What #1, #2, or #3 Contender did Holmes fight

Frank,,
I can't find a WBC ranking for Muhammad Ali before his fight with Larry Holmes.

What I have found, is that Muhammad Ali did not want a # Ranking, but wanted to
be listed as a 3-Time Champion.

A special Champion ranking was listed. As not to show disrespect, the officials agreed that it would be better to say Former Heavyweight Champion of the World, instead of
#5 Ranked Heavyweight and Former Champion.

 

Frank,

The WBC Rankings were different than The Ring Magazine.
For instance;
Leroy Jones was #2 WBC
Trevor Berbick was #5 WBC
Scott LeDoux was #8 WBC

Leroy Jones was a mandatory defense, as he was listed as the next available
Top-Ranked Contender.
#1 Mike Weaver was challenging John Tate for the WBA Championship on the same night.

 

Poor Holmes...trashed the WBC title as soon as Witherspoon and Page were the top contenders. All he wanted was a fight with Joe Frazier's son. Damn those alphabet organizations for picking top contenders as his mandatory and not a novice with a famous father.

 

Actually Goose,

The WBC did not sanction his bout with Marvis Frazier.
They correctly felt, it would not be a competitive sporting event.

One of the few times the 'alphabet boys' got it right.

That fight,,,,,,,,,,,was strictly money....

 

That's what I said, Duce.

And yes, just pointing out that the organizaitons aren't totally at fault here as some were trying to protray. Spoon and Page were his top contenders when he trashed the title to fight Frazier for more money. Larry had a hotel to run.

 

One other note,

When Larry fought Leon Spinks in June 1981, it was considered a mandatory defense.

#1 Gerry Cooney had opted out for a later date.
#2 Michael Dokes was a Don King promoted fighter too (conflict of interest)
#3 Leon Spinks (next available top-rated challenger)

Leon Spinks had earned the right, by defeating WBC #1 Bernardo Mercado earlier.

 

Your classic man.

Are you sure Holmes didn't have any more deserving sparring parnters around this time?

 

1981,,,,,,,,,was a thin year.

James 'Quick' Tillis,,,,,,one of the Top-rated Heavyweights

 

I think Shavers certainly deserved to be in the top 2 with Holmes when they fought the second time.

Cooney's rating was based almost totally on hype.

 

Fredo,,,,,,,

The first WBC Heavyweight 12-Round Championship bout was
Larry Holmes vs. Lucien Rodriguez.

Also, the WBC now permitted fighters rated #1 thru #12 to be eligible for a
championship bout, instead of #1 thru #10.

Lucien Rodriguez was Rated #11.
And he was also, the European Heavyweight Champion.

 

Marvis Frazier was not ranked in the Top 12 of the WBC.
His only quality wins, over James Broad and Joe Bugner.

Earnie Shavers was Ranked #1 WBC, for Holmes vs Shavers II Fight.
Earnie was also ranked #2 by the WBA, behind #1 Kallie Knoetzee.

 

Dave,

The division was somewhat messed up.

Larry Holmes wanted to fight John Tate who was making a comeback.

And Mike Weaver had a scheduled bout with Trevor Berbick.

Marvis Frazier wanted another shot, if he beat Phillip Brown or Renaldo Snipes.

 

I don't know how old you are but I lived the era and there were many windows of opportunity for Holmes to fight at least 3 of these guys.....there was a lot of navigation going on in the 80's

 

An argument can be made for Larry to fight several other guys in the 1980's.
A Mike Weaver rematch.
But Mike was making 'big bucks' in the WBA, and had no real reason to take
a lot less 'dough' to fight Larry Holmes.

And Michael Dokes, was a Don King promoted fighter, and having him fight
Larry Holmes would not have been smart business.

 

Actually, Weaver was having a tough time with bouts at that time and was doing everything except making money. Remember the talk of the Ali fight > the Tate ko? then it was on the sidelines for awhile and go fight Coetzee in his backyard after a while. next, he was supposed to fight Cobb and Cooney and those never happened. Somehow Tillis skyrockets up the ratings and becomes a mandatory and that fight is put together on short notice. Then, the Dokes #1 bout without much of a buildup either.

He had a knee problem for a little while mixed in there, but from 1980-83, more things fell apart for the Weaver camp than ever came through. And he was not signed with DKP and was never a favorite of Arum either. And I don't recall him being one of the guys Ross Smith was behind when he made his big promotional push in that timeframe.