Worse 6 defenses and a title won in a row, is there any worse than Wilder?

Dempsey’s record was pretty bad. Won the title from a 37 year old 3 year retired Jess Willard then defended it 5 times over 7 years. Among those defenses were guys like Miske, Carpentier, and Brennon. Of course if you’re going to put someone in a small box with specific conditions of exactly SIX defenses Immediately following the capture of a belt then It’s hard to come up with a name... Then again wilder wasn’t holding lineage either

 

Between winning the HW crown from Marvin Hart and losing it to Jack Johnson, Tommy Burns made 11 defenses.

How many of his opponents in these fights, would even be sanctioned to fight Wilder today?

 

Not even in the same ball park.

Those guys at least were probably in the top ten of what was available.

 

I don't think that you would have had any difficulty getting them sanctioned, but they were Commonwealth grade opponents, for the most part.

 

I really like Tommy Burns, but a lot of his defenses are bad.

 

Artur Grigorian's are pretty damn poor.

 

This upset me. Not one of these guys was ring magazine ranked and under the age of 36! Its belt milking at the highest level. The only lineal champion who had this many defenses that fought worst was Jack Johnson who not only avoided the best talents he had issues with his title opponent selections.


1 ) Philadelphia Jack O'Brien - Draws with a middleweight, who had no power and was near the end of his career. Out jabbed and outboxed according to some primary sources. The fight ended in a newspaper draw. Johnson had 40+ pounds advantage here. A decent pick; however Johnson if his defense was that good should have won easy. O'Brien was too good of a mover to be clinched. Stock DOWN

2 ) Tony Ross short, and fat. Winner of just 1 of his past 6 fights, he had no business getting a title shot. Johnson won easy on points by was stung by Ross. STOCK DOWN

3 ) Al Kaufman Ko'd before by the light hitting O'brien. After losing on points to Johnson, he was Ko'd 5 more times. There were many better to pick from. STOCK UP, a little

4 ) Stanley Ketchel A middle weight, that hurt and floored Johnson. Johnson was much taller and was 40 pounds heavier. STOCK DOWN

5 ) James J Jeffries. A money fight which make the title defense okay. However Johnson beat the shell of Jim Jeffries. Jeffries ballooned up to over 300 pounds during retirement, and had not fought in 6 years. There was no warm up fight, and he was old. STOCK UP ( Based on who Jeffries was )

6 ) Fireman Jim Flynn - A DQ win over a gusty but very limited fighter. Many at ring side felt Johnson was trying but Flynn though marked up had plenty of energy left. Flynn was Ko'd 26 times, which could be a record at heavyweight. STOCK DOWN

7 ) Battling Jim Johnson had a known 27-10-5 record, however a legit heavyweight. Johnson was likely the better. One judge voted for him, the other two called draw. Johnson was nearly stopped at the end of the 10th and final round, likely injuring his arm during a fall in the 10th. There was no re-match. STOCK DOWN

8 Frank Moran - This was a boring fight. Moran wasn't among the best white hope out there. It was close, Johnson won it. STOCK NEITHER UP OR DOWN

9 ) Jess Willard - The best Johnson fought in a title defense, Willard knocked him out. The surviving film shows the action was close. Johnson was hurt badly with a body shot in the 25th and taken out cleanly in the 26th. STOCK UP, considering Johnson's age.


Tommy Burns title defenses are just as bad, perhaps worse.

 

It's amazing how Mendoza can find a way to criticize Jack Johnson in every thread!

 

Easily the worst 6 defenses of all time. When a world champion is making defences against guys like molina and arreola just shows how far the sports regressed

 

Which title opponents do you think where better. Wilder's or Johnson's?

If we are talking about weak title runs, Burns, Johnson and Wilder qualify.

 

I think Molina rocked Wilder,IMO he was better than Duhaupass who gave Wilder a black eye.

Szpikla was about even with Wilder until Wilder landed the bomb.

A very old / fat / inactive Stiverene was not as good as Molina either.

 

Probably Johnson, but not by a lot.

 

I would agree. And I would say Burns had the weakest title run overall.