Barney Ross FIRST 3 three weight divisions champ.

Well, the day after fight reports from the Ross/Klick fight do illustrate that California also backed Ross' championship at 140 after the Klick fight, and for one such example;

"Ross is recognized as Junior Welterweight titleholder in Illinois and California" - AP report dated March 6th, 1934

 

I was SHBF, he did not win that; Rodrigues was WBF champ, he did not win that!

What you should say is

In 1970 everybody that mattered WBA, WBC, The Ring and Muhammad Ali agreed that the winner of Joe Frazier/Jimmy Ellis would become World Champion.

Frazier beat Ellis

Foreman beat Frazier

Ali beat Foreman

Spinks beat Ali

Ali beat Spinks

Holmes beat Ali

Spinks beat Holmes

Tyson beat Spinks

Douglas beat Tyson

Holyfield beat Douglas

Bowe beat Holyfield

Holyfield beat Bowe

Moorer beat Holyfield

Foreman beat Moorer

Briggs beat Foreman

Lewis beat Briggs

and then Rahman beat Lewis

Rahman's championship was legitmate because of what happened in 1970, it has nothing in common with Ross though.

 

I don't want to live in a world where a lummox like Shannon Briggs is a linear heavyweight champion.

 

It's pretty nauseating for sure. I keep reminding myself that he didn't beat Foreman. The only saving grace of that fight was that it meant that lineage would be transferred down the line, because I think Foreman was close to retiring.

 

The 130 and 140 pound weight classes are exciting divisions with rich histories. But when I think about three division champions I don't see these weight classes the same way as the main weight classes. It doesn't seem like they were recognized around the world as legitimate weight classes during the days of Barney Ross. It doesn't take anything away from Ross, and I still credit him with the title, but I agree that it is not the same as what Armstrong did.

 

Ring Record Book 1964

1933
June 23--Tony Canzoneri, Chicago _____W 10
(Won Lightweight & Jr. Welterweight Titles)
Sept. 12--Tony Canzoneri, N. Y. C. ______W 15
(Lightweight Title Bout)
Gave up lightweight title
Nov. 17--Sammy Fuller, Chicago _______W 10
(Jr. Welterweight Title Bout)

1934
May 28--Jimmy McLarnin, N. Y. C. ____W 15
(Won World Welter Title)
Sept. 17--Jimmy McLarnin, N. Y. C. ____L 15
(Lost World Welter Title)
Dec. 10--*Bobby Pacho, Cleveland _____W 12
*Jr. Welterweight Title Bout.

1935
May 28--Jimmy McLarnin, N. Y. C. _____W 15
(Re-won World Welterweight Championship)
Gave up Jr. Welterweight Title
Nov. 29--Ceferino Garcia, Chicago ______W 10
*Jr. Welterweight Title Bout.

 

As do a number of contemporary sources from the time, which state that Ross relinquished the lightweight title on April 15th of that year, and here's only one mention of it;

"Barney Ross, the little fellow who has ruled the lightweights for the last two years, decided he was too big for them today, and so he turned in his resignation as champion of the 135-pounders to the New York State Athletic Commision." - Washington Post, April 16th, 1935

I haven't done any cross references to this yet, but Harry Mullan's book (which is wonderful, by the way) also states that in June of 1935 "Ross relinquished the title on regaining the welterweight championship", which is referencing his giving up the jr welterweight championship.

 

I havent read the rest of this thread but, wasnt Bob Fitzimmons the 1st 3 weight champ?

 

Bump