On the topic of great heavyweight tenured champions, there is a consistent theme.

Sonny was certainly on schedule to be a champion somewhat earlier as it was. By 1960 he got no better. However, regarding your 1956 theory, i think in his very last fight before he went in the slammer was a very lacklustre affair against Marty Marshall. Clearly he was not yet getting “future champion” type write ups. It is possible the two years reflection helped him to focus and realise his potential that bit more determinedly than had he continued going through the motions. Sometimes a break is good. A lot of great fighters had a similar break in their careers perhaps this is the making of some of them? Sonny certainly got better write ups after prison than he had before prison.

 

Marshall ran all night no part of any round was his.You can't look good against a guy just trying to survive.

 

No Ali?

 

Oh yes Ali as well.

 

While we are at it.
Vitali Klitchko fought in 13 title fights, in 7 of them against men unranked by the Ring,which is your stated criteria.
Charr 2012
Chisora 2012
Solis 2010
Briggs 2010
Sosnowski 2010
Johnson 2009
Williams 2003
Not so special!

 

Dempsey was constantly feinting. However historically Johnson was considered the master. Fighters from Johnson’s day and prior were masters of the finer points of the game which included feinting, blocking, countering. The true skills of the sport.