By world title - one of the four major belts (WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO)

sam langford
joe jenette
cleveland williams

The best heavyweight NEVER to win the world title was Earnie Shavers. That guy fought everybody, it was just unfortunate he was in the same era as Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes! The guy was a wrecking machine!

''MERCILESS'' RAY MERCER! Ray NOT ONLY may be the best heavyweight not to win the World Title, but Ray NEVER EVEN RECIEVED A SHOT at the ''Real'' World Title!{Ray did hold the LIGHTLY REGARDED WBO belt. But that belt WAS NOT at all considered a legitimate part of the Heavyweight Title in the 90's}. The Undisputed Title consisted of the WBA, IBF, & the WBC. The terribly tough era that he competed in was a big reason why Mercer unfortunately never got a shot. This 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist may be most famous for his truly Horrifying destruction of Tommy Morrison. HOWEVER, that fight does not even begin to scratch the surface of just how good Ray was. Ray fought Evander Holyfield AND Lennox Lewis, BOTH IN THIER PRIMES{in non title fights}..And he took them BOTH to HELL & back in the process. Holyfield had to pull off one of his fabled DRAMATIC comebacks in order to win his all out WAR with Mercer. As for the Lewis fight, MANY believe that Ray ACTUALLY BEAT LENNOX in a very close fight, despite losing a controversial decision. Ray Mercer ALSO had the much heralded distinction of having one of the Great All Time TITANIC CHINS. NEITHER, Morrison is lightning hook or Lewis is devastating overhand right could knock Mercer down. ONLY Holyfield is Legendary left hook {that knocked EVERYONE silly} was able to floor Ray IN HIS PRIME. If Ray Mercer did not compete in the incredibly tough era of the HOLYFIELD-LEWIS 90'S,Mercer is legacy could have been much different. Ray not only very well could have been champion, but he had the ABILITY to be a Great One.

Sam Langford
Earnie Shavers

Earnie Shaver