@Fogger inspired me to post this question with his question about non-title fights. I’ve pondered from time to time. I’d call it trivia but when you do that, it’s expected that you can provide the answer. And I honestly don’t know. For any weight but heavyweight, a champion can easily have a non-title fight by scheduling it over the weight class limit of the division in which he holds the honors. Even one fighter being over by a fraction of a pound and it’s not a title fight, so a lightweight can arrange a non-title fight at 140 (and both could come in at 135 1/4 for that matter) and you’ve got your non-title scrap. But the heavyweight class weight limit doesn’t exist — it’s unlimited. So the belt should be on the line anytime he fights, regardless of scheduled distance, as long as the bout is sanctioned. And to clarify, by sanctioned I mean a commission or authority (be it state or city commission or whatnot) is supervising it and considers it to be a legit, real fight. Now I know there have been exhibitions, but that’s not what I’m looking for here: I want to know, presuming it has ever happened (and I somehow vaguely think it has) when the last time a sitting heavyweight champion had a legit, sanctioned fight where his title wasn’t on the line. I’m thinking the rules/consensus on this has changed over time and at some point in the past a heavyweight champ could engage in such a bout. Anyone with any answers?
The first Louis-Walcott fight in 1947 was originally scheduled for 10 rounds which meant that, by New York rules, it wouldn't qualify as a title bout so that Louis could have lost the decision but kept the title. Even then, it was acknowledged that if Walcott had won by ko he would be recognised as champion. Similar situation with no-decision bouts like Jess Willard v Frank Moran - Moran could win the title but only by knockout. I don't think there's been a situation where the heavyweight champion could get knocked out but keep the title.
That Louis v Walcott 1 bit of trivia I had no idea! thank you for sharing that! The only circumstance in which i could imagine a belt would not be on the line when a fighter is champion is if the heavyweight champ drops below his weight class?
I don't think that's been put to the test, but I assume it would still count. There's no rule that you have to be over the light-heavyweight (now cruiserweight) limit to compete for the heavyweight title.
I remember talk in late 1967 of a proposed fight between exiled champ Muhammad Ali and Zora Folley to be fought on an Indian reservation over a distance of 10 rounds, with the title not at stake. Nat Fleischer commented that if such a fight took place, the title would be at stake. The point turned out to be moot, for the bout never took place.
Evander Holyfield Vs. Riddick Bowe 3 Both were Heavyweight champions, but the fight was not for the title.
A recent example involved an "interim" champ. Dillian Whyte was awarded the "interim" WBC heavyweight belt when he defeated Oscar Rivas. Then Whyte failed a drug test. Then he appealed. Then the WBC said he could keep the belt. Then he fought Mariusz Wach and apparently the "interim" belt wasn't on the line but nobody said 'hey, why isn't the interim belt on the line?" (Except for me, I think.) Then Whyte fought Povetkin, and it was on the line, and Whyte lost it by knockout in Eddie Hearn's backyard. That whole thing was a complete cluster****. But since it was an interim belt, nobody seemed to care. The Tommy Morrison-Tim Tomaschek fight was one where the WBO rep on site agreed that it would a title fight (when Tim stepped in at the very last minute), but the WBO "brass" said afterword it never should've been sanctioned. But the WBO rep on site, before everyone had a mobile phone, apparently panicked (under pressure from the promoter and ESPN) and approved it so the fight could go on and wouldn't have to be cancelled. But, historically, a heavyweight champion's title is on the line every time he steps in the ring for a "real" fight ... not an exhibition or a sparring session. The champs in the lower weights get away with it because they fight over-the-weight bouts. Heavyweights can't fight over-the-weight fights, as there is no weight limit.
