Anthony Joshua vs. Alexander Povetkin.

[Fenster]

It's a complete fallacy that champions today don't fight as much as those of 50 years ago (rose-tinted selective memory).

These records give some insight into the experience of fighters from yesteryear to today (obviously it can't gauge the quality of opposition).

The average number of fights between the highest first time winner (39) and lowest (16) is 27

Joe Louis was having his 33rd fight when he became world champion against Braddock 50-25-7, the overall combined win/loss record of his next 5 opponents is 299 wins/57 losses/31 draws (Total fights - 397)

Liston - 34th fight beat Patterson 38-2-0 / WLD record - 131/12/3 (146)

Ali - 20th fight beat Liston 35-1-0 / WLD record - 180/41/3 (224)

Now into the age of multi-titles (70s), the titles fractured when Spinks was stripped after beating Ali.

Frazier - 25th fight beat Eliis 27-5-0 (WBC/WBA) / WLD record - 169/9/2 (180)

Foreman - 38th fight beat Frazier 29-0-0 (WBC/WBA) / WLD record - 181/17/2 (200)

Holmes - 27th fight beat Norton 40-4-0 (WBC) / WLD record - 139/21/4 (164)

The IBF is now a factor (80s/90s)

Tyson - 28th fight beat Berbick 34-4-1 (WBC) / WLD record - 145/8/1 (154)

Lewis - 22nd fight beat Ruddock* 27-3-1 (WBC) / WLD record - 162/20/1 (183)

Holyfield - 25th fight beat Douglas 30-4-1 (WBC/WBA/IBF) / WLD record - 212/16/0 (22()

Bowe - 32nd fight beat Holyfield 28-0-0 (WBC/WBA/IBF) WLD - 126/13/2 (141)

The WBO becomes relevant (2000s)

Vitai - 25th fight beat Hide 31-1-0 (WBO) / WLD record - 179/11/3 (193)

Wlad - 35th fight beat Byrd 31-1-0 (WBO) / WLD record - 142/12/6 (160)

Wilder - 34th fight beat Stiverne 24-1-0 (WBC) / WLD - 129/11/3 (143)

Joshua - 16th fight beat Martin 23-0-1 (IBF) / WLD record - 153/10/1 (164)

Conclusion - with more titles available today there's more chance of becoming champion, as should be expected, however, from the 60s to today the disparity between the actual number of fights hasn't changed much if at all.

*title wasn't on the line but Lewis was awarded title on back of this result