New HW Boxers Rated

[CONN CHRIS]

Thanks Rocco! I appreciate the additions.

[Rocco Del Sesto]

AFter first winning but then that decision getting reversed and ending up only with a no contest against Hosea Chapman, Tunney traveled to Louisville, Ky and on July 1st, 1959 won an 8 round decision against Bennie Thomas.

Bennie Thomas USA Rating 3
Heavyweight 1953-59
18 wins / 9 losses / 1 draw / 5 KO

Alias: Benjamin
Hometown: Memphis, TN

Rating by: Rocco Del Sesto

Bennie started out 5-0 including two decision wins over Cal Vernon(20-9-1,10KO). He then lost decisions to George Powell(17-3-0,6KO), Sonny Liston(2-0 at the time) and Embrell Davidson(36-6-0,25KO). From 1954 thru 56 he went 13-3-1 including wins over Johnny Gray three times, and the draw against Julio Mederos. He lost fights to John Holman, Neal Welch(14-22-3,4KO) and Ken Hammer(25-6-4,12KO).

After defeating Gray for the 3rd time in November 1956, Thomas then lost a 10 round decision to Julio Mederos in April 1957. After that Bennie was absent from the ring for over 2 years before he then fought Tunney Hunsaker in Louisville, Kentucky in July 1959. Tunney won the 8 round decision. In November of that year Bennie fought one more time, loosing another 8 round decision, this time to a LHW, John Bonner(8-1-0,3KO).

[Rocco Del Sesto]

Three weeks after defeating Thomas, Tunney took on an up and coming new heavyweight climbing the ranks, Ernie Terrell. Terrell was 13-2-0 at the time. Tunney went the 8 round distance with Terrell but, Earnie was handed the decision.

Next up on September 30th, 1959 in Charlotte, NC, Hunsaker fought Bert Whitehurst who was 28-17-5. The fight went to the 10th and final round before Whitehurst stopped Tunney before the bell rang in the 10th. Whitehurst had been posted earlier by someone.

On November 14th 1959, Hunsaker then fought a rematch with Hosea Chapman In Fayetteville. The home town crowd still could not help pull out a win for Tunney as a dropped a 12 round decision to Hosea.

Next up will be a new guy we'll meet, Jim O'Connell.

[bear]

To go along with Jofre's contribution--a bareknuckle-skin here a a couple of LPR title claimants: Hen Pearce and Deaf Burke.

Bear

[Rocco Del Sesto]

Tunney started off 1960 with a meeting in Huntington, WV against Jim O'Connell. O'Connell, most likely the underdog in this fight decisioned Tunney in 10 rounds.

Jim O'Connell USA Rating 1
Light Heavyweight 1956-63
6 wins / 11 losses / 0 draws / 4 KO

Hometown: Steubenville, OH

Rating by: Rocco Del Sesto

O'Connell was KO'd in the 2nd round by Tony Hughes in his 3rd career fight. Hughes was also fighting for the 3rd time in his early career. In his next fight O'Connell was knocked down 3 times in the first round by George Kartalian(19-10-2,5KO) and then the fight was stopped before the start of the 3rd round. After knocking out Joe Calissie(0-1-0) to even his record at 3-3, O'Connell then lost 7 straight fights including 2 straight to Mert Brownfield.

After a couple wins against some winless opponents in mid/late 1959, O'Connell then fought Tunney Hunsaker in January 1960 defeating Tunney in a 10 round decision. In July of that same year, O'Connell faced off against Tommy (Hurricane) Jackson. Jackson KO'd O'Connell in the 4th round. O'Connell fought only one more time, in October 1963 he lost a 4 round affair against a Lloyd Washington(2-11-0).

[Rocco Del Sesto]

Next up on Feb 5th, 1960, in Madison Square Garden, Tunney's first fight outside of either the Texas or WV/KY areas, he takes on Johnny Jenkins for 6 rounds only to loose a tough split decision to the light heavy from Newark. It's Tunney's 5th straight loss, but he's yet to see the toughest opponents he will face in his career.

Johnny Jenkins USA Rating 6
Light Heavyweight 1953-61
15 wins / 5 losses / 5 draws / 7 KO

Hometown: Newark, NJ

Rating by: Rocco Del Sesto

Jenkins fought for the most part out around Newark and New York area. Battled Clinton Bacon to a 4 round draw early in his career. His first career loss was to Herbie Hayes(10-5-1,2KO). Fought a couple of times in Toronto, Canada, the first time knocking out a Sammy Jackson(5-6-0,3KO) in June 1955 and then in April 1956 he won a 6 round decision over JOhn Riggins. Jenkins then in his next fight won a 6 round decision over Ollie Wilson in Hoyloke, MA.

