BoxRec

Here's the list of most World Title Defenses made in Opponent's Backyards. It takes lot of skill and savvy on the road to retain your crown. These men are the champions that did it the best:

Eusebio Pedroza (Panama) -10 times. WBA World Featherweight Title.

Brian Mitchell (South Africa) - 8 times. WBA World Jr Lightweight Title.

Hilario Zapata (Panama)- 8 times. WBC World Jr Flyweight Title in two reigns.

Muhammad Ali (USA) - 5 times. World Heavyweight Title in two reigns.

Carlos Monzon (Argentina) -4 times. World Middleweight Title.

I forgot the great Panama Al Brown. Out of his 11 title defenses of the World Bantamweight Title, he made 7 in opponents' home turf.

Did we not have this thread a few weeks ago and there were pages of disputes due to the definition of "backyard"?

Miguel Canto won title fights against two Venezuelans in Venezuela, two Japanese in Japan and one Chilean in Chile. All of them went the distance. I don't know if those counts as backyards, I just know you have to be good if you can win by decision that many times on the road.

bwu wrote: ↑26 Nov 2017, 21:49 Miguel Canto won title fights against two Venezuelans in Venezuela, two Japanese in Japan and one Chilean in Chile. All of them went the distance. I don't know if those counts as backyards, I just know you have to be good if you can win by decision that many times on the road.

Thanks for the information. The great Miguel Canto so far has the all time flyweight record of most title defenses in opponents' Backyards.

ewenhay wrote: ↑26 Nov 2017, 17:14 Did we not have this thread a few weeks ago and there were pages of disputes due to the definition of "backyard"?

Yes. To me a "backyard" would be in a hostile environment. I also would not count a loss.

At first elmer was counting it if it was in the country that the guys was from. When that didn't favor the guy he liked (Pedroza), he just started counting whatever worked for the guy that he liked.

Carlos Ortiz defended his titles against Loi in Italy, Ramos in Mexico, Elorde in the Philipines, Laguna in Panama, Cruz in the D.R., Kosaka in Japan, Bizarro in Pittsburgh and Torres in L.A. Now that's what I call putting it on the line.

scartissue wrote: ↑27 Nov 2017, 14:23 Carlos Ortiz defended his titles against Loi in Italy, Ramos in Mexico, Elorde in the Philipines, Laguna in Panama, Cruz in the D.R., Kosaka in Japan, Bizarro in Pittsburgh and Torres in L.A. Now that's what I call putting it on the line.

You're only allowed one division in Elmer world.

SaadOffTheDeck wrote: ↑27 Nov 2017, 17:08

scartissue wrote: ↑27 Nov 2017, 14:23 Carlos Ortiz defended his titles against Loi in Italy, Ramos in Mexico, Elorde in the Philipines, Laguna in Panama, Cruz in the D.R., Kosaka in Japan, Bizarro in Pittsburgh and Torres in L.A. Now that's what I call putting it on the line.

You're only allowed one division in Elmer world.

Exactly. One division. So the great Carlos Ortiz got:
6 title defenses at lightweight. A lightweight championship record. Ortiz was awesome. He did it in two reigns, though. But, still, a great accomplishment.

So right now, the great Eusebio Pedroza got the record.
The table as of November 28, 2017:
(Minimum: 5 title defenses)

Eusebio Pedroza, 10 at Featherweight.

Brian Mitchell, 8 at Jr Lightweight.

Hilario Zapata, 8 at Jr flyweight.

Panama Al Brown, 7 at Bantamweight.

Carlos Ortiz, 6 at lightweight.

Miguel Canto, 5 at flyweight.

Muhammad Ali, 5 at heavyweight.

I have Lennox Lewis at 9 which would tie him with Pedroza everywhere but in Elmer World where the loss to McGuigan in England somehow counts.
Everywhere except for Elmer World Chavez would be #1 overall.
Lewis is #1 at heavyweight unless there is another obscure Elmer World bylaw which denies him this most prestigious honor.

elmersalsa wrote: ↑28 Nov 2017, 18:28

SaadOffTheDeck wrote: ↑27 Nov 2017, 17:08

scartissue wrote: ↑27 Nov 2017, 14:23 Carlos Ortiz defended his titles against Loi in Italy, Ramos in Mexico, Elorde in the Philipines, Laguna in Panama, Cruz in the D.R., Kosaka in Japan, Bizarro in Pittsburgh and Torres in L.A. Now that's what I call putting it on the line.

