title defense
Protecting your crown
A title defense is a competition in which the current champion defends their standing against a challenger.
The term appears primarily in boxing, wrestling, and other combat sports: He's preparing for his first title defense since winning the belt.
The champion must win or draw to retain the title; a loss means it passes to the challenger.
- beltStrap securing trousers
- world championTop-ranked competitor internationally
- contenderOne competing seriously
- rematchRepeated contest between opponents
- refereeSports rule enforcer
champion · reign · challenger · titleholder · knockout · split decision · going the distance · dethrone · undisputed · undefeated · rivalry · weigh in · tale of the tape · fight night · main event · pay per view · legacy · ring
- boxingjab, uppercut, hook, punch, knockout
- combat sportsboxing, wrestling, MMA, judo, karate
- sports dramacomeback story, underdog story, rivalry, upset, buzzer beater
- sports legacyHall of Fame, Hall of Famer, retired jersey, jersey retirement, number retirement
- Sports Resultswin, championship, first place, second place, victory
- victorieschampionship, trophy, gold medal, first place, cup
tournament trajectory
title defensechampionship run
Extended pursuit of victory
proving ground · rise through the ranks · breakthrough performance