BoxRec

18 defences. Blimey that's poor.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:18 defences. Blimey that's poor.

Stop skim reading. It says Joe's next defence (his 15th) will equal the record held by Eubank.
It will actually break the record. Joe and Chris are currently on 14 each.

Oooo slapped wrist for me...

isnt ottke the record holder with the IBF?

Could be. He is up there with Hopkins & Ratanaphol Sor Vorapin (spell?)

Eubank did make 15 defenses

15 Henry Wharton W UD 12
14 Dan Schommer
13 Sam StoreyW KO 7
12 Mauricio AmaralW UD 12
11 Ray Close W SD 12
10 Graciano RocchigianiW UD 12
9 Nigel Benn D PTS 12
8 Ray Close D PTS 12
7 Lindell Holmes W UD 12
6 Juan Carlos Giménez W UD
5 Tony ThorntonW UD 12
4 Ron EssettW UD 12
3 John JarvisW TKO 3
2 Thulane (Sugar Boy)W SD
1 Michael Watson W TKO 12

Chris, wasn't Eubanks' rematch win over Watson for the vacant Supermiddle title, and therefore not a title defence? Or was that his first match with him?

First match.

That leads me to a stupid question that I don't know the answer of, are draws classed as succesful title defences?

i dont know really, i think they should you didnt lose, but then again you didnt win either

Boxrec state that Chris Eubank's first win over Michael Watson was for the vacant WBO super-middleweight title. Wrong. The first one was a defence of Eubank's WBO middleweight title. Then Eubank vacated and the two fought their dramatic return for the vacant WBO title a weight up.

PS: Calzaghe and Eubank's 14 defences is a joint record for the most successful defences ever made by a world champion from Britain. And a draw is a successful defence because the champion successfully retains his title.