You're only allowed one division in Elmer world.

Exactly. One division. So the great Carlos Ortiz got:
6 title defenses at lightweight. A lightweight championship record. Ortiz was awesome. He did it in two reigns, though. But, still, a great accomplishment.

The only reason it's one division is because you'd be wrong if it wasn't. You can't have that.

SaadOffTheDeck wrote: ↑28 Nov 2017, 22:34

elmersalsa wrote: ↑28 Nov 2017, 18:28

SaadOffTheDeck wrote: ↑27 Nov 2017, 17:08

You're only allowed one division in Elmer world.

Exactly. One division. So the great Carlos Ortiz got:
6 title defenses at lightweight. A lightweight championship record. Ortiz was awesome. He did it in two reigns, though. But, still, a great accomplishment.

The only reason it's one division is because you'd be wrong if it wasn't. You can't have that.

Anybody could get title defenses in different weight classes as champions. We're talking one crown. One weight class.

The record holder would be Hilario Zapata of Panama if we include more than one title. Zapata made 11 title defenses in two weight classes on enemy's backyard. No one got more than the great Eusebio Pedroza at one weight class, which is basically hell of a n accomplishment.

Ambling Alp II wrote: ↑28 Nov 2017, 22:26 I have Lennox Lewis at 9 which would tie him with Pedroza everywhere but in Elmer World where the loss to McGuigan in England somehow counts.
Everywhere except for Elmer World Chavez would be #1 overall.
Lewis is #1 at heavyweight unless there is another obscure Elmer World bylaw which denies him this most prestigious honor.

Lennox Lewis never fought in someone's backyard in no time of his championship reign. None!

Still, does not matches the great Eusebio Pedroza's accomplishment. A TRUE WORLD CHAMPION that defended his crown all over the world. He did it 10 times!

Pedroza indeed is a top 100 ATG pound per pound fighter. His accomplishment s speak for themselves:

Twenty title defenses in 7 years as Champion: 1978-85

Ten of the twenty title defenses we're in opponents' home turf. Something difficult to do. You need skill and savvy and mental toughness to do it on the road. In hostile environments were the judges could be influenced by the hometown crowd. Pedroza managed it with perfection. This is a world record.

From 1977 to 1985, had an unbeaten run of 25 fights.

He beat good quality boxers like Rocky Lockridge, Juan LaPorte, Jorge Lujan, Ruben Olivares, Patrick Ford, Hector Carrasquilla, and Juan Domingo Malvarez

He beat 5 world champions.


In my opinion, PEDROZA WAS THE MOST COMPLETE FIGHTER OF MY LIFETIME! He can box, had great ring generalship, could fight great inside, great speed of hands and foot, good chin, boxing cleverness and unbelievable stamina that was key for the late rounds.

elmersalsa wrote: ↑28 Nov 2017, 18:36 So right now, the great Eusebio Pedroza got the record.
The table as of November 28, 2017:
(Minimum: 5 title defenses)

Eusebio Pedroza, 10 at Featherweight.

Brian Mitchell, 8 at Jr Lightweight.

Hilario Zapata, 8 at Jr flyweight.

Panama Al Brown, 7 at Bantamweight.

Carlos Ortiz, 6 at lightweight.

Miguel Canto, 5 at flyweight.

Muhammad Ali, 5 at heavyweight.

Antonio Cervantes got 8 title defenses in opponents' backyards of the WBA World Jr Welterweight Title in two reigns: 1972-76, 1977-80

So the tally so far is:
Pedroza 10
Cervantes 8
Mitchell 8
Zapata 8
Brown 7
Ortiz 6
Canto 5 ( I am doing a further review. I think he got more than 5)
Ali 5

I count 7 for Canto.

scartissue wrote: ↑03 Dec 2017, 09:28 I count 7 for Canto.

