Outside of Clay, Lewis and Holyfield, didnt most Heavweight ATGs rule over 'weak' divisions?

Ezzard Charles didn’t, and Tunney, if you count him, didn’t, but otherwise, yes. That’s the nature of the heavyweight division. Big and stiff.

 

Well most heavyweights are fat guys who don’t even bother making weight in any other division

 

Holyfield won the lineal title from Douglas, made
just 3 defenses against two 40 year olds, and Bert Cooper as a late sub. He lost the title to Bowe, won it back, and lost to Moorer.

This is not an elite reign or "rule" over a strong division.

Lewis had a better reign, but it wasn't all that great either.

Louis had the most difficult reign. The sheer volume of defenses over so many years over such a dynamic variety of challengers.

 

Holyfield didn't "rule" Bowe. He lost the trilogy. Foreman was lineal and Bowe was recognized as RING #1 in the mid 90s, as pivotal as Holyfield vs Tyson was...it wasn't for the top spot in the division, it was supposed to be a stepping stone defense for Tyson over a washed up name.

Foreman and Holmes are Holyfield's best successful defenses. Both 40+ year old holdovers from past era's...this doesn't bold well for a "elite strong division reign". During his lineal reign Holyfield struggled to find valid contenders due to injuries and upsets, then he was upset and lost a trilogy to Bowe. Not what I think of for "ruled a strong division".

 

Of all the champions to single out for not ruling a weak division these seem two of the strangest.

Tunney fought Dempsey who hadn't fought in 3 years, then Dempsey coming off a win he should've lost to Sharkey, then Tom Heeney. It's not like he has heavyweight wins before that that make up for his title reign.

Charles fought in an undoubtedly weak HW division, beating a past it Ray, shot (though still capable) Joe Louis, and good wins over Walcott. Better than Tunney, and a good run, but a weak division.

 

Holmes and Louis' divisions weren't weak. Neither was Wlad's, despite its reputation.

 

I think Holmes gets slept on here. He didn't fight everyone for sure, but he did rule over a competitive group. Tyson and Wlad as well. At least they actually ruled.

Charles gets credit for being busy, but his challengers were not a strong crop.

 

I think the credit Charles should get is that he wasn't ever even close to being a heavyweight, yet made 8 defences. He wasn't even a big light heavy.

 

Charles deserves lots of credit, just not for a topic like this.

I think we need to determine the few Champions who actually "ruled a division" then go from there. Also what does this mean? You can be a Champion in a strong era and still beat weak challengers. Lineal 90s Foreman comes to mind for that.

 

I don't think Joe Louis ruled over a weak division. For the greater part of his career he was just way better than any other Heavyweight.

 

As for Charles, what about Bivins, Harold Johnson, Valdez, and Satterfield? Seems like a pretty darn good era to me.

 

Wladimir Klitschko? You have to be joking. His signature win is David Haye. He ruled over old, useless or short opposition, mainly.

Byrd, Jefferson, Shufford, Botha, Mercer, McCline, Brock, Austin, Brewster, Ibragimov, Thompson, Rahman, Chagaev, Chambers, Peters, Haye, Mormeck, Wach, Leapai, Pianeta, Povetkin, Pulev and Jennings.

That is incredibly weak. The biggest names on his resume:

Byrd - 6' tall, a blown up middleweight who made a name for himself at HW by losing every round to Vitali, who decided it wasn't worth the hassle to continue against Byrd with a torn rotator cuff. Only ever beat past it HW's on true merit.

Mercer - 6'1'', 41 years old at the time and only ever held the WBO belt in the early 90s - not recognised as a legitimate world title back then.

Ibragimov - Overbilled at 6'2'', one of the most uninspiring HW champions in recent memory. Laboured his way to a UD over 45 year old Holyfield. Turned up for the payday and retired.

Rahman - 6'2'', 36 year old ghost of Rahman, who never came close to winning another fight at a meaningful level.

Chagaev - 6' Russian couldn't even knock out 41 year old Matt Skelton.

Haye - 6'2'' man who had to pump himself up to heavyweight by his own admission.

Povetkin - 6'2'' Russian never has held a legitimate heavyweight title, "beat" Povetkin in one of the most disgraceful performances by a boxer (and referee) I have ever seen. Embarrassing.

Lost in devastating fashion to mediocre opposition in Puritty, Sanders and Brewster. Stopped by Joshua and completely schooled by Fury. It's no wonder he cherry picked so much.

Yes.... notice the theme? Bizarre who Wladimir is one of the forum's darlings. These are facts.

Same forum cites Oleksandr Usyk who is lean at 220lbs 6'3'' as too small.