Who's The Worst Fighter, To Have Held The Heavyweight Title, In The Past 70 years?

But times change and people would not accept that behavior in later eras. Dempsey obviously would not be able to draw the color line either

 

The public at large never viewed Briggs as the man so I would disagree. The public at large no longer saw Foreman as champ

 

There has been champs that was not view as the "Man" when they held it, did people really think Hart or Burns were the best in the world at the time when they were champs?? Or when the heavyweight title was being flip flop around every year in the 30's?? There was some reason Marciano and not Walcott was the betting favorite going into the first fight, and even when Ingo's Bingo found it's mark on Patterson, people really did not think he was the best in the divison when say Liston waiting around.

 

I can't speak for others, but the argument for Spinks in my eyes, is that he simply only had one good win.

Briggs at least had two good wins, many years apart, even if you question one of them.

Rahman has been mentioned, and for all his failings, he was brilliant at times.

His resume is very easy to sell in this game!

 

Old Ass George “couldn’t stop Crawford Grimsley” Foreman.

Edit: It's Ali from the Holmes fight.

 

It doesn't matter what you believe that's irrelevant TBH no offence. The thread asked for the worst Lineal Heavyweight champions. And the fact is Briggs was Lineal whether you like it or not.

I know I'm sounding harsh which isn't my intention, but it's not what I believe or some people believe it's an actual fact that Briggs was Lineal champion for beating Foreman.

No one actually thinks Briggs was "the man" at the time considering the dubious decision over Foreman. But it is what it is and for a brief time Briggs was Lineal until Lewis set the record straight.

 

briggs was pretty limited but with great power.

leon beat a guy, doesn't that make the guy he beat worse? (on the day obviously)

 

Come on Fergy. I’ve explained this one too many times. I don’t have the will to go over this agian.

 

Technically, the worst lineal heavyweight champion ever, and possibly pfp, was the version of Ali who fought Holmes.

 

Another vote for Neon Leon, definitely a for one night only champ, but he beat the man who beat the man, his name will forever be written in the annals of boxing history, no one can take that from him, he did what 99.9% of boxers have never done, he had his chance and he took it.

 

Leon, gotta go with him.

 

When you get down to talking about the bottom four or five, I think Ingemar Johansson becomes relevant to the conversation and maybe even earlier than that.

 

fair point. i didn't know that was lineal, i watched that 20 years ago and never wanna think about it again.

 

Except that depends on your view of lineage. Many feel you have to beat the best to retain lineal status and Foreman didn't do that which is why I don't see Briggs as lineal
Sorry Briggs lineal status is opinion not fact based on how you define lineage.

And Lewis beating Briggs wasn't seen as an especially important win and didn't establish Lewis as champ in the eyes of the public

 

Not spending years holding the title hostage and refusing to face top contenders is a pretty low standard. If champions don't have to face the best it defeats the entire point of lineage.