Who are the top ten youngest heavyweight boxing champions in history?

Question

Who are the top ten youngest heavyweight boxing champions in history?

Answer 1

From youngest to older.

1. Mike Tyson : He won the wbc title at the age of 20 and he was the most dominant and most feared heavyweight champion at the time(perhaps of all time).

2. Floyd Patterson : won the title at the age of 21 under the guidance of the great cus d'amato, he was somewhat of a sheltered fighter but he never backed down from a challenge (it was d'amato that tried to shelter him half the time

3 Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay at the time): he won the title from sonny liston at the age of 22, at the time he was none more for his talking than his actual skills (thus the nickname luisville lip) eventually he went on to have one of the most exciting careers in boxing and earned the nickname "the greatest"

4. George Foreman : He destroyed Frazier at the age of 23 and istantly became a force to be reckoned with afterwards, after losing the title to ali he came back to win it at the age of 40.

5. Joe Louis : The brown bomber won his first title at the age of 23, he was in his physical prime but still developing his skills.

6. Leon Spinks : He won his title at 24, i don't hold him in high regard though

7. Michael Moorer: won his title at 24 under the guidance of teddy atlas, he was an okay champion but not great.

8. Jim Jeffries : some argue that he won his at 23 and some say he won it later,most however agree that he won at the age of 24, he was a feared and strong heavyweight champion, unfortunately many remember him as a symbol of racism in america in the early 20th century and as the man who lost to jack johnson but in his prime he was a force to be reckoned with

9. Riddick Bowe : won his first title at 25, he was considered a boxer full of promise but his shamelss ducking of lennox lewis and bizzare behavior have tarnished his legacy

10. Max Baer: won his first title at 25, in his prime he was an extremely hard hitter who demolished opponents in the ring.

Answer 2

Toughguy's list is authentic.  Still some contend that Patterson is really the youngest because Tyson only held Fractions of the title.  However, he did dominate the division at the time.  No one could argue that anyone was better at the time he KO'd Berbick for the WBC title.

Calling Tyson the "Youngest champ" was more a popular thing to do and it just stuck.   For those who don't take heed to the many "Alpha-champs"  it means little.   For example,  I dont consider ANY of the pretenders,  During Larry Holmes' reign, to be champions.   It's not Larry's fault that Don and his buddy Jose benefitted from keeping the title ''fractured''.

As weak as he was, Patterson DID hold the Undisputed Title.  It means little as well since ALL of the men Tyson beat for his "Fractions" of the title could beat Patterson AND the man he won the title from  (Johansson).  

The"Terrible Trio"  were "Nothing" champs compared to Tyson and Following Holmes, but I dont see Patterson or Johansson beating Bonecrusher, (as godawful slow as he was) or Tucker or Berbick.  All are simply too big and strong for "Little weak Floyd"  and "Glass Jaw Johannson", who really couldn't box.  

Little known fact:  When Johannson was champ he sparred with Clay to prepare for Patterson.  After just a few rounds,  Clay was asked to take it easy on Ingo.   After bringing it down a notch, he was STILL worlds ahead of Ingo,  who admitted he'd never fight Clay in a real fight for that reason.  

Calling either Johansson or Patterson  "Good"  is just nastalgia.   Some even whisper that Leon Spinks was "good"  just remembering the times of their youth.  Both of these "Champions" are right in the same class as Jim Braddock.  In fact,  I'd wager Jim has a good chance of beating either of them.

Answer 3

I can name a few of at least the top ones and the rest is a guess.

1.  Mike Tyson 20

2.  Floyd Patterson  21

3   Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay)  22

4.  George Foreman  23

5.  Joe Louis  23

6.  Leon Spinks 24

7.  Michael Moorer 24

8.  Jim Jeffries  24

9.  Riddick Bowe  25

10.  Max Baer  25

A few of them are a guess of which order they should be in.

Answer 4

Clearly, the youngest are Tyson, Patterson, Clay, and Foreman. . .

Beyond that, do any others really even matter?