Also I see 6 road defenses for Jofre and 7 apiece for Galindez and Foster at lt heavy. Stretching it a bit you can almost say 8 for Foster when you look at his unification with Rondon in Miami. Rondon had fought there a number of times due to his association with the Dundees.

scartissue wrote: ↑03 Dec 2017, 10:13

scartissue wrote: ↑03 Dec 2017, 09:28 I count 7 for Canto.

Also I see 6 road defenses for Jofre and 7 apiece for Galindez and Foster at lt heavy. Stretching it a bit you can almost say 8 for Foster when you look at his unification with Rondon in Miami. Rondon had fought there a number of times due to his association with the Dundees.

Miami is not Vicente Rondon's backyard. He is from Venezuela.

elmersalsa wrote: ↑04 Dec 2017, 02:34

scartissue wrote: ↑03 Dec 2017, 10:13

scartissue wrote: ↑03 Dec 2017, 09:28 I count 7 for Canto.

Also I see 6 road defenses for Jofre and 7 apiece for Galindez and Foster at lt heavy. Stretching it a bit you can almost say 8 for Foster when you look at his unification with Rondon in Miami. Rondon had fought there a number of times due to his association with the Dundees.

Miami is not Vicente Rondon's backyard. He is from Venezuela.

Yes, I am fully aware of where Rondon is from. The point I was trying to make is when a fighter ingratiates himself in a certain region where he and his style is appreciated and he creates a fanbase, he becomes the hometown fighter. When I mentioned 7 defenses of Galindez in the fighter's hometown I counted the Jorge Ahumada fight in MSG. Why? Because Ahumada was living in NY at the time, had fought there 10 times, had created a fanbase and was in all sense the hometown fighter. I did not count Cuban born Jose Napoles' title defenses against Ernie Lopez and Hedgemon Lewis at the Forum as road defenses or his two bouts with Armando Muniz as road. And that is because, despite the fact the challenger's were in their hometown, it was Napoles who had the fanbase. It can get complicated but you have to look outside the box and not simply read text. As I said before, the Rondon thing was a stretch, but he had fought in Miami a number of times and had defended his title there against Gomeo Brennan and was involved with the Dundees. He had better ties there than Foster, but of course, we can omit this.

elmersalsa wrote: ↑25 Nov 2017, 19:44 Here's the list of most World Title Defenses made in Opponent's Backyards. It takes lot of skill and savvy on the road to retain your crown. These men are the champions that did it the best:

Eusebio Pedroza (Panama) -10 times. WBA World Featherweight Title.

Brian Mitchell (South Africa) - 8 times. WBA World Jr Lightweight Title.

Hilario Zapata (Panama)- 8 times. WBC World Jr Flyweight Title in two reigns.

Muhammad Ali (USA) - 5 times. World Heavyweight Title in two reigns.

Carlos Monzon (Argentina) -4 times. World Middleweight Title.

I'm assuming Mitchells other defences abroad were against guys that were also from elsewhere ?

elmersalsa wrote: ↑30 Nov 2017, 04:19

Ambling Alp II wrote: ↑28 Nov 2017, 22:26 I have Lennox Lewis at 9 which would tie him with Pedroza everywhere but in Elmer World where the loss to McGuigan in England somehow counts.
Everywhere except for Elmer World Chavez would be #1 overall.
Lewis is #1 at heavyweight unless there is another obscure Elmer World bylaw which denies him this most prestigious honor.

Lennox Lewis never fought in someone's backyard in no time of his championship reign. None!

Still, does not matches the great Eusebio Pedroza's accomplishment. A TRUE WORLD CHAMPION that defended his crown all over the world. He did it 10 times!

Pedroza indeed is a top 100 ATG pound per pound fighter. His accomplishment s speak for themselves:

Twenty title defenses in 7 years as Champion: 1978-85

Ten of the twenty title defenses we're in opponents' home turf. Something difficult to do. You need skill and savvy and mental toughness to do it on the road. In hostile environments were the judges could be influenced by the hometown crowd. Pedroza managed it with perfection. This is a world record.

