Playing Hot Potatoe With Titles

In the early 1930's the undisputed welterweight crown got passed around like it was too hot to hold onto.

It began with Young Jack Thompson taking it from Jackie Fields on points in May 1930. The Tommy Freeman outpointed Thompson in his first defense in September 1930. Then in Freeman's first defense, a rematch with Thompson in April 1931, Thompson drilled Freeman in twelve to take it back. But then in Thompson's first defense in October 1931, Lou Broulliard dominated Thompson and the crown moved to Boston...for four months. In January 1932, in Broulliard's first defense, Jackie Fields took the crown back by decision. In Field's first defense a year later Young Corbett III defeated him on points. Four months later, in May 1933, Corbett defended for the first time against a former 112 named Jimmy McLarnin. McLarnin KO1. The Belfast Spider's first defense? Some guy named Barney Ross. Ross wins a SD. Six months later? McLarnin takes the crown back by SD. Six months after THAT? Ross takes it back again!

In about four years the undisputed welterweight title was defended TEN times. AND THE CHALLENGER WON EVERY TIME! Just weird right?

A shadow of that happened in the early 1980's at 130 as well. Alexis Arguello had moved up to 135 and Bazooka Limon faced off with Idelfonso Barthelemy. Limon knocked him out in 15 and faced Cornelius Boza-Edwards three months later. Boza takes a decision and in his second defense gets drilled by Bad Boy Roland Navarette in five. In HIS second defense he gets stopped by Limon in 12. Then in HIS second defense, Limon loses one of the great fights ever fought to Schoolboy Bobby Chacon. The Chacon moves up and Ray Mancini destroys him.

Mayhem with titles!

It is good to know that the chaos with titles dates back to the 1930’s, I thought it was much later. Now we have too many titles and sub titles and even super champions. We also have more weight divisions now so how many titles could Henry Armstrong have won.