David Vedder. This was his record heading into the WBA World Light Heavyweight title fight against Virgil Hill, after he had captured the USBA LHWT title from Uriah Grant. Who knew that following his victory over Uriah Grant, over the next 8 bouts, he would have 4 "major" title fights (WBA, WBC, and IBF Light Heavyweight, and the WBC Cruiserweight...all losses), 1 "minor" title fight (WBC Continental Americas Light Heavyweight...a win over Ramzi Hassan), 1 title elimination bout (win over Joe Lasisi), with two other bouts (one of which featured pre-title Jeff Harding, who he would be matched up with again in three fights or a title). Are there many fighters out there that can claim something like that? Being 12-8-3, and then following that up with 4 title fights in 8 bouts, none of which were wins? He was thrown into the wolves during those first 23 bouts, and it never really stopped. Even following those 8 bouts, to round out the 90s, he went 1-5, and his opponents combined record going into their bout with Vedder was 93-7-2. That is nothing to say about his appearances in the 2000s, which had him face Byrd, Maskaev, Dokiwari, Brock.
Steve Robinson was 13-9-1 when he won the WBO featherweight title. He had a nice run as Champ until he ran into Naseem Hamed.