Jenkins then lost consecutive fights to Jimmy Walker(11-9-1,5KO) and Billy Hunter.In November 1959 he lost an 8 round decision to Harold Carter and then in February 1960 won a 6 round split decision over Tunney Hunsaker. Jenkins fought then only one more time, in July 1961 when he was stopped for the first time in his career in the 5th round of a scheduled 6 against Billy Daniels at Madison Square Garden. Johnny came back for 1 too many.

[Rocco Del Sesto]

For the remainder of Tunney's career from April 1960 through April 1962, we're going to meet only 2 new opponents that we've not seen rated into the game.

First up after Johnny Jenkins in April 1960 Tunney takes on undefeated Tom McNeeley(17-0 at the time) in Boston. Tunney apparently gives McNeeley a good fight before Tom stops Tunney in the 9th round of a scheduled 10 rounder.

Then comes the fight of his career as it would turn out, though no one realized it at the time as he took on Gold Medalist, just turned pro Cassius Clay. Tunney goes the 6 round distance with Clay. A good read up on this of course in "Facing Ali".

Tunney then looses for the 8th and 9th straight times in March and April 1961 when Alejandro Lavorante KO's him in the 5th round and Tod Herring wins a UD over Tunney in 10.

That brings us to August 1961 when Tunney finally breaks that loosing string with a 6th round KO of LHW-Herman Wilson.

Herman Wilson USA Rating 1
LIght Heavyweight 1961
0 wins / 3 losses / 0 draws / 0 KO

Hometown: Detroit, MI

Rating by: Rocco Del Sesto

Fought three times in 1961 and quickly gave up boxing. First lost by 1st round KO to Sonny Banks in April, then Tunney Hunsaker dropped him in the 6th round in August. Finally Wilson hung it up after LHW Bob(Ducky) Dietz(23-5-0,19KO) KO'd him in the 3rd round in September.

[Rocco Del Sesto]

After defeating Herman Wilson by KO, Tunney then gets stopped two more times. First up, in September 1961 he looses by 8th round KO to Thomas Dejarnette.

Thomas Dejarnette USA Rating 1
Heavyweight 1961-62,66
2 wins / 1 loss / 0 draws / 1 KO

Hometown: West Virginia

Rating by: Rocco Del Sesto

Fought Tunney Hunsaker twice in September 1961 and February 1962. Dejarnette stopped Tunney in the 8th in thier first fight but then Tunney got revenge with a 1st round KO in the 2nd bout.,

Dejarnette did not fight again until in February 1966 he fought one time, stopping in the 1st round a Bob Easley who fought for the first and only time of his career.


After fighting Dejarnette, Tunney is KO'd again the next month by Sonny Banks in the 2nd round. Four months later Tunney and Dejarnette fight a rematch, this time with Tunney stopping Dejarnette in the first round. That fight was on Feb. 24th 1962. Less then 2 months later on April 6th 1962, in Beckley West Virginia, Tunney's career comes to a sudden end when against Joe Shelton, Tunney is KO'd in the 10th round and suffers a brain hemorrhage and lies in a coma for 9 days. Tunney Hunsaker's career is complete.

So that takes us through chapter 1 of "Facing Ali". From the relatively short career of Hunsaker we'll enter Chapter 2 and the 55 fight career of Sir 'Enry, Henry Cooper.

Again, I've not posted opponents that we're either in the game originally or fighters rated earlier by whomever and posted either here in this forum or at cornerwork. IF there's some fighter mentioned that you've missed and would like thier rating, just give a yell.

[CONN CHRIS]

Thank you once again Rocco; as always, I enjoy these posts.

[Rocco Del Sesto]

Thanks for your comments Chris. Glad you and others are enjoying it. I'm finding this a very enjoyable way of coming up with new guys to rate.

I was just looking through Cooper's career and we got 11 new guys to look at in his first 17 fights, then for his final 38 opponents nobody new! His final 38 fights are all against guys we've seen now into the game.

I think that shows just how great the effort has been by so many people in adding to the depth of available fighters for this game!

Rocco

[SAL]

Thanks for the additions Rocco. Looking forward to the new fighters from Cooper's career.

Scot

[SAL]

Lee Estes HW 1966-1974
Overall rating = 1
St.Paul, MN, USA
13-27-3 (KO's 5)

[SAL]

Lee Estes

[CONN CHRIS]

Thanks for all the great posts today Scot!

