The birth of the ward in the circuitous weight at the turn of the seventies and 80s were a benefit for the boxers too vast, but too miniature to get to the world stage as a massive weight. However, save the thought of countless “Inbetweeners” who overtook the creation of the division and were often forced to face larger, stronger people.

There are many miniature weights from boxing annals that could be argued, it would be world -class if there were a cruiser’s weight in their time. The one whose current weight limit 14. 4lb (200 pounds) would fit into the shirt, was Joe Erskine Cardiff. At 5 feet 11 inches and usually scaling below 200 pounds, Joe was simply too miniature and did not hit demanding enough to take the best in the world in the boxes of beef. But he was good enough to win British and Empire Honors, which was not a mean feat in the era of a competitive age in the country of the 1950s and 60s.

Erskine was born in January 1934 at Cardiff’s Dockland District in Tiger Bay, in Welsh mother and Jamaican. The area had a spirited multicultural community that produced several sports and music stars (the most celebrated singer Shirley Bassey), but was known from her district of red featherlight and gambling.

As a boxer student, Joe won various titles from Victoria Park ABC and was a heavyweight champion by ABA in 1953. He ended a professional in 1954 as a member of the celebrated stable Benny Jacobs and underwent 30 competitions without defeat.

In November 1955 he defeated Henry Cooper in the Eliminator of the British Crown heavyweight and was appointed the best adolescent boxer this year by the boxing writers. In May 1956, Erskine defeated a colleague from Welsh and the future European heavyweight champion Dick Richardson before he faced another Welsh, Johnny Williams, for the British title released by Don Cockella. Joe overtook Williams during an exhausting meeting at the main Cardiff stadium in August 1956 – for the first time the heavyweight crown was questioned by two Welsh.

The sky seemed to be the border of the talented invincible Cardiff boxer, but in his next fight Joe returned to the ground, figuratively and literally. The world Cuban Cuban Nino Valdes was a scourge for our best weights. He finished Cockell, Richardson and Brian London in a schedule, and did the same with Erskine when they met at the Earl court in February 1957 with a stunning knockout in the first round.

His undefeated album disappeared, but his intact faith, Joe again defeated Cooper in the title defense in September and did the same with Joe Bygraves in November to add the crown of the Empire to his title.

Of course, his monuments were now on the European belt kept by the undefeated Swede Inggemar Johansson. They met in February 1958 and Joe fought bravely for 13 rounds before they were pulled out by his corner. Three fights later Johansson took over the world crown of Floyd Patterson, but for Erskine the national control of the championship was to end soon. In the next fight he lost both titles to London.

Joe fought for the next six years and submitted three unsuccessful offers of recovery of titles, losing each time with Cooper’s rival, who took the titles from London and kept them in possession long enough to become the first and only winner of the three lanes Lonsdale straight.

Nevertheless, Erskine has established some great wins in the last few years, defeating Jacek Bodell, Johnny Prescott, Richardson (again), George Chuvalo (though due to disqualification), Up-to-date York Freddie Mack and the future world of the Delicate King Willie Pastano. Joe’s victory over Pastrano will lead manager Willi, Angelo Dundee, to write in his book, I’m just talking about victoryThat the British would be a global download if he had a larger frame and more challenging digging.

20. Deontay Wilder Draw PTS 12,000 Fury, Los Angeles, 2018
Not entirely slugfest, but amazingly addictive. Fury seemed to browse his path to early lead, when Wilder – a well -known puncher – persecuted and tried to find a hole. One came in ninth place and dropped the Englishman just so that fury returned to the competition. In 12^thFury’s head was set with a stab, and then rewritten in the land of dreams with his right hand and a left hook. It looked like the end, until the Fury woke up on canvas, defeated the count and somehow ended the stronger.

