I do not think that having a weak champion is necisarily a mark of a weak era. They sometimes beat the odds. Can you come up with some examples?
It may of been a 'lucky' win, that was soon 'put right', but for six months Billy Backus sat on the Welterweight throne in an era of Napoles et al.
I am with you on Moorer older Foreman and Briggs. I think that Leon Spinks did exploit a plane of weakness in the divisions history, when Ali was on the way out and Holmes hadn't realy arrived yet.
You could add Buster Douglas, Oliver McCall (non lineal), Bruce Seldon (also nonlineal). Leon Spinks became champion in 1978, same year when Holmes defeated Norton, so you could argue that Holmes arrived at the same year Spinks became champion.
I would have though Al McCoy a better example from that era. Either way, it is interesting that both men got to the top in an era of giants.
Another good shout. Both outside bets on paper you'd have thought. I picked Wilson as I've read and seen bits about him being criticised when he was champ', mainly for ducking Greb (took the fight eventually mind)
in a time of peak lennox lewis, riddick bowe, holyfield, and early 2nd-era tyson....frank bruno became a champ.
Alphabet titlists don't count. It is certainly curious that Moorer, Foreman and Briggs established lineage among these giants.