Rank "One & Done " HW champs

[billeau2]

I don't think Tunney deserves to be on that list. In the first place he defended his title twice and he retired at the top of his game to marry an extremely wealthy society woman. It was the marriage or boxing. Tunney could have easily held the belt for another couple of years ending up with a tremendous resume. As it is he ended up something like 70-1-1. (Both loss and tie were to Harry Greb.)

Can't you just picture that? I know that any married members here probably can. Gene comes out with his most fierce Marine field jacket and blood spattered boxing gloves...and in this corner the misses....ding ding ding... the misses wags her finger and tells Gene its boxing or her...first round Ko!! Gene is counted out as he says "alright dear" Dempsey is in shock!

[sonnyboyx2]

Lennox Lewis ~ Won a very dubious decision over Holyfield, although unfortunate not to win their first bout. Lewis then refused to fight the No1 contenders (WBA, WBC & IBF) instead fighting hand-picked Class C opponents. So was Stripped of every version of the Undisputed Heavyweight Title for refusing to fight the No1 contenders.

Chris Byrd ~ IBF Title
John Ruiz ~ WBA Title
Vitali Klitschko ~ WBC Title (rematch)

[sonnyboyx2]

Guys who won the lineal or undisputed HW title only to give it right back! Criteria are champs that mounted one or 0 title defenses and reigns that barely lasted a year.

Gentleman Corbett
Bob Fitzsimmons
Jess Willard
Gene Tunney
Max Schmelling
Jack Sharkey
Primo Carnera
Max Baer
Jim Braddock
Ezzard Charles
Joe Walcott
Igemar Johonson
Leon Spinks
Michael Spinks
Buster Douglas
Michael Moorer
Shannon Briggs
Hasim Rahman

Marvin Hart
Sonny Liston

[Joeyzagz]

Tunney would have defended against jack and Tom Henny as well

Tunney and Spinks were both Light Heavyweights who were basically visitors in the Division. They knew they were too small to survive and smartly retired after touching the title.

I like Max Schmelling just for who he beat and when he beat him.

[Joeyzagz]

Marvin Hart
Sonny Liston

Sonny Liston does not belong on this list,he was the true #1 heavyweight after Marciano retired, but For some reason Boxing mistakenly handed the title to Patterson.

Liston was running through top fighters like Cleveland Williams while Patterson was facing journeymen. The President of the United States personally advised Patterson never to face Liston, who everyone knew was the true heavyweight champ.

Liston's reign began in 1959. And I'm not if he lost a single legit fight until his death in 1970.

[sonnyboyx2]

sonny liston does not belong on this list,he was the true #1 heavyweight after marciano retired, but for some reason boxing mistakenly handed the title to patterson.

Liston was running through top fighters like cleveland williams while patterson was facing journeymen. The president of the united states personally advised patterson never to face liston, who everyone knew was the true heavyweight champ.

Liston's reign began in 1959. And i'm not if he lost a single legit fight until his death in 1970.

lol.......

[joeandthebums]

Lennox Lewis ~ Won a very dubious decision over Holyfield, although unfortunate not to win their first bout. Lewis then refused to fight the No1 contenders (WBA, WBC & IBF) instead fighting hand-picked Class C opponents. So was Stripped of every version of the Undisputed Heavyweight Title for refusing to fight the No1 contenders.

Chris Byrd ~ IBF Title
John Ruiz ~ WBA Title
Vitali Klitschko ~ WBC Title (rematch)

Can you explain the history to each refusal.

[billeau2]

Lennox Lewis ~ Won a very dubious decision over Holyfield, although unfortunate not to win their first bout. Lewis then refused to fight the No1 contenders (WBA, WBC & IBF) instead fighting hand-picked Class C opponents. So was Stripped of every version of the Undisputed Heavyweight Title for refusing to fight the No1 contenders.

Chris Byrd ~ IBF Title
John Ruiz ~ WBA Title
Vitali Klitschko ~ WBC Title (rematch)

Rematch with Vitali? I thought Lewis retired.

[sonnyboyx2]

Can you explain the history to each refusal.

WBA ~ Ruiz was No1 contender, Lewis chose to fight Frans Botha instead of Ruiz who fought Holyfield for vacant title..(refusal to fight No1 contender)

IBF ~ Byrd was No1 contender, Lewis refused to fight Byrd the No1 contender so stripped of title... Byrd fought Holyfield for vacant title... (refusal to fight No1 contender)

WBC ~ Vitali Klitschko was No1 contender, Lewis ordered to defend last remaining belt (WBC) against No1 contender Vitali Klitschko, 2 days before Lewis was to be stripped of title for not agreeing to fight Klitschko within the WBC deadline, Lewis announces retirement. (refusal to fight No1 contender) Vitali fought Corrie Sanders for vacant title..

No matter which way or how you want to twist and wriggle out of the facts. The bottom line is that Lewis refused to fight those governing body No1 contenders... Claiming those No1 contenders to be unworthy is ridiculous. claiming Don King done this that and the other is ridiculous. claiming Lewis wanted to fight him and him is ridiculous.. Lewis abrogated his responsibilies as Champion by refusing to fight those No1 contenders. Those 3 No1 contenders went on in their careers to fight in 30 World Heavyweight Title Fights between them. Which shows their worthiness..30 times they fought for or defended their Heavyweight Title, which is remarkable..

[billeau2]

WBA ~ Ruiz was No1 contender, Lewis chose to fight Frans Botha instead of Ruiz who fought Holyfield for vacant title..(refusal to fight No1 contender)

IBF ~ Byrd was No1 contender, Lewis refused to fight Byrd the No1 contender so stripped of title... Byrd fought Holyfield for vacant title... (refusal to fight No1 contender)

WBC ~ Vitali Klitschko was No1 contender, Lewis ordered to defend last remaining belt (WBC) against No1 contender Vitali Klitschko, 2 days before Lewis was to be stripped of title for not agreeing to fight Klitschko within the WBC deadline, Lewis announces retirement. (refusal to fight No1 contender) Vitali fought Corrie Sanders for vacant title..

No matter which way or how you want to twist and wriggle out of the facts. The bottom line is that Lewis refused to fight those governing body No1 contenders... Claiming those No1 contenders to be unworthy is ridiculous. claiming Don King done this that and the other is ridiculous. claiming Lewis wanted to fight him and him is ridiculous.. Lewis abrogated his responsibilies as Champion by refusing to fight those No1 contenders. Those 3 No1 contenders went on in their careers to fight in 30 World Heavyweight Title Fights between them. Which shows their worthiness..30 times they fought for or defended their Heavyweight Title, which is remarkable..

Its not remarkable at all. Most of those titles were alphabet soup. I think it shows great conviction to fight a live body instead of a mandatory that obviously poses no threat...such as is the case with jawney hump a leg Ruiz and Bird who was never a threat to lewis...Also your leaving out other important details like the fact that lewis just happened to beat Vitali Klitsko and that he did not take an easy fight after Klitsko but retired. If he was a pufter he would have fought a scrub and told Vitali "Sorry no rematch." But he didn't did he now Sonny?

lewis never ducked anyone...he avenged all his defeats. Good for him telling the organizations dictating mandatories where to stuff it. He would have beat Ruiz and byrd the same night.