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By Ed Maloney
Youngest man to win universal regonition as champion:
Mike Tyson, 21 yrs. 2 mos.; Oldest title winner:
George Foreman, 45 yrs, 9 mos.
Longest Reign: Joe Louis, 11 yrs, 8 mos.; Shortest Reign: Leon Spinks 7 mos.; Most Successful Defenses: Joe Louis, 25; Largest Attendance: 120,757, 9/23/26, Sesquicentenntial Stadium, Philadelphia, Gene Tunney-Jack Dempsey I; Tallest champion: Jess Willard 6-6; Shortest champion: Tommy Burns 5-7.
Heaviest title winner: Primo Carnera, 260 1/2 lbs; Lightest title winner: Bob Fitzimmons, 167lbs.
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Rocky Marciano (right) twice defeated former champ Ezzard Charles.
(AP)
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Last foreign-born champion: Ingemar Johansson; First American champion: John L. Sullivan; First southpaw champion: Michael Moorer; First man to regain title: Floyd Patterson; Only men to regain title twice: Muhammad Ali (from George Foreman and Leon Spinks); Evander Holyfield (from Riddick Bowe, from Mike Tyson).
Only man to retire undefeated: Rocky Marciano (49-0). Only men to retire as champion: Muhammad Ali, Jim Jefferies, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Gene Tunney (Ali, Jefferies and Louis lost comeback bouts);
Last bareknuckle title fight: John L. Sullivan vs. Jake Kilrain, 7/8/1889; First title fight with gloves: James J. Corbett vs. John L. Sullivan, 9/7/1892.
Champions who were undefeated when they won title: John L. Sullivan (15-0), Jim Jefferies (11-0-2), Rocky Marciano (43-0), Ingemar Johansson (22-0), Cassius Clay (20-0), Joe Frazier (25-0), George Foreman (37-0), Larry Holmes (36-0), Leon Spinks (7-0-1), Michael Spinks (29-0), Mike Tyson (35-0), Evander Holyfield (25-0), Riddick Bowe (32-0), Michael Moorer (35-0).
Champions who have won Olympic gold medals: Floyd Patterson (Middleweight, 1952); Cassius Clay (Light Heavyweight, 1960); Joe Frazier (Heavyweight, 1964), George Foreman (Heavyweight, 1968), Michael Spinks (Middleweight, 1976).
Note: All facts are based on linear succession.
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