19. Rocky Marciano at PTS 15 Ezzard Charles, Fresh York, 1954
“Two consecutive games or brave warriors have never fought for the title,” said the legendary commentator Don Dunphy from their ring position when the action flowed out and flowed. Charles, he passed his peak, but a better technician, he tried to stop Marciano’s swarm from him. Styles combined, creating a 15-round classic that Marciano reached points.

18. Leotis Martin in RSF 9 Thad Spencer, London, 1968
This iconic classic, which was not shot, is still said by those who witnessed him in the Royal Albert Hall. Martin started quickly, dropping Spencer in the opening round before skill gained control in the middle round during helling exchanges. Spencer looked on the edge of the victory in eighth place before Martin called the decisive attack in ninth place.

17. Floyd Patterson in RSF 6 Ingemar Johansson, Miami Beach, 1961
The Swede quickly began in this rubber match and knocked the master twice. Then Patterson released his left hook to get his own knocking down. The end came six, when Patterson jumped on the left and sank Johansson with two rights.

16. Jefferson Derrek at KO 6 Maurice Harris, Atlantic City, 1999
Not quite fluent in the art of craftsmanship, Jefferson and Harris joined to throw away the uncontrollable violence at a pace in which several other heavyweight couples can match. The second round was breathtaking when Harris hit the mat twice just to put Jefferson himself. The drama lasted in the third, both with rocking and rolling, before the pace slowed four and five in rounds waiting for what was to take place in the sixth. Harris was threatened on board with body arrows before he arose to leave Jefferson in deep trouble. “D-Train” answered in the only way he knew how he stuck the left hook of centuries to Harris, who put his rival to sleep.

15. Joe Louis at Ko 13 Billy Conn, Fresh York, 1941
Before two cards after 12 rounds and needing to win only one of the other three to become a crowned champion, Billy Conn decided that persecuted him for the rest of his life: he went to knockout and presented Joe Louis to do the same.

14. Lennox Lewis in RSF 6 Vitali Klitschko, Los Angeles, 2003
It seems unthinkable now when Kliczko came as a substitute for Kirk Johnson. Klitschko was determined to take a risk and took control early. Lewis looked likely and Lewis looked like his age. But the world champion landed on the third famed right hand and opened the wild cut to the eyes of the pretender. He went to the snail, the British seemed to gain an advantage, and at the end of the sixth, contrary to the fragmented wishes of Klitschko, the fight was stopped in favor of Lewis.

13. Buster Douglas in RSF 10 Mike Tyson, Tokyo, 1990
It was expected that Tyson would do what he always did, quickly Steamroll his opponent. But Douglas had other ideas. The pretender’s hit was stunningly correct, while Tyson, already the fourth round, looked out of ideas. Tyson dropped Douglas in the eighth round and it seemed that when Douglas got on his feet, this order was restored. But the falling energized Douglas and sent Tyson, the so -called invincible man, in 10^th. Tyson, like a drunk seeking his wallet in the bar, looking for elastics on canvas before he was counted.

12. Larry Holmes at PTS 15 Ken Norton, Las Vegas, 1978
Momentum turned into this start for the title of WBC. Holmes took the initiative early before Norton became robust. But Holmes, showing all the trick and strength that would make him one of the greatest of all, gathered. In 13^thNorton looked at the exit. The master replied in the next, before the couple went hell in search of the skin in the last round, the three most violent minutes in heavyweight history.

11. Rocky Marciano in 13 Jersey Joe Walcott, Philadelphia, 1952
Marciano was sent in the opener, and the second best for the sublime Walcott craftsmanship for a long time. Working tirelessly on the back, Marciano was on the cards when they came to 13^th. But Walcott became inattentive, and Marciano freed a blow to life. Game.

10. Michael Moorer at Ko 5 Bert Cooper, Atlantic City, 1992
Cooper was burning in his favorite with his right hand and a maure, and the bell still settled after the first fold, sunk on the canvas. Moorer soon returned the favor with his right hook. In the third, Cooper gained another knocking out, but he was exhausted by the fifth when Moorer finished the chaos with a retina.

