Most Motivated heavyweight Championship defense!

Yeah but it was a heavyweight fight so i think it counts.

 

Totally.

 

Fair.

 

sorry, on 2.5 hours of sleep today :boring:

 

WBO Champion

 

Neat.

 

Which wasn't a defense, because he was yet to beat Spinks.

 

I'll throw in one which is likely to go unnoticed. Gene Tunney against Jack Dempsey. Tunney spent years dreaming of, & pursuing between the ropes, a clash with Dempsey. Of course, money was a big part of that. However, for a man widely-regarded as the best 175lber. of his day, it burned at Tunney that by the time he had entered the Heavyweight ranks, he still had no championship to call his own.

He believed bitterly that he was Dempsey's equal as a fighter. Harry Greb publicly stated he believed as much as well, despite how unpopular that was. Though Tunney won easily in their first fight, he knew he was facing a stronger Dempsey in the return fight in every regard. His name, title, & legacy were all on the line & Tunney knew it & knew it well. He was extremely motivated for his defense against Dempsey.

Of course, there have been some handy mentions here, but I guess it's difficult to top Louis-Schmeling I. Frazier against Ali would probably be my runner-up. Yank Durham telling Frazier he would never be recognised for anything worth a damn if he lost that first fight, barely even as a seat-warmer for Ali, really spoke to Joe.