BoxRec

Who was the least talented boxer to ever win the World Heavyweight Championship?

Some of these guys were not really champions. They were just WBS title holders.

Of the real champions: either Spinks or Hart. Carnera is much better than these guys and had some good wins. You certainly could rank Carnera over Burns and Willard. Braddock had a lot of negatives, but at least he had some good wins.

Of the WBS titleholders, hard to say. It certainly was not Smith or McCall, who had some positives. They were similar to many other guys that aren't mentioned (i.e Page, Coetzee, Berbick, Weaver etc.)

Ruiz sucked. Seldon was not much. Wilder had a big punch and nothing else.

Charles Martin has to be in the mix, won the vacant IBF title when his opponent got injured and was flattened in 2 in his first defence just 85 days later, I think only Tony Tucker held the title less than that. I don't think Martin has a legit win over anyone who was rated.

Controversial wrote: ↑18 Mar 2025, 16:04 Charles Martin has to be in the mix, won the vacant IBF title when his opponent got injured and was flattened in 2 in his first defence just 85 days later, I think only Tony Tucker held the title less than that. I don't think Martin has a legit win over anyone who was rated.

I think we have the winner!

Charles Martin, it is!

Wilder, I will say, will also go down as a poor, poor Champion, in time. Not Charles Martin levels but he is down in around the bottom half, no doubt. Pretty talentless.

Ruiz too, but at least he has some ability and beat Joshua which, for me, puts him above these 2.

Johnny Ruiz was far, far better than Charles Martin. He was a decent fighter with a better resume than e.g. Mike Tyson.

NazNaci1 wrote: ↑20 Mar 2025, 15:03 Charles Martin, it is!

Wilder, I will say, will also go down as a poor, poor Champion, in time. Not Charles Martin levels but he is down in around the bottom half, no doubt. Pretty talentless.

Ruiz too, but at least he has some ability and beat Joshua which, for me, puts him above these 2.

I don't even know who's Charles Martin. That's how fuuucked up boxing is. Was he heavyweight champion? I didn't even know he was one. That's how behind I am in today's boxing.

elmersalsa wrote: ↑21 Mar 2025, 11:50

NazNaci1 wrote: ↑20 Mar 2025, 15:03 Charles Martin, it is!

Wilder, I will say, will also go down as a poor, poor Champion, in time. Not Charles Martin levels but he is down in around the bottom half, no doubt. Pretty talentless.

Ruiz too, but at least he has some ability and beat Joshua which, for me, puts him above these 2.

I don't even know who's Charles Martin. That's how fuuucked up boxing is. Was he heavyweight champion? I didn't even know he was one. That's how behind I am in today's boxing.

He’s who AJ beat to win his first title (IBF)

Stiverne would like to challenge for Martin's crown.

Controversial wrote: ↑21 Mar 2025, 16:25

elmersalsa wrote: ↑21 Mar 2025, 11:50

NazNaci1 wrote: ↑20 Mar 2025, 15:03 Charles Martin, it is!

Wilder, I will say, will also go down as a poor, poor Champion, in time. Not Charles Martin levels but he is down in around the bottom half, no doubt. Pretty talentless.

Ruiz too, but at least he has some ability and beat Joshua which, for me, puts him above these 2.

I don't even know who's Charles Martin. That's how fuuucked up boxing is. Was he heavyweight champion? I didn't even know he was one. That's how behind I am in today's boxing.

He’s who AJ beat to win his first title (IBF)

I remember that there was a guy in this forum named Kalan, I believe. He was very high in Anthony Joshua. That Joshua was the second coming of Superman, something like that.

I wonder what does he think about Joshua now.

Probably for me would be Tommy Burns. I always view him as a smoking mirrors side show. Marvin Hart often gets rated below him but I think Hart was far more talented, I dont think Burns could have beat Jack Root. Burns completely avoided any kind of rematch & went on to fight the worse level of competition ever known in Billy Squire who was lightyears worse than the worse challenger you could think of such as Fireman flynn or frank moran.

Tommy burns could of fought real competition like Kaufman or mike Shreck or George gardner. He was systematically avoiding them along with Marvin Hart. Instead fighting Jewey smith types. It's embarrassing. What's worse people think he's "underrated" because of so many title defense's. He's fighting with the exception of Philly O' brien a beginning fighter competition level, Jewey smith 2-0 & he's fighting for the title??? What's worse ppl giving him credit for doing it? Bill squires coming off 6 loses in a row (he's ready for a title shot too). Jem roche? 10-1 These guys weren't top 25 guys even they were worse....

Marvin Hart fought the very best lightheavyweight around in Root it was better than anyone Burns fought in numerous attempts at champion. Burns was an embarrassment in the historical sense. He make a mockery of a title defense.

Tommy burns couldn't beat twin sullivan or Hugo kelly prior to the championship & he would of not beat Jack root.

Marvin Hart was simply better. Most educated people know this.

Tommy Burns would have no chance against primo Carnera in my option. If ernie schaaf couldn't beat Carnera I dont see burns doing it.

elmersalsa wrote: ↑24 Mar 2025, 11:34

Controversial wrote: ↑21 Mar 2025, 16:25

elmersalsa wrote: ↑21 Mar 2025, 11:50

I don't even know who's Charles Martin. That's how fuuucked up boxing is. Was he heavyweight champion? I didn't even know he was one. That's how behind I am in today's boxing.

