Worst fighter to hold a world title belt?

Chavez Jr. won a very controversial decision :roll:

Francisco Quiroz "wins" the thread hands down

 

Wow. The Thunder from Down Under.

He was never a world titlist in that sense. He held the IBO and the WBF titles for a time. But, at that time, neither was considered a world title. Similarly, Grant holds the WBF and Wladimir carries his IBO for the sole purpose of keeping the title alive.

But, I would take Thunder to KO Leon or Michael Spinks, and for all his faults(lack of defense) he was a banger in every sense of the word.

And, there was a period when he was ducked by several top contenders....TOMMY MORRISON, LENNOX LEWIS. Although most figure the latter would KO him EARLY! Morrison however......:thinkWatch Thunder vs Grimsley. I see Morrison sharing a similar fate.:deal

 

John Ruiz. Basically his entire HW was fraudulent, the product of cheating. From the undeserved ranking King got him, to the favorable treatment from refs for his illegal holding tactics, to the gift decision against Golota, etc. etc.

Without Don King, Ruiz is just another regional journeyman who got knocked out by David Tua.

 

In recent memory I'd have to say Carlos Baldomir. This dude was actually the WW Lineal Champ.

 

Imamu Mayfield Ibf cruiser champ

 

I cant believe nobody mentioned Nikolai Valuev

 

chavez jr

:hat

 

Bruno and Spinks worse than Valuev?

Erm, I don't think so.

 

I think you're forgetting that he's called Slik Nik Valuev on ESB and is considered an ATG.
I fear it would've been sacriledge to mention his Slikness here.

 

Valuev would beat Spinks.

Spinks got his shot at Ali because Muhammad knew he was slowing down alot and was looking for easier title defences while still garnering decent pay days.
So he picks 8 fight novice Leon Spinks who had won a medal for the USA at the Olympics, Ali hardly trained and managed to win his belt back in a re-match. This is Spinks claim to fame in the pro game, the rest of his career was mediocre to poor.

 

My bad, praise be to SNV :bowdown

Technically, Valuev makes Spinks look like Pernell Whitaker.

Spinks had variety to his game, he could slip a shot (had decent head movement, actually), and alright jab and decent punch variety. He beat a couple of decent fringe contenders in his ear, Evangelista and Mercado, who wouldn't have been far off the top 10 in this era, certainly better fighters than Alexande Dimtrenko for example. If David Haye can beat Valuev with such a basic gameplan and a not entirely different skillset, Spinks could too IMO. He get's underrated because of his poor punch resistance which marred his career.

 

I'm finding here that you have to pick THE absolute worst ever bar none mate.
Friendly or informed discussion is off the menu apparently.:!:

 

Spinks has no where close to the amount of pop that Haye has, nor the quickness of foot. You're right, Spinks had poor punch resistance, and I think the mass of Valuev (not the power, but the sheer mass) could well lead to a stoppage for the big guy.

 

His pop is UNDERRATED b/c his punches don't appear to have the sting on them. He threw so many arm punches, that when he did sneak a power shot in with them it was nearly invisible to his opponent.
Recheck some of his KOs when he first bust onto the scene. Many were absolutely devastating shots that stopped those guys.

I think it would be a fair assessment that if Spinks and Valuev met in the circle in their perspective primes(if Spinks had one) that Valuev wouldn't get his work in that night. Spinks would crumble under the first 3 piece Valuev threw, even though he landed only 1 arm punch, missed the cross, but landed the check hook. :deal

 

Yeah, he had the wba belt and lost it to Tyson.