Who had the worst start has a pro boxer but won a LEGIT Championship??

[p4pking]

Freddie Pendleton was the best one I could think of, good call ICB. He didn't just get off to a poor start then find his winning ways, he lost a lot of fights all the way through but had a lot of tools. Bit like an Emmanuel Augustus I'd say, only clearly better and was consistently very good during his peak, win or lose. Had some fun fights to watch. I don't know offhand how many fights Baldomir lost before he upset Judah, but he's about as unlikely a champion as you can find; although really he just cashed in on Judah being a basketcase and wasn't very good.

[ICB]

Freddie Pendleton was the best one I could think of, good call ICB. He didn't just get off to a poor start then find his winning ways, he lost a lot of fights all the way through but had a lot of tools. Bit like an Emmanuel Augustus I'd say, only clearly better and was consistently very good during his peak, win or lose. Had some fun fights to watch. I don't know offhand how many fights Baldomir lost before he upset Judah, but he's about as unlikely a champion as you can find; although really he just cashed in on Judah being a basketcase and wasn't very good.

Yea Freddie Pendleton was very good in his prime, he reminded me of Junior Jones style wise. His performances against Ruelas, Lopez, Whitaker, Mayweather, Randall, Bramble, Paez, Trice, showed he was world class.

He has got to have one of the most misleading record's of all time, because at first glance his record suggests he's just a journeyman. When infact he's former world champion who beat alot former world champions in there prime.

[Hulk]

Mayorga lost his pro debut. Then went on to lose against practically every big name he fought

[THE THIRD MAN]

Carlos Monzon was 16-3 with 1 no contest after his first 20 fights within 18 months of his debut. Probably all against Argentinian cab drivers, not the auspicious debut to pro boxing that would see him regarded as arguably the greatest Middleweight of all time? He never lost again in the next 13 years and 67 fights.

[FinitoElDinamita]

Recently, Orlando Salido.. This man earned his the hard way.. like those old school fighters from the
40s...

This dude turned pro at the age of 15 without an amatuer background.. If that wasn't enough, his promoter matched him tough from the get go and nothing was handed to him like so many of these fighters today.. He had to learn on the job which explains all those losses early in his career.. 8 of his losses came in between the ages of 15-21 and it's more than understandable why..

That's why Juanma fucked up.. Guys like Orlando Salido are dangerous because they actually learned how to fight under harsh circumstances.. Salido is a hard ass fighter and if Juanma doesn't fix his trigger happy ways, he's going to get KTFO again..

Salido is such a feel good story.. They need to make a movie about him and not no freakin Mickey Ward... wtf.

[hhascup]

Billy Conn lost first 7 out of 15 bouts

Angel Espada was 0-2-4 after his first 6 fights.

Billy Backus won only 4 of his first 11 bouts and 8 of his first 18

[CutMeMick]

This is something I've actually done research on...
Here are some of the ones that stand out most to me.

Alexis Arguello suffered 2 loses back to back early in his career was 3-2.
Benny Lynch started off 6-4-2
Ike Williams started off 10-4-2
Hopkins lost in his debut.
Ted Lewis lost his debut.
Both Marquez brothers lost in their debuts.
Humberto Soto started off 13-4-2
Margacheato started off 9-3.
Jhonny Gonzalez started off 0-2 then went 14-4.
Edgar Sosa started off 12-5
Tomas Rojas at one point went 5-6 then shortly after went 6-6.
Flash Elorder at one point went 11-8.
Mike Weaver started off 6-6