Who was the first fighter to win a title in one weight class, then move up in weight and win a title in another division? Does anyone know? I've been wondering this for a while now, and would like to know.
I believe it was Bob Fitzsimmons. He won the middleweight title in 1891 and the heavyweight title in 1897. (Later, in 1903, he dropped down and won the light heavyweight title.) Although Jem Mace won the British Middleweight and Heavyweight titles in the 1860s when there was no undisputed "world" champ at either weight.
....don't know why my reply didn't get posted. it was the first answer and i said bob fitzsimmons....maybe spelling was the problem.
Tommy Ryan had Welterweight and Middleweight claims before Ruby Bob won the Heavyweight crown. But George Dixon is arguably your man; a Bantamweight claim in 1889 and a Featherweight claim in 1890, being his earliest claims.