Will Joe Louis "s record title defence s ever be surpassed?

25 title defenses is a lot. I'll say maybe in the next 50 years at heavyweight, but the fighter to do it will need to be champion at a very young age, and in a time with lesser competition.

These days everyone in the heavyweight division has a puncher's chance.

 

It would be difficult to get the contracts signed in the necessary timescale today to be honest.

Also the myriad of belts and mandatories would make it almost impossible for a unified champion.

If it did happen it would likely be defences of a single belt, or a lineal title claim based on beating the man.

It is just possible that it has been surpassed previously however.

 

during you lots lifetimes probably not

 

It might be broken. Others have come close. Looking in all weight classes, there have been champions with 17, 19, 20, 21 consecutive defenses etc. I think Darius Michalczweski did 23 of his "WBO", not sure if that was the case with his lineal claim too though.

In terms of unified or undisputed championships it is highly unlikely unless something radical happens in boxing politics and structure.

 

It can happen in todays system.
Like others said, Wlad got pretty damn close.

Today, we have a unique opportunity to look at an entire centuries worth of well documented boxing.
In Joe Louis time, and Ali's time, everyone had the mentality that the next thing would always be better. They didn't have the benefit we do today of having such a large data pool. And what we can gleam is that there are fighters throughout history whose greatness superseded the general improvement of society.

A 12 year, 26 defense reign is strong enough to last a few centuries perhaps.
It could also happen in the next 30 years, but I think the chances are just low.

 

Records are meant to be broken, I see it happening at some point. Not in the heavyweight division though.

 

Wilder or AJ maybe?

 

Joshuas 27 and isn't lineal champ yet.
He'll have to become champ very soon, and hold onto it into his forties.

Possible, but not probable.

I think the current heavyweight crop are all too late for Louis' record, and we would have to look towards the generation that comes after.

 

Hell no.

I would be confident betting a year’s wages against both.

 

Yes. Of course.

 

No.

 

Cannot see it for the forseeable future. HW division has evolved so much. Klitshcko brothers were like the
Gracie brothers they were ahead of their time. Big strong, technically sound. Have you seen the size of
the SH boxers at 2016 Olympic's compared to past Olympic's they are all giants now.
Also too many distractions like social media , paparazzi means that a HW champion would as his profile
and popularity rise live his life in a fishbowl.
ps. I know there were other big hw boxers but Klistchko and Lewis only ones to use their physical gifts
and size to their advantage and have coordination.

 

I don't see it as being anything unreachable.

Dariusz Michalczewski made 24 defenses of the WBO title ... and he wasn't even that great.

Golovkin is eight shy of 25 defenses of the WBA belt. He's heavily favored to secure successful defense number 18 in a month or so.

You just can't wait until you're approaching age 30 to win a title. You need to be somewhat younger.

Joe Louis had just turned 23 when he won the belt. Mike Tyson had nine successful defenses of the WBC title by the time he was 23. If you're in your mid to late 30s and you're trying to get close to 25 defenses, it's probably not going to happen.

If Ali hadn't had his license revoked, he likely would've surpassed him. There wasn't anyone around who was going to beat him the nearly four years he was out.

Had Holmes not taken off more than a year trying to get a fight with Gerrie Coetzee, he may have done it.

Vitali Klitschko may have done it if he hadn't retired for four years, too. Who was going to beat him? The only opposition was his brother.

If not for outside-the-ring issues, a handful of people may have already tied or passed Louis.