From 1977 to 1985, had an unbeaten run of 25 fights.

He beat good quality boxers like Rocky Lockridge, Juan LaPorte, Jorge Lujan, Ruben Olivares, Patrick Ford, Hector Carrasquilla, and Juan Domingo Malvarez

He beat 5 world champions.


In my opinion, PEDROZA WAS THE MOST COMPLETE FIGHTER OF MY LIFETIME! He can box, had great ring generalship, could fight great inside, great speed of hands and foot, good chin, boxing cleverness and unbelievable stamina that was key for the late rounds.

elmer, how you possibly say that "Lennox Lewis never fought in someone's backyard in no time of his championship reign. None!" ?

Without arguing about the whole England/Wales thing look at these:
Tony Tucker in Las Vegas
Phil Jackson in Atlantic City
Shannon Briggs in Atlantic City
Evender Holyfield in New York
Evander Holyfield in Las Vegas
Michael Grant in New York
Mike Tyson in Memphis
David Tua in Las Vegas

These were all against Americans in the United States? How can you say that these don't count?
What obscure bylaw are you coming up with sm you don't have count these?

Cant remember Azumah Nelson having a title fight in Ghana so must make this list somewhere

Ambling Alp II wrote: ↑04 Dec 2017, 11:45

elmersalsa wrote: ↑30 Nov 2017, 04:19

Ambling Alp II wrote: ↑28 Nov 2017, 22:26 I have Lennox Lewis at 9 which would tie him with Pedroza everywhere but in Elmer World where the loss to McGuigan in England somehow counts.
Everywhere except for Elmer World Chavez would be #1 overall.
Lewis is #1 at heavyweight unless there is another obscure Elmer World bylaw which denies him this most prestigious honor.

Lennox Lewis never fought in someone's backyard in no time of his championship reign. None!

Still, does not matches the great Eusebio Pedroza's accomplishment. A TRUE WORLD CHAMPION that defended his crown all over the world. He did it 10 times!

Pedroza indeed is a top 100 ATG pound per pound fighter. His accomplishment s speak for themselves:

Twenty title defenses in 7 years as Champion: 1978-85

Ten of the twenty title defenses we're in opponents' home turf. Something difficult to do. You need skill and savvy and mental toughness to do it on the road. In hostile environments were the judges could be influenced by the hometown crowd. Pedroza managed it with perfection. This is a world record.

From 1977 to 1985, had an unbeaten run of 25 fights.

He beat good quality boxers like Rocky Lockridge, Juan LaPorte, Jorge Lujan, Ruben Olivares, Patrick Ford, Hector Carrasquilla, and Juan Domingo Malvarez

He beat 5 world champions.


In my opinion, PEDROZA WAS THE MOST COMPLETE FIGHTER OF MY LIFETIME! He can box, had great ring generalship, could fight great inside, great speed of hands and foot, good chin, boxing cleverness and unbelievable stamina that was key for the late rounds.

elmer, how you possibly say that "Lennox Lewis never fought in someone's backyard in no time of his championship reign. None!" ?

Without arguing about the whole England/Wales thing look at these:
Tony Tucker in Las Vegas
Phil Jackson in Atlantic City
Shannon Briggs in Atlantic City
Evender Holyfield in New York
Evander Holyfield in Las Vegas
Michael Grant in New York
Mike Tyson in Memphis
David Tua in Las Vegas

These were all against Americans in the United States? How can you say that these don't count?
What obscure bylaw are you coming up with sm you don't have count these?

First, Those were NEUTRAL SITES, Ambling Alp. They don't count. Second, Lots of British fans came for those bouts, therefore, Lennox Lewis wasn't alone. And third of it all, those weren't the American boxers hometowns. For example: Evander Holyfield is from Atlanta, not from New York. Mike Tyson is from Brooklyn, or Catskills, NY. Wherever you want him to be from. But certainly he wasn't from Memphis, TN.

Rocky lockridge was not from new jersey.