9. Ike Ibeabuch at PTS 12 David Tua, Miami Beach, 1961
Ibeabuchi and Tua were involved in a really cruel exhibition of throwing and blowing. According to Compubox, they introduced 1730 blows Between them, which leveled 48 per minute. At the end of 12 rounds, Ibeabuchi was appointed a unanimous winner in a fight that could go both ways.

8. Muhammad Ali in or 8 George Foreman, Kinshasa, 1974
It was expected that the monstrous foreman overcoming Ali’s slowdown. The former king cut off his favorite and hides up close. Foreman, of course, had moments, but it is not true that Ali simply waited for the master to be tired, he hurts him. Exhilarating and brilliant, it was probably Ali at its best.

7. Anthony Joshua in RSF 11 Wladimir Klitschko, London, 2017
Among the sold out of the Wembley stadium there were high expectations long before the opening bell. What happened later and then some. Joshua started quickly and dropped Klitschko in fifth place, but in crazy effort to knock out the Ukrainian, he hit. Joshua was heavily dotted in sixth place before he regained control and won the fight in a dramatic 11^th.

6. Evander Holyfield in RSF 11 Mike Tyson, Las Vegas, 1996
Tyson was considered almost back to his best, and Holyfield disappeared that many called it a unsafe mismatch. It was far from. Tyson hit the mat in the sixth, but with pleasure, throwing the skin in a desperate effort to restore order. He never came, and in 11^thHolyfield graduated from one of the greatest shocks of all time.

5. Riddick Bowe in PTS 12 Evander Holyfield, Las Vegas, 1992
Holyfield and Bowe had a lot to prove and they did it. GUNG-HO War of the Ages delighted fans when Bowe defeated a leisurely start to initiate stunning 10^th. Holyfield – showing exceptional courage and courage – he experienced knocking down in 11^th Before the cards are missing.

4. George Foreman in Ko 5 Ron Lyle, Las Vegas, 1976
With his coat of invincibility ruined by Ali 15 months earlier, fearless Lyle went to war and staggered the former master in the first round, but was hurt in the second. In the fourth brigades he was dropped, got up, dressed in Lyle, but he would be raised again. On the fifth Foreman he was struggling again, but led Lyle to the canvas and left.

3. Like Depmsey Wheat 2 Luis Firo, Fresh York, 1923
Polo areas were properly involved by RAMM when Dempsey was dropped at opening times. He was embarrassed, he ripped off and dressed him seven (seven) times before he was knocked out from the ring. It was a massive disaster and was lucky to survive. Dempsey-which later claimed that after this autumn he saw “eight million stars”, ”Firpo outlined in the second.

2. Joe Frazier at PTS 15 Muhammad Ali, Fresh York, 1971
Never before has been expected before this. Two undefeated heavyweights have already advertised as great all time. The phrase has turned around for centuries – which was emphasized by the final knocking, which increased the reputation of both men – deservedly winning the thriller.

1. Muhammad Ali in RTD 14 Joe Frazier, Manila, 1975
Earlier there were fears that Ali did not take the training seriously and that the phrase was falling sharply. While there was excitement, who are approaching elderly enemies, few expected what happened: the competition as exhausting as you ever see, both men strengthened their legends, ruining in the wild slugfest.

Don Cockell was never the same after losing to Rocky Marciano one night in the dusk California day in May 1955. Marciano helped that night, he helped in his legal attack through the comical book of the California Commission and it is a boxing office office. It is to be a barrier separating boxers from the killers. The fight took place after the equally wild trail of the American press in the days before the first bell. We hope that men and women at the Touring Cockella party at their witty isolated isolation, the Bermuda Palms hotel in San Rafael, managed to hide the papers every morning to save Cockella’s blush.

