Worst World Champ from our shores ever?

[584131]

I think I'd have Barri 'Kid Galahad' Awad overtaking Paul Butler for the top spot now

[Rezzer1967]

It's Alex Arthur.

[JamesPhilips]

Paul Weir

[blanca]

Shannon Courtenay

[JamesPhilips]

Shannon Courtenay

We have a winner

[stujones]

The obligatory Paul Weir thread!

To be fair there are ALOT more deserving candidate for this accolade than Galahad - lets be honest a guy who ran Warrington to a razor tight decision. For 5 and a bit rounds he looked like arguably the #1 in the division.

As much as I love him and partly not his fault, Barry Jones would be a stronger canditate. Eamonn Loughran (he was Northern Ireland wasn't he?) would probably be my non Paul Weir number 1 - particularly as this was a time when you had the likes of DLH and Trinidad as proper champions.

Brian Magee was actually a "proper" WBA champion.

Paul Silky Jones - one of the big upset wins but a domestic operator at best.

Rocky Fielding - Say no more.

Stuart Hall

Given how he disgraced the end of his career - Ola Afolabi.

Off course the other obligatory answer is Murray Sutherland, Michael Bentt (if he counts - also usually gets a mention).

Paul Butler and Alex Arthur are no where near the top.

[Rezzer1967]

I’m not saying Alex Arthur was a bad fighter but he was given the WBO championship, elevated from interim, lost it immediately to Nicky Cook, who lost it to Ricky Burns in 2 minutes of the first round. He’s a world champion who never won a world title fight. No one can top that.

[stujones]

I’m not saying Alex Arthur was a bad fighter but he was given the WBO championship, elevated from interim, lost it immediately to Nicky Cook, who lost it to Ricky Burns in 2 minutes of the first round. He’s a world champion who never won a world title fight. No one can top that.

Brian Magee - exactly the same situation - Interim champion, elevated to proper champion for I think 24 hours (or something like that) and lost in his first defence.

[skanksta]

Gavin "The Rock" Rees beat M'baye when he was on valium, but I'd suggest Big Frank.
He was little more than a slow, stiff bodybuilder with a jab really.

I loved both of them and most of the other names suggested. To be World Champion - even in the multibelt era - you have to be a very good fighter indeed.

[KiwiRider]

Surely "our shores" reflects the shores of dear old Blighty, and that Ireland (the hint is in the name) has different unconnected shores?

[maverick23]

What about Robbie Regan? Decent fighter but worse than a lot of those mentioned I think.

[skanksta]

Surely "our shores" reflects the shores of dear old Blighty, and that Ireland (the hint is in the name) has different unconnected shores?

Northern Ireland counts as these shores.

[skanksta]

Shannon Courtenay

We have a winner

Women is cheating.
So far there's been about 4 women that WOULDN'T be in with a shout of 'worst ever' and Savannah is the only Brit.

[Floydendizer]

Darren Barker scraped home against Daniel Geale then lost it in first defence .

[Muttley]

I thought Someone would have mentioned Johnny Nelson by now

[orbtastic]

I think Sutherland is better than most listed here. He was actually a pretty tough fighter who definitely made the most of his talents.

Nobody can doubt herbie hide’s power but who did he really beat at world level? He has a couple of names but they were well over the hill.

[gerryd77]

I thought Someone would have mentioned Johnny Nelson by now

Lol why? He retained the title 14 times. If anything he would be in a list of best world champions.

[Foggy]

Michael Bentt

[ThereByTheGrace]

I’m not saying Alex Arthur was a bad fighter but he was given the WBO championship, elevated from interim, lost it immediately to Nicky Cook, who lost it to Ricky Burns in 2 minutes of the first round. He’s a world champion who never won a world title fight. No one can top that.

Cook didn't lose it to burns. Burns beat martinez for the belt.

[stujones]

I think Sutherland is better than most listed here. He was actually a pretty tough fighter who definitely made the most of his talents.

Nobody can doubt herbie hide’s power but who did he really beat at world level? He has a couple of names but they were well over the hill.

I think Hide is a good shout - one of the best managed careers ever to be a two time world champion with his resume. He didn't even beat near the best domestically when he was British champion.

However the champion he destroyed was also British so he should always be ahead of Hide in this category.

[stujones]

What about Robbie Regan? Decent fighter but worse than a lot of those mentioned I think.

I did think he was worth a mention - but then the champion he beat wasn't a complete dud and he won the title fair well. He was also an interim champion when interim champions were practically considered legitimate.

[garethhop]

Nicky Cook didn’t lose his belt to Burns.

[Coco]

Do IBO, WBF, WBU and interim champs count?

[GreenLightning]

Gavin "The Rock" Rees beat M'baye when he was on valium, but I'd suggest Big Frank.
He was little more than a slow, stiff bodybuilder with a jab really.

I loved both of them and most of the other names suggested. To be World Champion - even in the multibelt era - you have to be a very good fighter indeed.

If Gavin had any decent stamina he would have been a problem for anyone, worst?? Gave Koelnik a good fight before tiring and being 4'10 at light welterweight didnt help. Gave Broner a good go but look at the size difference, Broner himsef didn't find it so easy against bigger guys either

[chiggsy]

Barry jones

How did ola afalobi disgrace himself by the way just thought he retired on his own terms after a decent career have i missed something?