'smitty' posted a question earlier asking which heavyweight champ had defeated the most former and future champs. It made me do some detective work.
I looked at four fighters - Joe Louis, Ali, Tyson and Holyfield. Came out that Holyfield was the answer (10), and Louis was the least. I think 3.
That surprised me; was Louis facing opposition that inferior? I mean - 25 defenses, they couldn't all be bums.
Then it hit me - when Louis fought, he was the only heavyweight champ. When Ali fought, there were two champs to choose from. When Tyson and Holyfield fought - 3. 4 if you want to count the WBO joke.
It's not that Louis fought inferior opposition, it's that he fought in a saner time - only one champ.
I love this sport, as you all do, and I don't think it'll ever die - but MMA is a serious, serious threat - moreso now that caliber fighters like Shannon Briggs are getting their a***s handed to them when they try it.
MMA is simpler - 1 champ in less divisions.
Comments?
2006-09-26
20:27:13
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4 answers
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asked by
Anonymous
in
Sports
➔ Boxing