Welterweight Champions Trivia Quiz

Answer: Lew Feldman

Armstrong successfully defended his lightweight and welterweight championships simultaneously, the only time he attempted to do so, scoring a first round KO over one Lew Feldman on 16 March 1939, in his home town of St. Louis, Mo.

Answer: Tony DeMarco

One of the most savage bouts of all time took place in Syracuse, NY, on 10 June 1955. Basilio, who appeared to be on the verge of being stopped, somehow turned the tide on the defending champion and scored a sensational 12th round knockout to win the welterweight championship for the first time.

Answer: Johnny Bratton

The following month, March 1951, Bratton won a hard fought 15-round split decision over the very capable Charley Fusari in Chicago for welterweight honors.

Answer: Billy Graham

Graham, on 29 August 1951, at Madison Square Garden in NYC, loss what many boxing experts claim was an unjust decision. The two Judges scored the bout the same, seven rounds to each fighter with one round even. New York then went to the points system where the judges were split, and one judge had Graham ahead 11-10.

The other favored Gavilan 10-7. Referee Mark Conn had Gavilan winning nine rounds to six for his split decision victory. They would meet 14 months later in Havana Cuba where Gavilan easily defeated Graham.

Many people say Graham never fully recovered from that split decision loss and was pretty much toast afterwards.

Answer: Tommy Bell

After waiting five long years as the number one welterweight contender. Robinson decisioned the tough Tommy Bell over 15 rounds, 20 December 1946. Servo had given up the belt three months earlier.

Answer: Billy Backus

With uncle Carmen in attendance, 3 December 1970, unknown Billy Backus "shook up the world" stopping hall of famer then welterweight champion Jose "Mantequilla" Napoles on cuts in four bloody rounds. His celebration as champion however, was short lived as Napoles returned the beating six months later, stopping uncle Carmen's nephew (Backus) in eight rounds in Los Angeles Ca.

Answer: Roberto Duran

While Arguello and Ramos never challenged for the welterweight title, Chavez, although outboxed by Pernell Whitaker was given a draw for his efforts. Roberto "Manos De Piedra" Duran decisioned Olympic Gold Medal winner (1976) Ray Leonard for the WBC welterweight championship 20 June 1980. Leonard would regain the belt from Duran five months later, that however is another story altogether.

Answer: Angel Espada

While all four men were world champions, Espada was the only welterweight champion among them. Espada won the vacant WBA's version when he decisioned Canadian Clyde Gray over 15 rounds on 28 June 1975. Jose "Pipino" Cuevas would defeat Espada 13 months later relieving him of the belt.

Answer: Jimmy McLarnin

Ross defeated Jimmy McLarnin for the welterweight championship initially on 28 May 1934 by 15 round decision. Lost it back to him by decision 17 September 1934, then regained it from McLarnin via yet another decision 28 May 1935. Ross defeated the power punching Garcia three times, the slick boxing Canzoneri twice, and was decisioned by the ever aggressive non-stop punching of Henry Armstrong.

Answer: Sugar Ray Robinson

McGirt was born 17 January 1964 in Brentwood N.Y. Ross (who's birth name is Beryl Rosofsky) on 23 December 1909 in New York's Hell Kitchen (lower east side). Davis, 7 April 1967 Bronx N.Y., and Robinson, (who's name is actually Walker Smith Jr.) 3 May 1921 in Ailey, Georgia.