Which fighter FACED the most world champions in history?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by D.T, Oct 23, 2010.


  1. D.T

    D.T Guest

    And I'm going by the Ring's and HOF's definition of a world champion (any belt holder is a "champion").


    Has any fighter faced more champions than Evander Holyfield:


    George Foreman
    Larry Holmes
    Riddick Bowe
    Mike Tyson
    Lennox Lewis
    Carlos DeLeon
    Michael Moorer
    Dwight Qawi
    Nikolay Valuev
    Sultan Ibragimov
    John Ruiz
    James Toney
    Chris Byrd
    Hasim Rahman
    Buster Douglas
    Pinkon Thomas
    Michael Dokes
    Ray Mercer
    Ossie Ocasio
    Ricky Parkey
    Bobby Czyz
    Tyrone Booze
    Francois Botha (does he count because he was stripped of it?)


    That is 23 champions.
     
  2. sportofkings

    sportofkings Boxing Junkie banned

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    Julio cesar chavez is a close second anyways, hes faced nearly 20
     
  3. PowerPuncher

    PowerPuncher Loyal Member Full Member

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    Jones fought 21-22, Delahoya around 23
     
  4. Hookie

    Hookie Affeldt... Referee, Judge, and Timekeeper Full Member

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    ...even if you just count the "Lineal" World Champs, Holyfield still beat more Lineal HW Champs than anybody else...

    7- Douglas, Foreman, Holmes, Bowe, Moorer, Tyson, and Rahman

    Joe Louis beat 6 btw... Schmeling, Sharkey, Carnera, Baer, Braddock, and Walcott.
     
  5. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Since when is Tyrone F'ing Booze a world champion?

    These modern records have to be discounted. You pretty much have to scour the dregs of each weight division's rankings to find some clown that HASN'T been crowned champion of some sanctionng body.
     
  6. D.T

    D.T Guest

    Tyrone Booze was WBO Cruiserweight champion and even made a defense of his title surprisingly.
     
  7. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    :-(
     
  8. The-Beast

    The-Beast Free Boo Radley Full Member

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    In my book a world titlist and a world champion are not the same thing.
     
  9. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Why not consider the light heavyweight and cruiserweight champions they beat?
     
  10. bodhi

    bodhi Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    There is a difference between champions and beltholders.
     
  11. D.T

    D.T Guest

    @bodhi

    Yes, I know. However, as I said in the beginning, I'm going by the Ring's and HOF's definition of a champion.

    I don't agree with it, don't get me wrong.
     
  12. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Tyrone Booze or no, Holyfield's longevity and willingness to take the tough fights is worthy of respect for sure.
     
  13. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

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    Tommy Loughran I think..he one of them.
     
  14. Duodenum

    Duodenum Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    RC, I checked this out, and it's not as many as one might think.

    1)Mike McTigue 4X
    2)Harry Greb 6X
    3)Gene Tunney (the month after Greb I, at age 19)
    4)Georges Carpentier
    5)Johnny Wilson
    6)Jack Delaney 2X
    7)Jimmy Slattery (in winning the WORLD LHW Title)
    8)Pete Latzo 2X
    9)Mickey Walker
    10)Jimmy Braddock
    11)Jack Sharkey 2X
    12)Max Baer
    13)Primo Carnera

    That's a total of 24 fights, but against 13 different opponents. That total could easily be higher when factoring in the likes of Jeff Smith, Young Stribling, Steve Hamas, Bryan Downey, Leo Lomski and others who never quite made it. Interesting that he never collided with HOFers Berlenbach or Rosenbloom, nor crossed the color line as Carp, Greb, McTigue, Sharkey, Carnera and Walker did, yet still managed to generate a respectable total.
     
  15. MAG1965

    MAG1965 Loyal Member banned

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    They should rate it more if a fighter fights a champion at the division that fighter fought.