Boss Scribes of American Boxing Press called him “fats”, which was slightly respected compared to other descriptions: “Tubby Target”, “Hiting Lighting Plodder”, “Poradiged Tub of Fat” and “Resourte Fat Man”. Cockell had no chance and had no chance, but this is not a struggle story.

Before the fight at the Kazar stadium in San Francisco, and then at home 49ers, a well -known but unnamed man visited Marciano in the locker room and disturbed the master. “He told me that Cockell would be simple, too simple,” Marciano remembered. “I would like him to never come to the room and I would like it to never hear about him [Cockell]. “Marciano decided to be mercilessly cruel.

“I knew he could fight, he looked like a bathtub, but he had a bad look. He beat good fighters, I knew about it, but this guy thought me – I just had to do the job,” added Marciano.

During the prime ministerial acts there were many faces of boxing mothers, gathered in rooms filled with smoke during the week of fighting, and the great Peter Wilson, Daily Mirror’s The demanding drinking icon wrote: “hardness with banana noses and ears like nuts” were in the ring.

It is unlikely that men at the best places with fruit hooters ever see the CBC 265 principle: “No participant can receive a competition for a low foul claim, nor can he lose his decision because of a low foul.” They were not really scientific types – that’s for sure. However, men in Marciano’s life knew the book, and knew the principle.

By the way, the ring was described by the manager Cockell, John Simpson, as initially the size of the “postage stamp”, followed by a “telephone cabin”. It was a diminutive illuminated stage for slaughter, and before the sun immersed behind the slopes of Kazar’s seats, the men entered the fight. Cockell, which weighed only 14.9 stone, was not as “fat” as the writers suggested. By the way, Cockell later sued Daily Mail for calling him “overweight and flabby.” Henry Cooper was a witness in defense of Cockella, and the boxer won 7500 pounds compensation plus costs. This is a significant sum in the slow 1950s.

There is an unusual version of the fight for people brave enough to watch it. It is in color and is as suggestive as disturbing. Marciano talks about brutality, sometimes honestly for guilt, and at other times unaware of her excesses. It is doubtful that Don Cockell would ever watch and hear this version of the fight, which is a great, great pity. The praise of Marciano during rounds Cockell goes far beyond the widespread acceptance of the Battesea boy’s courage. This is the bravest performance of the British boxer in the fight for the title of master.

However, Marciano also talks about other Cockella resources: his skills, his speed, ability to miss the lack of blows, and then a counterattack. Cockell goes to Marciano, even tries to adapt to pollution. “I fell, but he was very good in it,” said Cockell in the sixties.

“He knows what he is doing,” said Marciano at the end of the first round. This is a real praise and Cockell, having 79, he knew what he was doing. He just never had power.

Unfortunately, for Cockella Marciano also knew what he was doing.

The list of fouls is long and specific, connected by witnesses at night, developed for the hope of full hope of the complaint documentation: renal shots, low blows, heads of the head, elbows, arm, arrows on the bell, a clear blow when Cocell was collapsed. Fouls are numbered, cataloged, saddened, but Cockell never said a word through swollen lips at night. He just shook his head when he asked if he thought Marciano would be thrown to the British ring. Incidentally.

In the seventh round there is a glorious moment when Marciano says that her “combinations”. At this point, it connects with the left hook, the perfect left elbow, and then the perfect ass. Yes, this combination. This is classic. Cockell takes all three, turns to the referee and half-males. Cockell did not have protection that night, and the violation lasted through the sunset.

Marciano hits Cockell from the initial minute to the end in fifty -four seconds of round 9. Cockell has been dropped, he was ailing in a corner of low shots, is cut, is badly stunned, he is stunning, but is still trying to fight. I still sway. “What is a man, what a heart,” says Marciano when his hand is raised.

A few minutes after it was, there was a promise from Promoter Jacek Solomon to provide a rematch in London. One British newspaper said that Cockella’s resistance was “really victory.” It was demanding to endure the fight without this madness.

Cockell lost twice as much and gave up. As I said, he was never the same.