On March 6, 1976, at the age of 17, Benitez won the 140-pound WBA light-welterweight championship from Antonio Cervantes. On January 14, 1979, he went up in weight to capture the 147-pound WBC welterweight title from Carlos Palomino, and on May 23, 1981, he added the 154-pound WBC light-middleweight belt from Maurice Hope. His brother Raul also became a world champion, winning the WBO super-featherweight title in 1992.
Benitez's achievements have never been equaled and it is unlikely they will ever be again. He is the only man to win titles in three different weights at the same time and he did so at a time when most fighters didn't even make it to weigh-in. The Benitez brothers are the only men to hold championships in three different divisions simultaneously. They also are the only brothers to win world championships. Raul has gone on to become one of Mexico's top trainers while Omar remains active in his 80s as a coach on Mexican television shows.
The first triple champion in boxing was indeed Benitez, but he didn't stand alone for long. Less than two years after Benitez's first title defense, Roberto Duran became the second triple champion when he dethroned Jimmy Ellis to win the WBA, WBF, and WBO light-heavyweight titles.
Charles beat Jersey Joe Walcott to win the vacant National Boxing Association championship, but his title was not fully recognized until June 1951.
Monzon's WBC world title was revoked after he failed to fight his obligatory challenger, Rodrigo Valdez. Hagler was became the first IBF world champion, adding the championship to his unrivaled record. After opting to fight Sugar Ray Leonard, he lost the IBF and WBA belts as well as his notoriety. He was then defeated by Leonard for the WBC championship.
Corbett was unable to make weight and had to vacate the championship (although some sources say he continued to defend the title at a higher weight). Attell was deemed the best guy at the weight and so crowned champion. * Morales was defeated by Marco Antonio Barrera, who declined the championship. A b c d e f g h I j k l m (1996).
Until Sharkey defeated Schmeling in 1932, the NYSAC did not acknowledge a champion. The International Boxing Union (IBU) ordered Baer to defend his championship against Belgian champion Pierre Charles in late 1934. When Baer declined, the IBU scheduled a fight for their championship on October 2, 1935, between Charles and American George Godfrey.
On November 3, 2007, Joe Calzaghe fought Mikkel Kessler to unify the WBA (Super), WBC, and WBO championships; Lucian Bute was the IBF champion at the time. Calzaghe, on the other hand, was regularly referred to as the "undisputed champion" by various media publications.
On June 23, 1933, Barney Ross became the first boxer to carry world titles in two separate weight classes when he defeated Tony Canzoneri for the 135-pound World Lightweight Title and the 140-pound World Light Welterweight Title. Canzoneri had held both titles at one time but had lost them due to disqualification. Before this bout, no fighter had ever won world championships in two different weights divisions simultaneously.
Barney Ross was a American boxer who was very successful during the 1930s. He is most known for being the first boxer to win world championships in two different weights divisions simultaneously. The WBA still recognizes his titles today.
Ross started his professional career at the age of 21 in 1929 with a record of 19 wins and 1 loss. In his debut fight, he outpointed former lightweight champion Al McCoy over 10 rounds. This would be the only loss of his career until he retired after winning 31 fights all by knockout. In 1931, he captured the vacant New York State Lightweight Title with a decision win over future champion Benny "The Kid" Podres. Two years later, he successfully defended it against Harry Jeffries. In 1935, he moved up to welterweight and took part in the inaugural World War II Championship Series, where he lost to Max Schmeling by unanimous decision.
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