistent. never could get the good fighters in the division until too late in his career. extremly hard worker in the gym.
5)keith holmes - another very talented fighter, i think he suffered from inactivity. i do remember his poor showing against hopkins.
6)vincent pettway - too many wars before his title shot which i think took alot out of him early. he was mr. excitement, but to his detriment.
7)darryl tyson - dedicated fighter who exhausted every ounce of his talent. a very disappointing fight with oscar de la hoya, expected much more than was seen.
8)demarcus corley - another very talented fighter, who i think his outside the ring life got in the way. did become champion and has always been on cusp being very good. first fighter, i think to hurt pretty boy floyd and exposed cotto. he's still a dangerous fighter for anyone.
9)hasim rahman - he hit the lottery against lennox lewis and never capitalized on it. his conditioning in most of his fights were always in question. he has skills, but i think the work ethic hindered him. along managerial problems and different trainers.
10)andrew council - a smart technically sound fighter with a great defense and devastating body attack. he was always in the mix. his first fight with holmes i though was close and could have gone his way
honorable mention: derrell coley - excellent boxer, who i thought beat a prime oba carr in 93'. i think he stayed in the welterweight division too long. again i think outside the ring life got the best him also.
one more gary. what could have been: jemal hinton - if he had contined he would have been a champion and possibily great. trained side by side with him since he was 12 years old and he had what it took then.
Great list! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that we had the same 10 guys, just in different order.
I agree with your honorable mention as well.
Is there a reason why Ray Leonard is not on the list of top ten fighters?????? James
ReplyDeleteYes, because during that time period, Leonard was at the tail end of his career. He did win his last title (the WBC Light Heavyweight) during that period, but he was still past his prime in the mid 80's.
ReplyDeleteIf I were to do a list of top 10 of all time, Leonard would definitely make that list, probably at the top. But this list starts at 1985, that's why Leonard is not on this list.
I was wondering about Derrell Coley also, I see "slickwalt" caught that one. How about the newer guys that on their way to bigger things Darnel "The Ding a Ling Man" Wilson, Jimmy Lange. Also how about Riddick Bowe the honorable mention can grow and grow.
ReplyDeleteDerrell would be there if he had one really marquee win. The closest thing he had to that was his win over Terrence Alli.
ReplyDeleteBut his disputed loss to Oba Carr really hurt.
I never considered Riddick Bowe to truly be from this area. Just a personal situation. I always heard him announced as being from Brownsville, NY.
Hopefully, those boxers like Lange and Wilson will make my next list.
One notable standout fighter left off your list was Louise Curtis. His weight class escapes my memory, but it seems to me he was a no heavier than junior lightweight. Now I'm not sure if he was figting out of dc, or was born here and left, ala Winky Wright.
ReplyDeleteAny comments?
Louis "Heidi" Curtis was a solid pro. He was Mark Johnson before Mark Johnson. He was a very well respected flyweight.
ReplyDeleteThe only drawback was that, while he won a USBA title, he lost that title to Pedro Feliciano, who was not that great of a fighter. That bout was at the old DC Convention Center and I was there. Curtis never fought after that.
He is high on my second 10, but doesn't make my top 10.
Are you familiar with Brian Cook?
ReplyDeleteI think he was a great local lightweight, but don't think he's that popular.
Brian "Showtime" Cook was actually a featherweight who fought in the mid-90's. He had good talent but didn't stay long in the game.
ReplyDeleteHe had a record of 13-2 with eight KO's. He last fought in February of 1999 and was stopped by Sean "The Animal" Fletcher in DC, I believe at the Lincoln Theatre.