Mayweather was never a WBC WW linear champion. Neither was Baldomir.

[wmute]

All the lineages of every single division are broken.

For welter Leonard was not the linear champ either. Robinson, Basilio an Griffith all broke the lineage by moving up in weight before him.

However when someone wins #1 vs #2 ranked (easier in the past, with 1 sanctioning body) or unifies the major 3 to become undisputed (the only way today), that's the closest thing to THE champ available to modern boxing (by modern I mean since 1920)

CBZ calls "lineal" champions what most people call linear (PBF at 147, Hatton at 140, Pavlik at 160).

http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/pastchp.htm

they have good lists and somewhere they explain their rules, and the dont necessarily agree with the ring (As in Jones-DM at 175).

[Fox McCloud]

Why he beat the champ, Diego Corrales, and when Corrales had the weight advantage too.

And then didn't do **** while Diaz defended his first belt, beat Freitas and Julio Diaz...

Idk, I think that does disrupt the undisputed part of Casamayor's reign, especially given that Freitas had a win (however, uhh... controversial it was) over Casamayor.

[Ras44]

All the lineages of every single division are broken.

For welter Leonard was not the linear champ either. Robinson, Basilio an Griffith all broke the lineage by moving up in weight before him.

However when someone wins #1 vs #2 ranked (easier in the past, with 1 sanctioning body) or unifies the major 3 to become undisputed (the only way today), that's the closest thing to THE champ available to modern boxing (by modern I mean since 1920)

CBZ calls "lineal" champions what most people call linear (PBF at 147, Hatton at 140, Pavlik at 160).

http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/pastchp.htm

they have good lists and somewhere they explain their rules, and the dont necessarily agree with the ring (As in Jones-DM at 175).

1. Thanks for the history lesson. There's a reason I have you on my sig.

2. All the lineages of every single division are broken

Then we don't have to talk about linear champions anymore. Call a guy "THE CHAMP" in any way you want it, be it a "Ring Belt", a box off between the #1 and #2 challengers, a tournament, an unbiased analysis of X or Y fighter's strengths and weaknesses... but please, don't sell me a fallacy just because it sounds good on paper.

There have been great champions, paper champions, undisputed champions, ATG champions... but linear champions died long ago.

[Boofdatruth]

No because Shane Mosley and Vernon Forrest (Or Oscar De La Hoya. You could say Shane and Oscar were the #1 and #2 when they fought each other) was rated #1 and #2 at Welterweight and when the top 2 people face each other they fill the linear vacany. When a old line is "broken", you go draw a new one with the #1 facing the #2.

Or if you want to go with the "You have to unify the main 3 to become champ" then it was filled with Mayorga and Spinks and Spinks becoming the linear champ.

Floyd is the lineal champ. If you call any other guy a champion in the division, I don't recognize them as champions. The anti Floyd fanatics come out with there bull**** corny jokes thinking they are funny byut Cotto and Margs aren't champions. They won't be champions after their fight either. It is nothing more than a good fight between a good welter and an average welter. Cotto is the good welter.

[BMWM3P]

Floyd is the lineal champ. If you call any other guy a champion in the division, I don't recognize them as champions. The anti Floyd fanatics come out with there bull**** corny jokes thinking they are funny byut Cotto and Margs aren't champions. They won't be champions after their fight either. It is nothing more than a good fight between a good welter and an average welter. Cotto is the good welter.

I'm sure they will lose some sleep with you not recognizing them as champion. Idiot

[Ras44]

Floyd is the lineal champ. If you call any other guy a champion in the division, I don't recognize them as champions. The anti Floyd fanatics come out with there bull**** corny jokes thinking they are funny byut Cotto and Margs aren't champions. They won't be champions after their fight either. It is nothing more than a good fight between a good welter and an average welter. Cotto is the good welter.

The arguments don't matter. The facts don't matter. The fact that this applies to Tito Trinidad, and according to WMUTE, to Leonard himself (who is my favorite fighter of all time, along with Tyson), doesn't matter... as long as you can say that "Floyd is the lineal champ".

Floyd has God given talents. He doesn't need "linear champ" mumbo jumbo to tell everyone how good he is. He is good for what he brings as a fighter. The fighter makes the belt, not the other way around.

[Ras44]

And I'll go now. I'll reply tomorrow.

And to every fanboy that enters this thread: USE YOUR HEAD. This not only applies to Floyd. I used Floyd on the thread title because a) he's one of the most popular boxers in the world today and b) because the "linear champion" fallacy is used a lot by journalists/fans who talk about his WW belt.

[warp1432]

And then didn't do **** while Diaz defended his first belt, beat Freitas and Julio Diaz...

Idk, I think that does disrupt the undisputed part of Casamayor's reign, especially given that Freitas had a win (however, uhh... controversial it was) over Casamayor.

Yeah, which still establishes Diaz as the #1 contender. It still doesn't prove him as champion. It's like Sugar Ray Robinson, for years he was the number 1 contender at Welterweight for years, but couldn't get a title shot.

Casamayor was inactive because he had to deal with that WBC **** and was trying to pursue a fight with Freitas.

[warp1432]

Floyd is the lineal champ. If you call any other guy a champion in the division, I don't recognize them as champions. The anti Floyd fanatics come out with there bull**** corny jokes thinking they are funny byut Cotto and Margs aren't champions. They won't be champions after their fight either. It is nothing more than a good fight between a good welter and an average welter. Cotto is the good welter.

He's not anymore. Lineal is declared vacant right now. It'll be filled with Cotto faces Williams.

[Fox McCloud]

Yeah, which still establishes Diaz as the #1 contender. It still doesn't prove him as champion. It's like Sugar Ray Robinson, for years he was the number 1 contender at Welterweight for years, but couldn't get a title shot.

Casamayor was inactive because he had to deal with that WBC **** and was trying to pursue a fight with Freitas.

That still doesn't answer the idea that even though Diaz could not and did not assume the championship spot at 135, he did do enough damage to take the undisputed title away from Casamayor.

Casamayor even may have been the better champion of the division at that point, but I think there was some dispute to his crown.