Phoenices: Greatest stretches between defeats.

In between De Jesus I and Leonard II Duran won 41 in a row including 13 title fights.

 

Sergio Martinez? 9 years.
Lennox Lewis? 7.

Duran went like 8 years undefeated between DeJesus and Leonard.

Adonis Stevenson went 8.

Jack Johnson went 10 years. Between 1905-15.

 

Eusebio Pedroza - 1977-85, 25 fights unbeaten including 21 title fights. Not the most stellar opposition but beat Rocky Lockridge twice and Juan LaPorte. Had he fought and beat Salvador Sanchez though...

 

Benny Leonard went 10 years undefeated. From Britton to McLarnin.

 

Sonny Liston went 10 years as well, between Marshall and Ali

 

George Foreman....

77-91.

 

He also has the advantage of fighting who he wants, when he wants to, with whatever drugs he wants to use and with a blank scorecard that he can write in himself and hand the judges.

Didnt really want to pile on. But not only is he talented, but hes shrewd, cunning and most likely corrupt.

Wouldnt be surprising to see him keep churning out victories.

 

Azumah Nelson - 1982-1990, 18 fights unbeaten, including 13 straight title fight wins. Beat (an admittedly faded) Wilfredo Gomez and Mario Martinez twice. Might be a little thin...

 

Ooh, now those are stretching it a bit!

 

I'm not sure if they had to be active or not.

 

Well, I figured they did - so it was win steak combined with resume that was the criteria? I guess Joe Louis was out of the ring for 4 years of his title reign but that wasn't by choice. Foreman in particular with his 10 year retirement probably shouldn't qualify. Leonard did fight some quality opposition prior to his retirement at least.

Following the same logic, the other great Leonard (Ray) went nearly 11 years without defeat between losing to Duran in Montreal and losing to Norris in his third (or fourth?) comeback in that period. He beat Roberto Duran, Tommy Hearns and Marvin Hagler during that timeframe and was 9-0-1.