Greatest "Paper" Champion?

[alishuffle]

Who would you say is the best paper champion in the history of boxing? And for those who don't understand, by paper champion I mean a fighter that was awarded a title without ever actually beating the champion.

An example would be Floyd Patterson, who after the retirement of Rocky Marciano, fought Archie Moore for the vacant title and then became heavyweight champion of the world.

[glidesmack]

looking at that picture, I honestly can't remember anything you wrote for more than like 2 seconds.

[Leakbeak]

Joe Calzaghe his at 168lbs for ten years, whilst the elite had to jump around him to make big fights, from 160 to 175 or even meet at a catch weight of 170!

[dde91]

Joe Calzaghe his at 168lbs for ten years, whilst the elite had to jump around him to make big fights, from 160 to 175 or even meet at a catch weight of 170!

exactly, he had that Weak WBO belt for ten years in an already weak ass super Middleweight division. At least get One Recognizable belt. DAMN!

[GJC]

Who would you say is the best paper champion in the history of boxing? And for those who don't understand, by paper champion I mean a fighter that was awarded a title without ever actually beating the champion.

An example would be Floyd Patterson, who after the retirement of Rocky Marciano, fought Archie Moore for the vacant title and then became heavyweight champion of the world.

You could I suppose include Larry Holmes in that. He didn't really beat the man as such, he later defeated a shell of the man.

[JAB5239]

You could I suppose include Larry Holmes in that. He didn't really beat the man as such, he later defeated a shell of the man.

I disagree. There where some fighters I think Holmes should have fought and rematched, but he beat the top ranked heavyweight (Norton) besides himself to take the title and defended it what, 20 times? Hardly a paper champion in my opinion.

[Miburo]

I don't know if I'd call winning a vacated (by way of retirement) title a paper champion, it's a situation that can't be avoided. As long as the best fight to claim it, there shouldn't be any objections.

As for examples though, Hopkins first became a titleholder at MW by winning the belt Jones vacated (which wasn't linear in any case),

[GJC]

I disagree. There where some fighters I think Holmes should have fought and rematched, but he beat the top ranked heavyweight (Norton) besides himself to take the title and defended it what, 20 times? Hardly a paper champion in my opinion.

No not disrespecting Holmes in the slightest I'm just saying you could make the argument that he faught for a vacantish title against Norton given that Norton never won it in the ring. Not that different from Patterson really? Neither of their faults that the champion was not available as such to defend the title.
Holmes was a superb HW champion and makes mine and most top 10 atg lists I'm just making the point that if you criticise the way Patterson won the title it is not much of a stretch to include Holmes on that criteria.

[GJC]

I don't know if I'd call winning a vacated (by way of retirement) title a paper champion, it's a situation that can't be avoided. As long as the best fight to claim it, there shouldn't be any objections.

As for examples though, Hopkins first became a titleholder at MW by winning the belt Jones vacated (which wasn't linear in any case),

Agree totally

[Leakbeak]

exactly, he had that Weak WBO belt for ten years in an already weak ass super Middleweight division. At least get One Recognizable belt. DAMN!

I know. I'm glad I'm not the only one to realise he has only actually been champion for a few years and not a decade! Kessler was the only decent fighter in their prime he has actually beaten as Lacy was umproven and he robbed Hopkins. Even then kessler is only a good fighter and not one of the elite like Toney, Wright, Hopkins and a prime Jones. 7-8 years ago Joe would have been in his prime too and could have fought any of these guys and more but he doesn't like risks. Alot of WBO fighters are paper champs. Johnny Nelson even said that being champ meant alot to him and he wanted to retire as champ! In other words he knew that Haye, Hobson or Macca would have knocked him out.