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Who were the shortest boxing champions?

Posted: 11 Sep 2014, 13:30
by Caractacus
Back in the days when each weight division had only one championship belt each?

Re: Who were the shortest boxing champions?

Posted: 11 Sep 2014, 13:53
by man
i'd look in the lower weight classes for the
shortest champ. always felt like the heavier
guys were somewhat taller.

Re: Who were the shortest boxing champions?

Posted: 11 Sep 2014, 14:03
by Caractacus
well, who was the shortest middleweight champion then ?

Re: Who were the shortest boxing champions?

Posted: 11 Sep 2014, 14:12
by orbtastic
I'd have a guess @ Basilio, not the tallest middleweight ever (granted he started off at welter). Greb probably not a huge amount taller, same with Mickey Walker, wasn't called the Toy Bulldog for nuttin'

I'd say Perez is the smallest flyweight in the old "world title" days

Baby Jake, light fly or flyweight

Gavin Rees possibly the smallest light welter?

Qawi the smallest cruiserweight, Norris probably the next shortest

Burns has to be the smallest heavyweight

Super middle - Maybe Glenn Catley?

Light Heavy - Maybe Qawi again

Re: Who were the shortest boxing champions?

Posted: 11 Sep 2014, 14:15
by orbtastic
Zale & Graziano also not that tall compared to today's middleweights

Re: Who were the shortest boxing champions?

Posted: 11 Sep 2014, 14:17
by orbtastic
Dick Tiger possibly the smallest light heavy after Qawi

Re: Who were the shortest boxing champions?

Posted: 11 Sep 2014, 16:02
by Woldemar
Baby Jake Matlala.

Re: Who were the shortest boxing champions?

Posted: 11 Sep 2014, 16:53
by HomicideHenry
Shortest heavyweight champion.... Tommy Burns, the Little Giant of Hanover... 5'7"

Re: Who were the shortest boxing champions?

Posted: 11 Sep 2014, 18:05
by Caractacus
Dwight Muhammad Quai(aka Dwight Braxton)is listed here at boxrec at 5-5 and a half.
But I have seen his height listed elsewhere as 5-6 and three-fourths.

Re: Who were the shortest boxing champions?

Posted: 12 Sep 2014, 04:06
by orbtastic
Robert Daniels is another small-ish cruiserweight. He fought Qawi, too.

Re: Who were the shortest boxing champions?

Posted: 12 Sep 2014, 04:18
by orbtastic
Hamed has to be one of the smaller featherweights in recent history. 3 weight champ Vasquez wasn't much taller.

Stevie Johnston was pretty small, even for a lightweight.

Re: Who were the shortest boxing champions?

Posted: 12 Sep 2014, 11:10
by Caractacus
Mickey Walker aka 'The Toy Bulldog' is listed at 5 ft. 7 inches tall.

well,who then was the shortest man to have ever challanged for the (undisputed)Middleweight champonship belt?
(but didnt win it)

Re: Who were the shortest boxing champions?

Posted: 12 Sep 2014, 15:47
by Controversial
Frankie Genaro and Humberto Gonzalez were only 5'1" but I think Baby Jake Matlala was the shortest ever at 4'10" (roughly)

Re: Who were the shortest boxing champions?

Posted: 12 Sep 2014, 16:23
by Caractacus
Controversial wrote:Frankie Genaro and Humberto Gonzalez were only 5'1"
That reminds me of a really cool song from way back in 1979
Iggy Pop-Five Foot One.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHC6QRaq6d0

Re: Who were the shortest boxing champions?

Posted: 12 Sep 2014, 20:07
by pbchron
Joe Walcott was reported to be 5' 1.5" and was a welterweight champion that defeated middleweights and even heavyweights.

Re: Who were the shortest boxing champions?

Posted: 13 Sep 2014, 11:37
by Caractacus
Light Heavyweight champion(1914-1916)
Jack'The Giant Killer'Dillon stood only 5 ft 7.5".
He fought a lot of heavyweights in his time too.

Re: Who were the shortest boxing champions?

Posted: 15 Sep 2014, 04:16
by fzambleth
Sam Langford, of course, was never a champion, although, of course, he should have been. He stood 5'6' as a 185 lb. HW.

Just thought I'd add that.

Re: Who were the shortest boxing champions?

Posted: 21 Sep 2014, 14:11
by Jan
I think Tyson, Frazier and Burns were the shortest in HW if we consider the heightaverage of each time. MArciano wasent big but in his time most fhws were not so tall. But Tyson fought many guya 6-4 to 6-6. i dont know if marciano ever fought someone that big. Frazier was also very short, maybe even a bit shortet than tyson, but his opponents were shorter.

Re: Who were the shortest boxing champions?

Posted: 22 Sep 2014, 06:04
by Cutman Scabbers
Jan wrote:I think Tyson, Frazier and Burns were the shortest in HW if we consider the heightaverage of each time. MArciano wasent big but in his time most fhws were not so tall. But Tyson fought many guya 6-4 to 6-6. i dont know if marciano ever fought someone that big. Frazier was also very short, maybe even a bit shortet than tyson, but his opponents were shorter.

Yes, but Tyson was WIDE

Re: Who were the shortest boxing champions?

Posted: 27 Sep 2014, 06:07
by doug.ie
baby jake matlala ?

edit: sorry...just seen posted already.

Re: Who were the shortest boxing champions?

Posted: 27 Sep 2014, 11:26
by Caractacus
check this video clip out.
How tall do you think this famous boxing champion dude looks like here?
He looks like he may be about 5 ft 5" tall to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgcHBcQRlpw

Re: Who were the shortest boxing champions?

Posted: 27 Sep 2014, 16:33
by Broomhall
My understanding is that former Scottish flyweight Benny Lynch was only 18 inches tall and was made to look larger by a combination of well placed mirrors and specially designed stacked boots.