Very interesting discussion. Fact is, the heavyweight lineage became difficult to trace the moment alphabet titles were included and the lineal champion was normally the guy who held all the major titles (WBA, WBC, IBF and more recently WBO). It's true that the last guy to hold that title was Lennox Lewis and Wlad can not become the official undisputed champion unless he gains the WBC title, which he won't (rightfully so) because the WBC champ is his own brother.
Its pretty fair to say Wlad is the number one guy in the division and Vitali is number 2 (not going into head to heads here). For me, that is enough to make him THE heavyweight champion of our time, beating all contenders put in his way for half a decade or more. It would be unfair to have his legacy soured because he refused to fight his own flesh and blood and was willing to keep a promise he made to his mother. Keeping this in mind, a new lineage starts with Wlad. If someone was to beat Wlad and Vitali was to retire, the lineal champion would be the man who beat Wlad.
Its pretty fair to say Wlad is the number one guy in the division and Vitali is number 2 (not going into head to heads here). For me, that is enough to make him THE heavyweight champion of our time, beating all contenders put in his way for half a decade or more. It would be unfair to have his legacy soured because he refused to fight his own flesh and blood and was willing to keep a promise he made to his mother. Keeping this in mind, a new lineage starts with Wlad. If someone was to beat Wlad and Vitali was to retire, the lineal champion would be the man who beat Wlad.
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