Crowning And Recognizing A Lineal Champion – Part I

[Ishy Aytan]

Zsolt Erdei is the lineal champ, based on beating Julio Gonzalez, who beat Dariusz Michalczewski, who beat Virgil Hill, who beat Henry Maske when both were the top two light heavyweights at the time of their fight.

Michalczewski was stripped of his belts shortly after the Hill fight. In a span of less than two years, Jones collected the alphabet belts.

The Ring, along with many American journalists, ignored historical lineage and instead declared Jones "THE" champ at 175, which meant that in their minds, THE title went from Jones to Tarver, to Glen Johnson, back to Tarver, to Hopkins, to Calzaghe and is now vacant.

The Ring has Hopkins as their #1 contender, which means that if Dawson (#2) and Johnson (#3, I believe) were to rematch before Hopkins decides to retire, a champion still wouldn't have been crowned in their eyes. Hopkins has expressed zero interest in a Dawson fight, which is why whether or not he retires has a huge effect on future matches atop the LHW division.

All of that is reason alone why it's easier to accept Erdei as the lineal champ, even if he's clearly not the best LHW in the world.

Hope that helps

yep understood.

[Alec900]

very nice article,can't wait for part 2.very good stuff for someone like me who doesn't really know his boxing history

[hammerhiem]

Good read.

Sadly the linear title is often as flawed as the alphabet titles, which is why when i talk about ranking I always use Ring rankings.

For me thats the only true measure of where people are because it's a consensus of experts reducing the chance of nuthugging in teh equasion. there are still occasionaly abberations but generally it's the most reliable in my opinion.

[oc9979]

article was good

[BattlingNelson]

Good read.

Sadly the linear title is often as flawed as the alphabet titles, which is why when i talk about ranking I always use Ring rankings.

For me thats the only true measure of where people are because it's a consensus of experts reducing the chance of nuthugging in teh equasion. there are still occasionaly abberations but generally it's the most reliable in my opinion.

Funny comment considering that Ring Magazine rankings takes a heavy wallop on the chin in Jakes article (following earlier nice efforts from CROLD).

[hammerhiem]

Funny comment considering that Ring Magazine rankings takes a heavy wallop on the chin in Jakes article (following earlier nice efforts from CROLD).

I agree in a general sence with every weight ranking by ring, I cannot find a single glaring error or abnormality in the top 3-4 ranking at any weight in the ring rankings.

Certainly at LHW Ring >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Linear.

Ring is also more reactive to fighters fading or ducking and reflecting ranking accordingly.

[crold1]

I agree in a general sence with every weight ranking by ring, I cannot find a single glaring error or abnormality in the top 3-4 ranking at any weight in the ring rankings.

Certainly at LHW Ring >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Linear.

Ring is also more reactive to fighters fading or ducking and reflecting ranking accordingly.

It is, but it's still flawed because it was a decision which was arguably made politically. Nigel Collins at the time as much as admitted, in a peice I recently dug up by Steve Kim, that DM would 'probably' have been their guy if the Ring's ratings had been around in the 90s (go back and read the ratings and, oh my,. he would have FO SHO). And Ring is only reactive in a ratings sense. Once in as champ, you can never defend but still keep your title. That doesn't bother me but it does some.

[hammerhiem]

It is, but it's still flawed because it was a decision which was arguably made politically. Nigel Collins at the time as much as admitted, in a peice I recently dug up by Steve Kim, that DM would 'probably' have been their guy if the Ring's ratings had been around in the 90s (go back and read the ratings and, oh my,. he would have FO SHO). And Ring is only reactive in a ratings sense. Once in as champ, you can never defend but still keep your title. That doesn't bother me but it does some.

And having Erdei as lineal champion for the last 10 years when frankly he's not even close to top 5 and never has been isn't flawed?

lets put it this way.

i've looked and can't find a glaring abnormality in the Ring rankings, you have a look and tell me what is massivly wrong in the top 5 of any weight.

http://www.ring tv.com/ratings/

[crold1]

And having Erdei as lineal champion for the last 10 years when frankly he's not even close to top 5 and never has been isn't flawed?

lets put it this way.

i've looked and can't find a glaring abnormality in the Ring rankings, you have a look and tell me what is massivly wrong in the top 5 of any weight.

http://www.ring tv.com/ratings/

Of course it is...my point is that Ring would have that flaw every bit as much had they not tried to hit restart on history. They want to look lineal but ignore the parts they don't like. Eventually, it will only lead back to square one.

[Boxingwizard]

Dawson is free to fight whoever he wants after he beats Tarver. It could be either Hopkins, move down to 168, fight Diaconu, or Glen Johnson again.

Clinton Woods and Tarvoris Cloud will fight for a final IBF title eliminator and the winner will fight Dawson later this year or early next year.