Worst HW champ H2H?

Leon admitted on camera that he did not like roadwork, but he was an amazing natural athlete who did not breath hard after running wind sprints. Excellent hand speed and punch. With a dedicated work ethic and persistent bob and weave, he might've been a two fisted lower case Frazier. Yes, his best was crushed by Holmes, but Larry was probably a top three ATG HW at that moment.

 

Hart was the first that came to my mind, but he does hold a H2H win over a prime great HW + beat another HoFer in Jack Root.

I think Spinks would fare quite well H2H vs. some of the CW-sized HW champs. For example, I think he would manhandle & outhustle Corbett.

I think Burns is a criminally underrated fighter, even among HWs. I like him > Corbett.

Besides, he can't be "the worst" H2H if he has a decisive win over a prime Hart.

I actually overlooked Braddock when I made my pick. Outside of his cast iron chin, he was just a decent but unspectacular boxer. Corbett was probably slicker than Braddock, but Braddock's sturdiness could enable him to beat fighters Corbett couldn't.

 

Say now, how about Carnera?

 

Primo severely sprained his ankle on the first knockdown Max Baer bowled him over with, and Carnera got hospitalized for it. But he didn't stay down. Nobody ever kept him down. His then record reach, height, physical strength and stamina could make him a problem for significantly smaller heavyweights.

 

That's true, but I figured his name should be in question if Braddock's is, as I see James beating him. I wouldn’t reckon that he loses to most of the smaller champs from previous eras, but it's not impossible.
In his defense, he does have some pretty undervalued wins, such as the Sharkey (Although the Gob could certainly be hot and cold when he fought).

 

All the above???

 

Sullivan. Theres not a single other HW champ who shouldn't be favored to beat him.

Braddock and Carnera don't really belong in this conversation tbh. Especially H2H. Hart would lose against most 20th century champs but hes still underrated.

 

I think that a few people here woudl strongly disagree with you there.

 

If we are talking head to head, then it is probably not Willard or Carnera, simply due to their size.

They would be bound to be too big for someone on the list.

 

Marvin Hart or Tommy Burns

 

The answer is Leon Spinks.

 

The McCoy fight was regarded as such a flagrant fix that it actually jeopardized the future of the sport.

Outside of beating an effectively 4-years-retired Sullivan, his most notable feats were non-wins vs. Jeffries & Jackson.

He is undoubtedly one of the greatest pioneers in boxing history, & for that he deserves to be enshrined in the Hall. But simply judging him in & of himself, I'd say he was one of the overall weakest & least accomplished fighters to win the HW title.

 

If the question is "Who pummels Corbett for a full 10-15 rounds?," then yes.

 

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