Tommy Burns as champion. Did he face top ten ranked opponets? How many did he beat?

England's Iron Hauge in 1907 would have been a good title defense in hindsight, and I would not rule out an upset.

 

Jeffries correctly said that Burns is a blow-up middleweight, but he was fair to Burns as a referee. Burns, in turn, held nothing against Jeffries, calling him the best of all times.

Burns treated the heavyweight title like a circus act, traveling the world, facing easier regional men, and skipping out on the top-ranked ones. Then he cashed out vs. Jack Johnson.

IMO, Burns is worst regarding facing top talent as champion, even over Jack Johnson though it could be argued that Johnson's top 3-4 were much more deserving of title shots.

Johnson didn't think much of the 5'7" 168 pound Burns either, calling him the easiest man he ever fought.

Once this thread runs its course, I'll tally up all champion from 1899-1923 with ratings for top competition defeated in title bouts.

 

Johnson changes his story so often its hard to know the truth. Film shows Johnson had an easier time with Tommy Burns. Vs Jeffries, Johnson respected him early, often clinching. Vs Burns, he just tees off.

 

Considering the quality of opposition Burns fought for the title Hague would have been a match for him in 1907 or early 1908. Hague could punch. The guys Burns fought, really could not punch hard enough to worry him.

Any way you slice it, Burns only beat one tp ten ranked opponent in all of his title defenses. That's it.

 

Its a thread on successful title defenses, with an examination of how many ranked men were beaten. In this case Tommy Burns has only one title defense win over a ranked opponent.

 

I think they are good, but who would argue that any of the men Burns gave title shots that were not listed belonged in the top ten when he fought them?

 

Johnson said Burns is the easiest man I ever fought. That is true!

If he revised that later, that does not make what I said false. You, sir, can't read. Johnson also said his jaw was never so sore vs. Ketchel, and he dived vs. Willard.

His integrity is not the best, and we both know that. If you only had a point for once things would be different. But all you do is quote books.

Still waiting for you to produce the 1,000 years comment in print.

But the point of this thread is not what Johnson said, rather who Burns successfully defended his title against.