BoxRec

I always thought it was interesting that the welterweight title changed so often in the early 1930s.
In eleven title fights in a row, the challenger beat the champion and the title changed hands.
Even if the challenger had a 50-50 chance, the odds of this happening is 1 in 2048.

This is what happened:
Young Jack Thompson beat Jackie Fields,
Thompson then lost to Tommy Freeman,
Freeman then lost to Thompson in a rematch
Thompson then lost to Lou Brouillard
Brouillard then lost to Jackie Fields,
Fields then lost to Young Corbett III
Corbett then III lost to Jimmy McLarnin
McLarnin then lost to Barney Ross
Ross then lost to McLarnin in a rematch
McLarnin then lost to Ross in their 3rd fight.
Ross then lost to Henry Armstrong

Armstrong finally broke the string with several successful title defenses.

(This being boxing, there has to be some dispute. Freeman, McLarnin, and Ross all won fights as champion that some sources count them as title fights, and some don't.)

Even so, it is incredible that the title would change hands so often.

I was wondering what theories people might have about this?

Ambling Alp wrote:I always thought it was interesting that the welterweight title changed so often in the early 1930s.
In eleven title fights in a row, the challenger beat the champion and the title changed hands.
Even if the challenger had a 50-50 chance, the odds of this happening is 1 in 2048.

This is what happened:
Young Jack Thompson beat Jackie Fields,
Thompson then lost to Tommy Freeman,
Freeman then lost to Thompson in a rematch
Thompson then lost to Lou Brouillard
Brouillard then lost to Jackie Fields,
Fields then lost to Young Corbett III
Corbett then III lost to Jimmy McLarnin
McLarnin then lost to Barney Ross
Ross then lost to McLarnin in a rematch
McLarnin then lost to Ross in their 3rd fight.
Ross then lost to Henry Armstrong

Armstrong finally broke the string with several successful title defenses.

(This being boxing, there has to be some dispute. Freeman, McLarnin, and Ross all won fights as champion that some sources count them as title fights, and some don't.)

Even so, it is incredible that the title would change hands so often.

I was wondering what theories people might have about this?

Not sure what explanation would be best, outside of the most obvious one (they were all fine fighters, & anything can happen on any given day with men of this calibre).

Incidentally, you will notice a similar jinx throughout the decade 2000-09. Trinidad vacates the belt in early-00, that's one Champion (without any defenses). Then Mosley (2000-02) wins it in a box-off with De La Hoya that same year, & loses it after two years & three defenses --- nothing special, but it will, remarkably, prove to be the longest streak of the entire decade. Next is Forrest (2002-03), who makes one defense, then onto Mayorga (2003), who does no better. Spinks (2003-05) is now the man, but only mounts two successful defenses, before it finds its way into the hands of the inconsistent Judah (2005-06), who hands it over meekly to Baldomir (2006), who defends it only once.

Mayweather (2006-07) is next, but gives it up momentarily when beating De La Hoya for the Jr. Middleweight crown, then again after defending against Hatton in favour of retirement. Only one defense there. Cotto (2008) inherits the Championship, but immediately loses it to Margarito (2008-09), whose first defense is his last when he fights ex-Champ Mosley. Mosley follows suite, immediately dropping the belt to Mayweather, who as yet has not defended his title.

Whew! The Welter belt is a slut D

Ambling Alp wrote:I always thought it was interesting that the welterweight title changed so often in the early 1930s.
In eleven title fights in a row, the challenger beat the champion and the title changed hands.
Even if the challenger had a 50-50 chance, the odds of this happening is 1 in 2048.

This is what happened:
Young Jack Thompson beat Jackie Fields,
Thompson then lost to Tommy Freeman,
Freeman then lost to Thompson in a rematch
Thompson then lost to Lou Brouillard
Brouillard then lost to Jackie Fields,
Fields then lost to Young Corbett III
Corbett then III lost to Jimmy McLarnin
McLarnin then lost to Barney Ross
Ross then lost to McLarnin in a rematch
McLarnin then lost to Ross in their 3rd fight.
Ross then lost to Henry Armstrong

Armstrong finally broke the string with several successful title defenses.

(This being boxing, there has to be some dispute. Freeman, McLarnin, and Ross all won fights as champion that some sources count them as title fights, and some don't.)

Even so, it is incredible that the title would change hands so often.

I was wondering what theories people might have about this?

My theory: "Sh*t happens."