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Forgotten Heavyweight Champs Trivia Quiz

Everybody knows about Ali, Foreman, and Tyson. Let's see how much you know about the unpopular champions.

A multiple-choice quiz by gjgarre. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
gjgarre

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
259,477

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
2122

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 194 (8/10), Guest 31 (7/10), Guest 81 (7/10).

This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a or as shown below.
Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key.

1. Upon his retirement in 1904, James Jeffries chose two men to fight for the then vacant title. Who were they? Hint

Tommy Burns and Marvin Hart

Marvin Hart and Jack Root

Tommy Burns and Jack Root

Tom Sharkey and Jack Hart

NEXT>

2. Which of the following fighters won the title on a foul? Hint

Bob Fitzsimmons

Jack Sharkey

Max Schmeling

Max Baer

3. In 1896, shortly before becoming heavyweight champ, Bob Fitzsimmons and Tom Sharkey fought in San Francisco, with Sharkey winning in a flagrantly unfair decision. Who was the famous referee for the fight? Hint

Jesse James

Doc Kearns

Wyatt Earp

John L. Sullivan

NEXT>

4. Which former champ had a punch he called the, "Hammer of Thor"? Hint

Joe Frazier

Rocky Marciano

Ingemar Johansson

Jack Dempsey

NEXT>

5. When champ Larry Holmes chose to fight Marvis Frazier instead of the mandatory challenger, the WBC stripped him of his belt and matched Greg Page against Tim Witherspoon for the vacant title. What was the outcome? Hint

Witherspoon by KO

Witherspoon by decision

Page by Decision

Page by KO

NEXT>

6. In 1978, Ken Norton was awarded the WBC title when which fighter refused to fight him? Hint

Larry Holmes

Leon Spinks

Pinklon Thomas

Ernie Shavers

NEXT>

7. Ernie Schaaf, an up and coming contender entered a fight with an undisclosed injury he received in a previous fight with Max Baer, and died after being knocked out by which fighter on February 10, 1933? Hint

Max Schmeling

James J. Braddock

Primo Carnera

Jack Sharkey

NEXT>

8. Who did Jess Willard make his first title defense against in 1916? Hint

Jack Hemple

Frank Moran

Richard K. Fox

Yankee Sullivan

NEXT>

9. Who was the first light heavyweight to gain the Heavyweight Title? Hint

Roy Jones Jr.

James Toney

Bob Fitzsimmons

Michael Spinks

NEXT>

10. Which fighter tied Jack Dempsey's record of seven knockdowns in one round of a title fight? Hint

Ingemar Johansson

Floyd Patterson

Marvin Hart

Charles Liston

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Upon his retirement in 1904, James Jeffries chose two men to fight for the then vacant title. Who were they?

Answer: Marvin Hart and Jack Root

Marvin Hart claimed the title when he knocked out Jack Root.

2. Which of the following fighters won the title on a foul?

Answer: Max Schmeling

Schmeling was the victor after claiming he was hit below the belt by Jack Sharkey on June 11, 1930.

Answer: Wyatt Earp

Fitzsimmons knocked Sharkey out, but the punch was called a foul even though it was obviously above the belt.

4. Which former champ had a punch he called the, "Hammer of Thor"?

Answer: Ingemar Johansson

Ingemar Johansson won the title on June 26, 1959, by knockout in the third round.

Answer: Witherspoon by decision

Witherspoon's reign only lasted a short 5 months from March 9, 1984, to August 31, 1984.

6. In 1978, Ken Norton was awarded the WBC title when which fighter refused to fight him?

Answer: Leon Spinks

First the WBC declared the title vacant, and then awarded it to Ken Norton who was out-pointed by Larry Holmes 3 months later.

Answer: Primo Carnera

Max Baer, although an entertainer first and a fighter second, possessed one of the most lethal right hands in heavyweight history.

8. Who did Jess Willard make his first title defense against in 1916?

Answer: Frank Moran

In his first and only successful defense, Jess Willard fought a 10-round no-decision against Frank Moran.

9. Who was the first light heavyweight to gain the Heavyweight Title?

Answer: Michael Spinks

Michael Spinks won the title by out-pointing Larry Holmes in 1985. Bob Fitzsimmons won both the light heavyweight and heavyweight title, winning the latter first. Roy Jones Jr. won a version by defeating John Ruiz in 2003.

10. Which fighter tied Jack Dempsey's record of seven knockdowns in one round of a title fight?

Answer: Ingemar Johansson

Ingemar Johansson knocked down Floyd Patterson seven times enroute to a third round KO on June 26th, 1959.

Source: Author gjgarre

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

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