Floyd Patterson still the youngest Heavyweight Champion?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by DS Phil Hunter, Apr 14, 2026.


Floyd Patterson still the youngest Heavyweight Champion?

  1. Yes it's all about Lineal

    3 vote(s)
    60.0%

  2. No the WBC counts

    2 vote(s)
    40.0%

  3. I don't care

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  1. DS Phil Hunter

    DS Phil Hunter Active Member Full Member

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    Do you consider Floyd Patterson still the youngest Heavyweight Champion? Personally I see him as offically the youngest Lineal Heavweight champion and Mike Tyson as the youngest Heavyweight Title Champion. Is there a difference? If Tyson had fought Michael Spinks in 1986 could he have become the youngest Lineal Heavyweight Champion? Spinks refused to fight Tony Tucker for the IBF Heavyweight Title so it became vacant and him and Buster Douglas fought it and later Tyson beat Tucker for the IBF title.
     
    Last edited: Apr 14, 2026
    DS Phil Hunter, Apr 14, 2026
    DS Phil Hunter, Apr 14, 2026
    #1
  2. Boxed Ears

    Boxed Ears this my daddy's account (RIP daddy) Full Member

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    What is the distinction worth? Nothing.


    ...Everything...

    This content is protected
     
    Boxed Ears, Apr 14, 2026
    Boxed Ears, Apr 14, 2026
    #2
  3. Melankomas

    Melankomas Corbett beats your favourite fighter

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    John L. Sullivan was younger than Patterson when he (sorta) TKO’d the reigning champion Joe Goss in the second round of their April 1880 bout that was framed as a gloved exhibition. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it used as a claim in these debates, though.
     
    Melankomas, Apr 14, 2026
    Melankomas, Apr 14, 2026
    #3
    DS Phil Hunter likes this.
  4. DS Phil Hunter

    DS Phil Hunter Active Member Full Member

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    That's quite interesting. He won the American Heavyweight title beating Paddy Ryan in 1882 but didn't offically become World Heavyweight Champion until beating Dominik MCafferey in 1885? some historians don't have him as offical World Heavyweight Champion until he beats Jake Kilrain in 1889 and then loses the title to James J Corbett in 1892.

    https://boxrec.com/wiki/index.php/Lineal_Heavyweight_Champion
     
    DS Phil Hunter, Apr 14, 2026
    DS Phil Hunter, Apr 14, 2026
    #4
  5. Melankomas

    Melankomas Corbett beats your favourite fighter

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    Boxrec’s all over the place with regard to that era of boxing history, the McCaffrey fight didn’t add much if anything to Sullivan’s claim. The latest you could say he won the world title is 1883 imo; when he beat Charlie Mitchell to combine the American and British belts. Still, I think his win over Ryan 1882 and his kinda-sorta win over Goss solidified who the world champion was.

    Well, aside from the Australian belt which is a whole other story lol
     
    Melankomas, Apr 14, 2026
    Melankomas, Apr 14, 2026
    #5
  6. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    I'm like you mate, I see Floyd as the lineal champ, Tyson the youngest to hold an official title.
    I think Tyson could have definitely defeated Spinks in 86 too.
     
    Fergy, Apr 14, 2026
    Fergy, Apr 14, 2026
    #6
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