Who’s the worst world champion in history? (Who held either the WBA, WBC, IBF or WBO)

I select "Eddie Gazo" for 400, Sir. 70's 154 lb "champion" who looked like a clumsy journeyman most of his career.

 

Luis Santana deserves a mention.

 

Yasatsune Uehara deserves a mention.

 

Joe Bugner held either the WBU or WBF title and in his book he stated that he beat Foreman's record for becoming the oldest heavyweight champ.

 

If we're going that way, Ba Sounkalo won the ABU Light Heavy title when he was 13-6-1 and had losses to Johnny Frankham, Miguel Angel Paez, Gregorio Peralta, Avenamar Peralta, and Domenico Adniolfi.

 

Michael Bentt

 

I’ll see your Sounkalo and raise you a Monte Masters, who was the WAA (aka WAO’Grady … created by Sean’s father and his pal Champ Thomas when Sean was stripped of the WBA title he won off Hilmer Kenty for not facing mandatory challenger Ernesto Espana) champ until he split with his wife, who was Sean’s sister — out of the family meant dropping the (fake) title.

 

I saw the thread title and came to nominate Gazo for this honor.

 

I see your Masters, and I take to Boxrec looking for another man awarded a ridiculously easy title.

 

A couple of 1980s champions from the Dominican Republic:

Eleoncio Mercedes took the WBC flyweight title from Freddy Castillo in a split decision and lost in his first defense to Charlie Magri. He finished his career 14-12-2. Video of his fight with Castillo indicates that he had five wins unaccounted for by Boxrec, but 19-12-2 isn't exactly the stuff of champions.

A few years later Francisco Quiroz challenged for a world title despite sporting a losing record, but he came away with a KO victory over Lupe Madera to win the championship. He successfully defended once in his opponent's home country (never mind that challenger Victor Sierra finished his career 14-20) before dropping the belt to Joey Oliva. Quiroz finished his career 11-15-1 or 10-14-1.

Tough call. Do you take the guy who won a close decision and fell in his first defense, or the guy who won two title fights by knockout but lost more than half of his fights?

 

If we're talking records, certain early cruiser champs became journeymen at heavyweight going late into their career. Rickey Parkey ended his career of 13 years 22-20.

 

Given the way he won and lost the title, I can’t think of a better (worse) candidate. Except, he did technically make one successful defense so maybe that rules him over out?

 

In P4P sense it's Valuev by a huge margin. If he had size of Holyfield or Ruiz hid record would probably be like 10-42 at best

 

I'm pretty sure he looked much better than Valuev did against shot 5'9" cruiserweight

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