Quote Originally Posted by Dark Lord Al View Post
Quote Originally Posted by LobowolfXXX View Post
...as opposed to Seldon, who was a heavyweight champion at the time Tyson fought him. You're welcome.
and what a great champion Seldon was, i once heard a terrible rumour that Seldon was wearing shorts made by pampers the night he went out on his shield when he fought Tyson.
Well, seriously now, as opposed to the late 90's version of Bert Cooper, you're going to call out Seldon? If you missed Cooper's "ascension" to the title, it went like this:

First, he got knocked out by Holyfield, trying to win the IBF and WBA titles.
Then, he got knocked out by Michael Moorer, trying to win the WBO title
Then he lost 3 out of 5 fights in 1993
Then he lost 2 out of 4 fights in 1994
Then he got knocked out in his only fight in 1995
Then he took 1996 off
Then he lost his first two fights in 1997.
THEN, he got a "title fight"!

His record going into his "world championship" fight was 7 wins in his last 17 fights. Of those 7 wins, one was against George Harris: Professional record 2-17 going into the Cooper fight. Another was against Joe Savage, who was making his professional debut (and last fight). Another was Mike Robinson (6-16-1 lifetime). Those, by the way, were his ONLY wins in the four years leading up to his title fight. Over four years, he wins 3 fights (against guys with a combined 8 wins in 42 fights) and loses 7, and he gets a "title fight" against Richie Melito (who?!)

So, yeah, Bruce Seldon isn't in anyone's list of top 10 heavyweight champions, but he would have beaten the holy hell out of the 1997 Bert Cooper.