Lineal HW Champions who lost their first defense.

[Willie Pep 229]

Lost their first title defense; one fight Champions:

Marvin Hart
Robert Fitzsimmons
Max Schmeling
Max Baer
James J. Braddock
Ingemar Johansson
Leon Spinks
James Douglas
Michael Moorer
Shannon Briggs
Hasim Radman

Had only one successful title defense:

James J. Corbett
Jess Willard

Jersey Joe Walcott
Sonny Liston
Evander Holyfield (for second reign only)

I posted this because I was surprised at the number of HW Champions with no successful defenses.

If we included the strap holders this number might look absurd. There was period in the 80s where the WBA couldn't get back to back wins from multiple Champions.

I left Muhammad Ali's third title reign off the list. He lost to Spinks, beat Spinks and retired.

All two time Champions had both reigns included in the count.

Not sure how John L. Sullivan fits into this evaluation.

[Anomalocaris]

Of those you listed (apart from Ali) Sonny was the greatest, followed by Holy and then Max.

Fitz was utterly amazing but I tend to regard him as more of a light heavy if that makes sense.

[Bronson66]

Lost their first title defense; one fight Champions:

Marvin Hart
Robert Fitzsimmons
Max Schmeling
Max Baer
James J. Braddock
Ingemar Johansson
Leon Spinks
James Douglas
Michael Moorer
Shannon Briggs
Hasim Radman

Had only one successful title defense:

James J. Corbett
Jess Willard
Ezzard Charles
Jersey Joe Walcott
Sonny Liston
Evander Holyfield (for second reign only)

I posted this because I was surprised at the number of HW Champions with no successful defenses.

If we included the strap holders this number might look absurd. There was period in the 80s where the WBA couldn't get back to back wins from multiple Champions.

I left Muhammad Ali's third title reign off the list. He lost to Spinks, beat Spinks and retired.

All two time Champions had both reigns included in the count.

Not sure how John L. Sullivan fits into this evaluation.

Charles?
I'm not sure how you arrived at 1 defence,are you disregarding his 8 NBA defences?

[Willie Pep 229]

Charles?
I'm not sure how you arrived at 1 defence,are you disregarding his 8 NBA defences?

Short answer is: I am an idiot.

I looked at Charles' victory over Walcott in 1951 and mistakenly thought that was the elimination fight and his rise to the title. That fight was followed by a win over Maxim (one defense) and then the loss to Walcott. I fooled myself.

See! I am an idiot.

Thanks for the correction.

Happy Easter if you are of that ilk; Happy 4/20 otherwise.

[Mr Mitts]

Lost their first title defense; one fight Champions:

Marvin Hart
Robert Fitzsimmons
Max Schmeling
Max Baer
James J. Braddock
Ingemar Johansson
Leon Spinks
James Douglas
Michael Moorer
Shannon Briggs
Hasim Radman

Had only one successful title defense:

James J. Corbett
Jess Willard

Jersey Joe Walcott
Sonny Liston
Evander Holyfield (for second reign only)

I posted this because I was surprised at the number of HW Champions with no successful defenses.

If we included the strap holders this number might look absurd. There was period in the 80s where the WBA couldn't get back to back wins from multiple Champions.

I left Muhammad Ali's third title reign off the list. He lost to Spinks, beat Spinks and retired.

All two time Champions had both reigns included in the count.

Not sure how John L. Sullivan fits into this evaluation.

Good idea, and surprising. The first list contains no ATGs, unless Fitz. That is telling. Many lesser champions did not make 2 defenses and few ATGs there. Much better quality of fighter had at least one successful defense. That part is not surprising.

[QueensburyRules]

- - AJ reclaimed his title from Ruiz who has never won a world title again in spite of some amazingly strong physical attributes that get overlooked because of his well documented dietary lapses.