The best champions in boxing’s storied history have included Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Terence Crawford. They all, though, had world title fights against one of these guys: ten of the absolute worst.
First of all, any boxer who is brave enough to step inside the ring deserves respect. But in the (sigh) four-belt era – and with the crazy rankings of alphabet sanctioning bodies – fans of the sport have had some highly dubious champions.
That said, talkSPORT has to impose some order on this top 10, so we are not counting IBO, WBU, WBF, etc champions. Also no WBA (regular) title-holders and no early WBO heavyweight champs when nobody took it seriously. But even with those restrictions, we’ve still got some outlandish boxers who’ve won world titles – from spectacular flops to barely-even-one-fight wonders.
10. Victor Ortiz
There have been far less gifted world champions. But Ortiz is the epitome of a boxer more interested in image and fame than in-ring achievement. Lost by KO to Marcos Maidana in a thriller, won a decision over Andre Berto for the WBC welterweight belt, but Ortiz is best known for a dire first defence when he headbutted Floyd Mayweather, left his chin unguarded, got socked and was stopped. Win-loss record since then is a dismal 3-4-1 and is best known for being the last boxer Mayweather KO’d and for marketing his own range of ‘FaceLube’. No.
9. Jeff Horn
Painful to include one of boxing’s nicest guys. But tough, honest, Australian ex-PE teacher Horn should never have really been a world champion. Gave a valiant effort against an ageing Manny Pacquiao in Brisbane in 2017 and it’s not Horn’s fault he got gifted a decision. Defended his WBO welterweight strap once but lost by KO to Terence Crawford in his next step up to elite level, and has been knocked out by Michael Zerafa and Tim Tszyu since. Horn is a solid boxer, but his title victory over the ‘Pac Man’ is solely down to
8. Caleb Truax
A case of right place, right time for gutsy American Truax. He’d lost all three times he’d stepped up to world class so defeat to IBF 168lb champ James DeGale in 2017 appeared inevitable. Except DeGale, drained by injuries and a war with Badou Jack, did not have a lot left and Truax ground out a majority decision win. He lost a rematch, however, and was outboxed by Caleb Plant in 2021. Truax earned his moment of glory but how many other super-middleweight champions could he have beaten except that shopworn DeGale?
7. Carlos Maussa
Crude Colombian was having some success against overhyped ‘Vicious’ Vivian Harris in 2005, when Maussa suddenly put the WBA light-welterweight champ down in round seven. Maussa then leaned over the flat-out Harris and landed a bonus punch – which could easily have resulted in a disqualification – but got the win anyway. Ricky Hatton blasted him out with a left hook in his first defence and the wide-open Maussa lost his next two after that. Retired with a 20-5 record having never won a fight after his unusual, unexpected world title win.
6. Mickey Bey
Mickey Bey probably shouldn’t be on this list, because he probably shouldn’t be a world champion. The then Mayweather Promotions fighter won a dubious decision over IBF lightweight champ Miguel Vazquez on the undercard of Mayweather-Maidana II in 2014. Ringside analyst Steve Farhood scored it 116-112 for Vazquez, but the stench of the decision was overwhelmed by the stink of an awful fight. Bey was stripped of his title before making a defence, but got another shot at it, losing to none other than Rances Barthelemy. Rancid.
5. Bruce Seldon
Arguably the most embarrassing title defence of any heavyweight champion. Big Bruce picked up the vacant WBA belt by beating ageing Tony ‘TNT’ Tucker, defended it against hapless Joe Hipp, and that earned him a spot on the Mike Tyson post-prison comeback gravy train. With paycheck firmly in pocket, Seldon lasted 109 seconds before being put down by some phantom punches that appeared to sail past his head. Went away for eight years but came back to lose to the likes of Gerald Nobles and Tye Fields. Thanks for nothing, Seldon.
4. Eric Aiken
Good nickname, at least. ‘Mighty Mouse’ Aiken was in an action-packed brawl with IBF featherweight champion Valdemir Pereira in 2005. Pereira had been deducted two points for borderline low blows, when he landed a shot directly on the beltline… and was disqualified in the eighth round. Aiken labelled the Brazilian dirty, a fuming Pereira blamed the referee and high trunks. But that controversial win was the last of Aiken’s career: he lost in his first defence to Robert Guerrero, then went winless in his next eight, retiring with 11 defeats in 29 pro fights.
3. Hector Javier Velazco
An extremely limited fighter, Argentina’s ‘El Artillero’ earned his world title in strange circumstances. Unbeaten Harry Simon was involved in a car crash in 2002 and was forced to give up his WBO middleweight belt, meaning interim titleist Velazco was suddenly upgraded to full champion. However he lost his first defence to Germany’s Felix Sturm – hardly Marvin Hagler himself – leaving Velazco as one of those rare “world champions” who never won a title fight. Never fought for a world title again, retiring with a 37-9-1 record in 2010.
2. Charles Martin
Eddie Hearn knew. When ‘Prince Charles’ ended up winning the vacant IBF heavyweight belt – via the heroic achievement of pre-fight favourite Vyacheslav Glazkov injuring his knee throwing a right hand and being unable to continue – the promoter threw millions of dollars at Martin to defend his title against Anthony Joshua in London in 2016. Five minutes into the fight and AJ was a champion, Martin’s three-month reign ending after two trips to the canvas. The US southpaw was last seen being stopped by 400-year-old Luis Ortiz in January.
1. Luis Santana
Gutsy Dominican Santana actually “beat” a top world champion – hard-hitting but erratic ‘Terrible’ Terry Norris – and defended his WBC light-middleweight title once. But this is the weirdest trilogy in boxing history. Norris was on the verge of a stoppage win in 1994 when he punched Santana on the back of the head, causing the underdog to crumble to the canvas and wait for the DQ. “He was faking it! His eyes were wide open,” cried Norris to no avail.
The American was dominating a 1995 rematch when lightning struck twice. The bell went for the end of the third round and Norris, confused by a bumbling referee, landed two punches after the bell. Santana collapsed again and won via DQ. Norris – now in his own personal Groundhog Day hell – fought Santana a third time and finally blasted him out in two rounds. Santana eventually retired with a 42-17 record but two of those wins, both by DQ, made him a world champion in the bizarrest possible way.
Dishonourable mentions: Jorge Vaca, William Guthrie, Julio Cesar Gonzalez, Juan Urango, Ricky Parkey, Stefano Zoff, Darleys Perez, Bermane Stiverne