He’s who AJ beat to win his first title (IBF)

I remember that there was a guy in this forum named Kalan, I believe. He was very high in Anthony Joshua. That Joshua was the second coming of Superman, something like that.

I wonder what does he think about Joshua now.

Ask him, he posts under the name of Boxbuzz.

Billy Tully wrote: ↑06 Apr 2025, 08:45

elmersalsa wrote: ↑24 Mar 2025, 11:34

Controversial wrote: ↑21 Mar 2025, 16:25

He’s who AJ beat to win his first title (IBF)

I remember that there was a guy in this forum named Kalan, I believe. He was very high in Anthony Joshua. That Joshua was the second coming of Superman, something like that.

I wonder what does he think about Joshua now.

Ask him, he posts under the name of Boxbuzz.

How many names have you used now? Five?

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑06 Apr 2025, 08:49

Billy Tully wrote: ↑06 Apr 2025, 08:45

elmersalsa wrote: ↑24 Mar 2025, 11:34

I remember that there was a guy in this forum named Kalan, I believe. He was very high in Anthony Joshua. That Joshua was the second coming of Superman, something like that.

I wonder what does he think about Joshua now.

Ask him, he posts under the name of Boxbuzz.

How many names have you used now? Five?

I always post as myself. I don't create characters who argue with each other and troll forums like Boxbuzz.

Now settle down and stop bothering me. I don't want you to get upset and challenge me to a fight again like when I criticised Larry Donald.

Billy Tully wrote: ↑06 Apr 2025, 17:36

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑06 Apr 2025, 08:49

Billy Tully wrote: ↑06 Apr 2025, 08:45

Ask him, he posts under the name of Boxbuzz.

How many names have you used now? Five?

I always post as myself. I don't create characters who argue with each other and troll forums like Boxbuzz.

Now settle down and stop bothering me. I don't want you to get upset and challenge me to a fight again like when I criticised Larry Donald.

Still trying to be one of the mean girls. I hope it works out for you.

Charles Martin
Michael Bent
Bruce Seldon
Fracesco Damiani

Not real champs, just WB whatever belt holders but for the sake of this post...

Sadly, there are probably at least 50 more guys like this.

Which is why we should make a distinction between champions and titleholders.

Wbo wasnt considered a legit world title until the klitschkos

Charles martin and bruce seldon were terrible

nobleart1978 wrote: ↑07 Apr 2025, 13:03 Charles Martin
Michael Bent
Bruce Seldon
Fracesco Damiani

Not real champs, just WB whatever belt holders but for the sake of this post...

Damiani is much better than the other guys mentioned. The belt he had was terrible, but he was very good.

Bruce Seldon was fluid and skilful, he just didn't have much heart.

I'm looking for the guy that couldn't beat anyone decent. Surely he qualifies as the worst ever?

I'd struggle to name any champion I think Tommy Burns could beat... But then again he might surprise me and hustle Charles Martin. Who knows.

Seldon didn't have a good chin either. However, he probably is far from being the worst of the WBS Champs. People seemed to remember him for the ko1 losses to Tyson and Bowe. The man beat Joe Hipp! If you watch his fight against Oliver McCall, he didn't look bad. He even hurt McCall once, which is sating a lot.

As for real champions, Burns did beat Marvin Hart, who was the champion. He should at least rank over him. Burns had some ability. He was very good at darting in and getting out without getting hit. Didn't work against Johnson, but Johnson was one of the best.
On a given day, Burns could have beat Braddock or Leon Spinks. Maybe Willard.

I shouldn't take the bait but...

Tommy Burns won worldwide recognition as world champ. He was the first to defend the title outside the US. He defended the title more than any champ before him. He broke the colour line and gave Jack Johnson a shot when he could have easily ignored him. He whipped Philadelphia Jack O'Brien who had beaten Bob Fitzsimmons and he did it twice. He KO'd unbeaten Bill Squires when the Australian was a huge favourite. He still holds the record for consecutive KOs in title defences. He helped raise the profile of the sport internationally, fighting in Ireland, England, France and Australia. Even after he retired Tommy promoted boxing internationally. As for Kaufman and Gardner, Tommy beat O'Brien who ko'd Kaufman and did the same to Fireman Jim Flynn who knocked out Gardner. Like Marciano, Tommy beat the guys who were around at the time. Marvin Hart, with a win over Jack Johnson, was considered the top heavyweight when Jeffries retired and Tommy beat him easily.

Tommy Burns made quite a few title defenses, just by virtue of that alone I wouldn't have him as the worst of the worst.

Hell that would make Marvin Hart obviously worse than him since he beat that guy for the title.

To me Charles Martin and Bruce Seldon are probably the low points, and there's quite a few guys who aren't far above them.

Leon Spinks isn't "the worst" mainly because the guy he beat for the title was Muhammad Ali, but honestly there's very few Champions I could see Leon Spinks beating either.

Charles Martin or Bruce Seldon would possibly beat Leon.

Martin
Seldon
Sergei lyakovich