Four forgotten British Heavyweight World title challenges

First published at Roundtable

As Fabio Wardley prepared for the weekend and his fight with New Zealand’s smiling bomber, Joseph Parker, he becomes the latest British puncher to challenge for a version of the world title. His, like many others, is a tale of the unexpected given the Ipswich man had no Amateur fights and started his pugilistic life on the ‘White-Collar’ circuit.

History fondly remembers the great British heavyweights of course; Lennox Lewis, Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury – all ultimately successful on the world stage – chief among them. Henry Cooper, famous for his brave but doomed challenges to Muhammad Ali, is still revered, along with the eternally popular Frank Bruno who won the title at the third attempt.

But there are British heavyweights who challenged for versions of the world title, the memory of which often remains trapped in the pages of time.

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Lamon Brewster wants Marty Rogan next!

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Rusty Chagaev still too smooth for Skelton

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