Just how great is it to be a Two Time Heavyweight Champ

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by El Gallo Negro, Jan 18, 2021.


Page 1 of 2
  1. El Gallo Negro

    El Gallo Negro Active Member banned Full Member

    1,266
    1,277
    Nov 8, 2020
    Floyd Patterson
    Cassius Clay
    Mike Tyson
    Evander Holyfield
    Lennox Lewis
    Hasim Rahman
    Wladamir Klitschko
    Vitali Klitschko
    Tyson Fury
    AJ

    Anyone I forget?

    This list is purely off memory and my awesome depth of boxing knowledge..
    Was John John Ruiz a two timer?

    Its a pretty short and distinguished list none the less.
    Man people will scoff at Hasim Rahman, but the man is still a two time heavyweight champion all the same.

    It seems there has been a significant increase in 2 time champs over the last 15 years or so...... so it may be an achievement that has lost a bit of its luster.

    If you ask me it's still a huge achievement though, and anyone who accomplishes such a feat should get substantial points towards ATG or HOF status.

    I will say Vitali, Rahman and Fury should all have asterisks by their names...

    Fury and Rahman because neither ever actually defended their titles (honestly ill have to double check Rahman, he may have had one defense that ended in a draw)...
    And Vitali cause he was kind of a champion emeritus

    But all three of those guys still went out and won the championship on two separate occasions
     
    El Gallo Negro, Jan 18, 2021
    El Gallo Negro, Jan 18, 2021
    #1
  2. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

    7,901
    9,151
    Apr 9, 2020
    Whether u consider Moorer a two-time champion or a three-time champion, he still qualifies. I don't know if u think of Tim Witherspoon as a two-time champion or not.
     
    William Walker, Jan 18, 2021
    William Walker, Jan 18, 2021
    #2
  3. El Gallo Negro

    El Gallo Negro Active Member banned Full Member

    1,266
    1,277
    Nov 8, 2020
    Definitely consider MM...
    I just straight forgot him
     
    El Gallo Negro, Jan 18, 2021
    El Gallo Negro, Jan 18, 2021
    #3
    William Walker likes this.
  4. Boxing2019

    Boxing2019 If you want peace, prepare war. banned Full Member

    7,175
    5,448
    Jul 22, 2019
    Holyfield 4 times...almost 5...he won with Valuev
     
    Boxing2019, Jan 18, 2021
    Boxing2019, Jan 18, 2021
    #4
    William Walker likes this.
  5. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    24,640
    18,437
    Jun 25, 2014
    Being a two-time "World" champion is really impressive.

    It's a very short list - Patterson, Ali, Holyfield, Foreman, Lewis and, technically, Fury - although Fury never really lost it in the ring. He wasn't gone any longer than Dempsey was during his reign.

    * Patterson when he defeated Moore and Johansson.

    * Ali when he defeated Liston, Foreman and Spinks (only three-time "world" champ).

    * Holyfield when he defeated Douglas and Bowe.

    * Foreman when he defeated Frazier and Moorer.

    * Lewis when he defeated Holyfield and Rahman.

    * Fury when he defeated Klitschko, officially retired, then beat Wilder for the Ring belt (basically another Patterson-Moore/Lewis-Holyfield vacant "world" title situation).

    That's it, really.
     
    Last edited: Jan 18, 2021
    Dubblechin, Jan 18, 2021
    Dubblechin, Jan 18, 2021
    #5
    McGrain likes this.
  6. El Gallo Negro

    El Gallo Negro Active Member banned Full Member

    1,266
    1,277
    Nov 8, 2020
    Shame on me for forgetting Foreman.

    I'm split on the whole 'world' title aspect however. In today's era that would winning and retaining the undisputed title and then winning it again which would be damn near impossible because youd get stripped of at least one of your titles along the way.

    I for one still hold the linear in high regard. It is the only title not corrupted by greed and money
     
    El Gallo Negro, Jan 18, 2021
    El Gallo Negro, Jan 18, 2021
    #6
    Gazelle Punch and William Walker like this.
  7. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    24,640
    18,437
    Jun 25, 2014
    Well, it's not that confusing. Tyson Fury is the "World" Champ. Whoever beats him will be the World champ. It only gets confusing when there isn't one.

    So, hope that cleared it up for you. (LOL)
     
    Dubblechin, Jan 18, 2021
    Dubblechin, Jan 18, 2021
    #7
    sweetsci likes this.
  8. sweetsci

    sweetsci Well-Known Member Full Member

    1,880
    1,832
    Jan 22, 2008
    The list could be a lot longer or a lot shorter, depending on how you look at it. Do we just go lineal, or do we count WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, NBA, EBU World, NYSAC? These, and more, were considered "world" titles. But the OP didn't specify world titles, they mentioned organizational champions. So if you count USBA, NABF, InterContinental (doesn't that mean "world" anyway, strictly speaking?), and so many more, there are a lot more 2+ heavyweight champions.
     
    sweetsci, Jan 18, 2021
    sweetsci, Jan 18, 2021
    #8
    KidGalahad likes this.
  9. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    24,640
    18,437
    Jun 25, 2014
    Why confuse it when there is a World Champ?

    Tyson Fury is the World Champ. See how easy that was?
     
    Dubblechin, Jan 18, 2021
    Dubblechin, Jan 18, 2021
    #9
    sweetsci likes this.
  10. sweetsci

    sweetsci Well-Known Member Full Member

    1,880
    1,832
    Jan 22, 2008
    Oh, I totally agree. But most people don't. We wouldn't have this mess if they did.
     
    sweetsci, Jan 18, 2021
    sweetsci, Jan 18, 2021
    #10
    El Gallo Negro likes this.
  11. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

    7,901
    9,151
    Apr 9, 2020
    Shame on me too!
     
    William Walker, Jan 18, 2021
    William Walker, Jan 18, 2021
    #11
  12. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

    7,901
    9,151
    Apr 9, 2020
    Glad 2 see u weren't banned 2 long. Welcome back.
     
    William Walker, Jan 18, 2021
    William Walker, Jan 18, 2021
    #12
  13. El Gallo Negro

    El Gallo Negro Active Member banned Full Member

    1,266
    1,277
    Nov 8, 2020
    Thanks man. It's been a living nightmare
     
    El Gallo Negro, Jan 18, 2021
    El Gallo Negro, Jan 18, 2021
    #13
    William Walker likes this.
  14. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

    71,572
    27,216
    Feb 15, 2006
    You have to lose the title first of course, so it is a qualified compliment.

    Having said that, maintaining elite form over time, is harder than dominating for a short period.

    If you have a two tie m champion, you are probably looking at an exceptional fighter.
     
    janitor, Jan 18, 2021
    janitor, Jan 18, 2021
    #14
  15. fistfighter

    fistfighter 44-3-1 (42KO's) Full Member

    172
    235
    Oct 3, 2016
    Riddick Bowe. If you count his WBO title win over Herbie Hide.
     
    fistfighter, Jan 18, 2021
    fistfighter, Jan 18, 2021
    #15
    RulesMakeItInteresting likes this.
Page 1 of 2