Most title fights - without ever beating a champion?

[GJC]

Just to clear up any confusion:

The question is: who engaged in the most world title bouts, without EVER recording a win (in title bouts or non-title bouts) over someone who, at one time or another, held a world title.

In other words: Yaqui Lopez can not be a candidate, since he holds a win over Mike Rossman.

Bundana,
You'll have to forgive me I'm obviously being dense here, but you're asking basically who fought the most past or present world champions without ever recording a win over them then?

[Bundana]

No, GJC... not really! You might THINK, this is in fact what we are looking for... but it could also be someone who won a vacant title and made several defences. Without ever scoring a win over a world champ!