The worst fighters to get title shots? past or present

Damn man, where do we begin??

Pablo Baez (I think that was his name) was notorious as one of the worst. He got a shot at Hearns shortly before his megafight with Leonard at WW. No one knew who the hell he was or could confirm that his record was what it was listed as. Total joke.

Carlos Zarate padded his record with some terrible title challengers. The guys would come in supposedly with records like 25-1, 38-2, 42-2, etc. and yet no one ever heard of them or could confirm more than a few of their fights. Pathetic.

In recent years, Rick Frazier, a nearly 40-year old policeman who was inexplicably given a title shot at Roy Jones, has come to be the poster boy for undeserving title challengers. Larry Merchant actually apologized to the TV viewers for that fight happening.

 

Peter Okhello getting to be Maskaev's first WBC defence in 2006 was pretty baffling.

Herbie Hide had a couple of humdingers for his WBO strap in 1998, with Damon Reed and Willie Fischer.

 

I'm not saying he's the worst, but it's impossible for a title challenger to have less pro credentials than Pete Rademacher.

Talk about thrown to the wolves. After winning the Gold Medal, he fights Floyd Patterson in his pro debut. Then his next fight is against Top 3 contender Zora Folley.

 

Chuck Wepner, Ron Stander, Terry Daniels

Woller

 

Jim Jeffries opponent Jack Finnegan. Weighed 180 lbs to Jeffries' 240, came in with a record of one win, two losses and two draws, was knocked out in 50 seconds.

He may or may not have had more fights that are unconfirmed but the only notable fight in his career was against Gus Ruhlin when he was destroyed in four rounds and only 3 months afterwards fought Jeffries for the title.

"Finnegan landed the first blow as they came to the center of the ring, and Jeffries then put his left on the Pittsburgh man's jaw and he went to the floor. Finnegan came up in a few seconds only to be sent to the floor again with a blow in the same place. He stayed down longer this time and when he again rose he was in visible distress. He had hardly assumed a fighting position before the champion put his left in the pit of his stomach and Finnegan went down completely out. Referee Siler counted the seconds off and when he stepped back it was seen that Finnegan was crying. He staggered to his feet, reeled against the ropes and his seconds rushed into the ring and carried him to his corner. It was several minutes before he recovered sufficiently to leave the ring. Jeffries said he weighed 220, but he looked 30 pounds heavier. Finnegan weighed but 180, and he looked like a boy beside the champion." (Brooklyn Daily Eagle)

 

A lot of guys that have been pitted against the likes of Linares, Valero and Berto for 'vacant straps' come to mind.

 

Tony Tucker vs Bruce Seldon: WBA Heavyweight Title fight. :yep :dead

 

Bobby Gunn is a nice guy, but he didnt deserved shot at Adamek's
The Ring title

Many of Trinidad's 147 rivals were "medicore"

John Ruiz

Sato in Abraham in fight

 

Oh man, where do you start? I can think of Joe Louis' bum of the month. Offhand, Al McCoy, Jack Roper, Gus Dorazio, Tony Musto. Maybe some of these guys were good in their day but they didn't deserve a shot when Louis fought them. Also, Joe Frazier had his Dave Zyglweicz and Ali had his Jean Pierre Coopman. Tommy Hearns defence against Luis Primera was useless as was Milt McCrory's defences against Giles Elbilia, Pedro Vilella and Carlos Trujillo. Rafael Lovera in his pro debut against Luis Estaba. Bernard Hopkins had some woeful 'challenges' against Steve Frank, Morade Hakkar and Bo James. But the best was Luis Santana with a record of about 34-15, who did not deserve a shot, winning the title from Terry Norris on a DQ and then repeating it in his 1st defence. That's what you call making the best of a bad situation.

Scartissue

 

I think Finnegan, though, as well as Jimmy Darcy in 1922 by Dempsey and Johnny Davis in 1944 by Louis, were "technical" defenses in which the champ was fighting an exhibition and some politician decided that the fight had to be for the title. The old Ring Record Books did not list these as championship fights and I think Nat Fleischer clearly would have known, especially concerning the Dempsey and Louis fights during which he was a major boxing writer.

 

I don't think Dorazio deserves to be on this list, after a glance at his record. He defeated a whole slew of top contenders of the era--Bob Pastor, Harry Bobo, Johnny Flynn, Buddy Walker, Lou Brooks, Joe Baksi, Lem Franklin, Al Hart, Nate Bolden, and Gunnar Barlund. A decent enough contender.

 

I think Tony Musto wasn't that bad.

 

It's not that Dorazio or Musto were bad fighters, which by the definition of this thread is what they're talking about. But they were undeserving at this particular time. Neither one was in the top ten, hadn't baten anyone of note lately, and/or was losing more than winning. But no, they were not bad fighters at one point in their careers, just not this time. And I'm good friends with Musto's cousin so it pains me to say that about him.

Scartissue

 

Axel Schultz.......