Isn't there a ruling that Champions must defend their title twice a year?

every six months, that's twice a year

 

Are you thinking of the demand made in 1972 that Frazier defend the title, so he fought Terry Daniels?

 

I know that when the NBA first brought in their system of grouping the ratings into logical contenders, outstanding boxers and honorable mentions, the idea was that a champion should make at least one defence each year against a logical contender, and at least one more against either an outstanding boxer or a logical contender. How effectively it was ever enforced is another matter.

 

I read that the now defunct N.B.A. was harassing champion Floyd Patterson in 1961 to defend the title he won from Ingo in 1960. So in 1961 he fought McNeely and Johansson again.

 

in Britain the same, with Levene & Solomons... Freddie Mills NEVER Defended his British L-HW title, not once in 8 years, the War only accounting for the first 3 years of his reign, no excuse from 45/46 - 1950.

Rules, Ratings and Competition always takes a backseat to Backers, Money and their interests.

 

I wish there was such a ruling that a modern champion, unless injured must fight two a year. Heck one of the defenses should be against a top 10 recognized opponent, not from a sanctioning body, but one that appears in Ring Magazine, and Box Rec as in all probability if he's listed by both 3rd parties, he's probably a legit top ten man.

If the fighter wants a knock out a mandatory, let hm fight a 3rd time in a year or count that as his second as long as he fulfills a defense vs a top 10 man,

IMO Fury and Wilder have cheapened the heavyweight belt by fighting way too many non top 10 types, and sometime struggling while they are doing it. Joshua is better at picking opponents. Still these three feast on way too many old men for title matches. If your close to or over 40 and in visible decline the " champions " want you in the heavyweight division for a title match.

If Hrgovic defeats Hunter as I suspect he will, it will be very interring to see f the winner of Joshua vs. Fury, keep their IBF belt and defend it, or drops that belt and just stay WBC champion, letting the winner of Hrgovic vs. Hunter to fight someone else for the IBF belt they rank or is suing them for not getting title match they were promised. Ah, boxing....