Originally posted by BatteredKessler
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See, even the Hatton example as a Lineal champ is a funny one. He had done very, very little at 140 since winning the Lineal title and decades ago would probably have lost it because he would have had to face the best fighters coming through, which at his time would have meant facing Cotto, Bradley, Witter, Mayweather etc.
He didn't face any of those guys and had about four 140 fights over five years. Shot Castillo, Maussa, Malignaggi and Urango. He didn't face the first, second or third best fighter in the division once as a champion. Not once. Although if someone brings up Castillo as the number one ranked fighter....Well, I think everyone will just laugh. He had one win against Herman NDougjo at 140 and in no way possible does that get you a number one spot over the other champions.
It's another symptom of the boxing title climate. How does a guy stay a lineal world champion without ever facing a number one, two or three contender?
If you compare it with Tszyu's reign, everyone that sat at number one and two behind him was fought and beaten. The other two most dominant fighters, he fought as Lineal champ. He would probably have been stripped otherwise. How did Hatton get away with it?
Lineal champ? Yeah, sure he was. Only in boxing world.
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