Christopher

[Rocco Del Sesto]

Sir Enry started out his career against Harry Painter who was winding down his. Painter had alread lost 4 straight fights by stoppage when Henry knocked out Harry in the first round on September 14, 1954 in Harringay Arena in London.

Harry Painter England Rating 1
Heavyweight 1949-54
12 wins / 16 losses / 0 draws / 3 KO

Hometown: Andover, England

Rating by: Rocco Del Sesto

Painter started his career by fighting 2 bouts in the same night on July 19, 1949 in Watford, England. He was KO'd in the 3rd round in his first fight, an omen of sorts of things to come. He then came back and scored a 1st round KO victory in the 2nd fight that night.

Painter's career never amounted to much of anything, probably a lot in part to the 13 times he was stopped in a fight and lasting better then 4 rounds in a fight only 4 times. His entire career was fought in England. He manage one 3 round decision win against Morrie Bush but lost two other times to Bush, both stoppages. He split fights with Simon Templar.

He lost by 2nd round TKO to Ray Wilding(42-4-3,34KO) and lost a 3 round decision to Fred Powell(33-16-2,11) a couple of decent record Englishmen opponents.

On December 4, 1951 he defeated Morrie Bush, Dave Elmers and Dinny Powell in 3,4 and 3 round decisions in a Heavyweight Novice Competition.

HIs last career fight turned out to be the first career fight for Henry Cooper being knocked out in the first round.It was the 5th straight loss by stoppage to finish Painter's career.

[Rocco Del Sesto]

Cooper's 2nd fight was against heavyweight Dinny Powell who was finishing out his short, unmentionable career. Cooper stopped Powell in the 4th round. on Oct 19, 1954.

Dinny Powell England Rating 1
Heavyweight 1951-55
5 wins / 14 losses / 1 draw / 1 KO

Hometown: Walworth, England

Rating by: Rocco Del Sesto

Lost twice to Harry Painter and twice to Morrie Bush. A 6 round draw with Joe Erskine (3-0 at the time) was probably Powell's best fight. Finished his career with a 4th round TKO loss to Henry Cooper and then was KO'd in the 4th by Brian London.

[Hootowl 9]

Thank you for these replays Rocco! I seem to have lost my file & picture for Yanqui Diaz (as HW & LH I think) who lost to Kirk Johnson last night. Caught the Derek Bryant vs Malcolm Tann on Fox Sports. I thought it was a rather entertaining fight. A solid 8 rd's by both fighters I thought. Audley Harrison vs Robert Davis was ok as well. Thought Davis was a bit overmatched, but not a bad fight. Looking for Harrison to make a move up soon. Just wonder what you guys think of him as a HW contender? Age 33 or 34 however. Anyway, thanks in advance if someone has the Yanqui Diaz file.

[CONN CHRIS]

Here you are Mark, this is one of Mark Elwood's creations. I have no photo though.

Christopher

[Hootowl 9]

Thank you Christopher for the Yanqui Diaz file. I may have the photo hidden somewhere. Thx again.

[Rocco Del Sesto]

Fred Powell Rating 1
Heavyweight 1949-60
33 wins / 16 losses / 2 draws / 11 KO

Hometown: Walworth, England

Rating by: Rocco Del Sesto

Busy and fairly successfull English heavyweight fighting his entire career in his home country. Most noteable fights were Three KO losses to Donald Scott, Two wins against Morrie Bush, two losses to joe Bygrages, a decision over Harry Painter, a 2nd round KO loss to Johnny Williams, a 2nd round KO loss to Kitione Lave and an 8 round draw with Albert Finch.


Ray Wilding Rating 4
Heavyweight 1947-56
42 wins / 4 losses / 3 draws / 34 KO

Hometown: Northwich, England
Manager: Bill Daly

Rating By: Rocco Del Sesto

All four of Wilding's losses were stoppages, a 4th round TKO to new comer Jack Owens, a 4th round KO to another newcomer George Stern, a 3rd round KO to Aaron Wilson and in his next to last career fight a 2nd round TKO to Charley Norkus.

Wilding on 10 of his first 11 fights by KO or TKO. On January 3rd 1950 he defeated Charlie Collett, Harry Painter and Peter Bell to win a Heavyweight Tournament. In Sept 1950 he defeated Frank Bell for the vacant British Central Area Heavyweight Title. IN November 1951 a fight against Stephane Olek was stopped in the 5th round and declared a no contest by the referee as "neither man was giving his best".

In May 1952 he defeated Frank Bell for a second time for the British Central Area Heavyweight Title.