what champions were protected by their managers on their way up to gain a champion shot and fought guys that had fair records or were past it and just needed paydays? i believe graziano was protected by his managers.
how was graziano protected? ive read his book and he mentions some fighter he fought early in his career who was the next sugar ray and was battering graziano for a few rounds then rocky kod him.
I don't think George Foreman was protected or at least not in his first career.. He won the title from Joe Frazier... Defended against Ken Norton and Jose Roman ( who I admit was a bum ), then fought Muhammad Ali.. So of the four men listed we have Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Jose Roman, and Muhammad Ali.. With the exception of Roman, that is a pretty steep hill for any champion to climb...In his second career he dodged a few bullets after beating Moorer, but was rightfully stripped of his title.. It wasn't like he was allowed to hold onto his crown forever while facing anyone he wanted. I think Floyd Patterson is worth a shout in this category.
i see where you're coming from but i'd be reluctant to call one of the best resumes in modern boxing protected. he was pampered to be sure coming out of the olympics but he fought just about anybody who was anybody, well past when he had to
bingo. though hatton broke free and spent his twilight years fighting the best calzaghe never broke free and spent years fighting other fighters in their twilight. kessler may be the only time he took a legitimate challenge
Duillio Loi for whatever reason fought mostly soft(or obscure at least)opposition for a long time.I haven't really looked into his career enough to say if it was because he was being 'protected' though. His late step up is mirrored by Calzaghe for the 00's.Albeit against genuinely excellent opposition to start with and not an overhyped unskilled muscleman.
Never understood fascination with Lacy. As well as some people hyping Kessler as a really great fighter.
they made Lacey an absolute beast on fight night round 3 As for the question, Jack Dempsey was the most protected fighter ever