Name least deserving world titleholders in boxing history

I doubt many names would have fought Liston at that point, too much risk for too little reward.

 

John Ruiz. His entire career at the world class level is basically illegitimate - the product of rigged rankings, blatant cheating, and outrageous gift decisions.

Once he signed with Don King after getting starched by Tua, he began a suspicious rise in the rankings, and got undeserved title shot after undeserved title shot for the WBA belt.

In fight after fight, Ruiz blatantly violated the rules against excessive holding to "win" fights he could never have done within the rules with his limited skills. Name virtually any fight Ruiz had against a rated opponent, and he should have been disqualified for excessive holding.

Worse yet, in at least three fights, he blatantly faked "low blows" to get crucial point deduction, avoid being counted out for a KO, or get an unjustified DQ "win" - against Jimmy Thunder, Holyfied (second fight) and against Kirk Johnson, respectively.

And then there are the gift decisions. The worst, of course, was against Andrew Golota, where Ruiz was outlanded, knocked down twice, and got another point deducted, and STILL got the decision!!!! Talk about corruption.

None of this would have happened without his connections to King. Without King to get him ranked, and influence refs and officials to look the other way at his illegal and shameful tactics, Ruiz would have been lucky to be a regional beltholder and fringe contender at the world level. Not only is he the least deserving titlist in boxing history, he is the most disgraceful and shameful. A cheater and fraud, top to bottom.

 

Quincy taylor