Long Reigning Champions That Don't Impress You

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by haNZAgod, May 23, 2026.


Page 1 of 5
  1. haNZAgod

    haNZAgod Member Full Member

    140
    398
    Oct 5, 2016
    Just curious as to if there are any good or great former champions that never really impressed you all that much. This could be for any number of reasons, maybe they had some weak defenses or perhaps you didn't like their style. We'll say the stipulation has to be that the fighter was champion for 3 years or more and defended their title at least 5 times.

    For me, it has to be the long reigning Super Featherweight champ Samuel Serrano. I don't doubt that he's highly ranked among the all timers at 130 but for someone who defended his title 13 times, he doesn't exactly have a murderers row of a resume and I found him a bit ungainly and uncoordinated at times. Never really enjoyed watching his fights.
     
    haNZAgod, May 23, 2026
    haNZAgod, May 23, 2026
    #1
    Fireman Fred and Jel like this.
  2. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    17,460
    37,563
    Jan 14, 2022
    Sven Ottke I think is the poster child for this thread.

    Ugly style with alot of gift decisions.
     
    Dynamicpuncher, May 23, 2026
    Dynamicpuncher, May 23, 2026
    #2
    ipitythefool, Bronze Tiger, Terror and 7 others like this.
  3. haNZAgod

    haNZAgod Member Full Member

    140
    398
    Oct 5, 2016
    He's certainly been tarnished with that reputation and Robin Reid should have definitely got the decision in their fight, it was a disgusting performance by the referee. Personally I've always viewed Ottke as a good technician, solid skills and maybe even a tad underrated these days because I rarely see anyone say anything good about him. I'm trying to remember but it's been years since I last watched his fights, what were the other controversial decisions?
     
    haNZAgod, May 23, 2026
    haNZAgod, May 23, 2026
    #3
  4. cslb

    cslb Puerto Rican Uppercut Full Member

    20,748
    12,684
    Jan 27, 2014
    Wladimir Klitschko. He never fought a HOF opponent during his title reign. His fight against Fury was one of the worse heavyweight title fights I have ever seen.
     
    cslb, May 23, 2026
    cslb, May 23, 2026
    #4
    Bronze Tiger, Terror, ETM and 9 others like this.
  5. Ioakeim Tzortzakis

    Ioakeim Tzortzakis "The David Haye of Loma's Gay" -Edgar Allan Poe Full Member

    2,041
    7,162
    Aug 27, 2020
    Vitali Klitschko and Paul Spadafora.
     
    Ioakeim Tzortzakis, May 23, 2026
    Ioakeim Tzortzakis, May 23, 2026
    #5
    Bronze Tiger, slash and ikrasevic like this.
  6. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    17,460
    37,563
    Jan 14, 2022
    From memory I thought he deserved to lose one of the Brewer fights i think the 1st one ?

    I know he had alot of other close decisions aswell.

    It's the fact he always had close decisions go his way and there was alot of them.

    I guess you could say he's a bit underrated with the amount of hate he gets.

    But I certainly don't think he deserved to have 20+ title defences there should've been atleast 2 losses that ended that reign IMO.
     
    Dynamicpuncher, May 23, 2026
    Dynamicpuncher, May 23, 2026
    #6
    Fireman Fred likes this.
  7. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

    5,851
    11,789
    Dec 17, 2018
    I didn't find the 39 x successful defences of Samson Dutch Boy Gym's WBF title overly impressive.
     
    Greg Price99, May 23, 2026
    Greg Price99, May 23, 2026
    #7
    Bronze Tiger, Terror, greynotsoold and 4 others like this.
  8. jont

    jont Active Member Full Member

    1,166
    384
    Sep 27, 2004
    I dont think Dutchboy's belt was counted as a legitimate title compared to the Big 4 but he was a good fighter for sure
     
    jont, May 23, 2026
    jont, May 23, 2026
    #8
    Terror, Fogger and Greg Price99 like this.
  9. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

    5,851
    11,789
    Dec 17, 2018
    You're correct, it wasn't.

    Such an odd career, 43-0, 40-0 in title fights, yet never bet a Ring ranked top 10 contender.
     
    Greg Price99, May 23, 2026
    Greg Price99, May 23, 2026
    #9
    Smokin Bert, Jel, Hotep Kemba and 1 other person like this.
  10. Hotep Kemba

    Hotep Kemba Active Member Full Member

    553
    764
    Apr 19, 2023
    Champions based in Germany are allowed to fight bum ass eurotrash for their title defences. People you've never even heard of and names with no links on Wikipedia. Sven Ottke, Jürgen Brahmer, Arthur Abraham, Felix Sturm, Robert Stieglitz etc. They have over 30 title fights wins between them and probably have fewer than 5 wins over top 10 ranked contenders. The fact it's allowed to happen is embarrassing.
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2026
    Hotep Kemba, May 23, 2026
    Hotep Kemba, May 23, 2026
    #10
    Homericlegend03, Terror, Smoochie and 3 others like this.
  11. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    21,783
    34,913
    Oct 12, 2010
    Johnny Nelson
     
    Flo_Raiden, May 23, 2026
    Flo_Raiden, May 23, 2026
    #11
    Terror and Smokin Bert like this.
  12. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

    65,741
    52,820
    Feb 11, 2005
    Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali
     
    Seamus, May 23, 2026
    Seamus, May 23, 2026
    #12
    Melankomas and Hotep Kemba like this.
  13. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Loyal Member

    31,408
    42,247
    Jul 4, 2014
    Camacho after the Rosario fight.
     
    catchwtboxing, May 23, 2026
    catchwtboxing, May 23, 2026
    #13
  14. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

    10,756
    13,608
    Mar 2, 2006
    Gianfranco Rosi
     
    scartissue, May 23, 2026
    scartissue, May 23, 2026
    #14
    Fireman Fred likes this.
  15. Yorbals

    Yorbals Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,237
    2,924
    Jul 28, 2025
    It’s Wlad
     
    Yorbals, May 23, 2026
    Yorbals, May 23, 2026
    #15
    Man_Machine and ikrasevic like this.
Page 1 of 5