Why Does No One Talk About The Lineal HW Title Anymore?

[kafkod]

As a long time boxing fan, I've seen lineal titles, in different weight classes, mysteriously appear and disappear several times.
Then I noticed something - whenever a fighter and his team start claiming lineal status, there is always at least one other belt holder in the same division who the "lineal champ" either can't fight, for political reasons, or doesn't want to fight, at least not right then.
Once the beef between these rival belt holders is settled, the lineal title disappears as mysteriously as it appeared.
What happened to the lineal LHW title after Adonis Stevenson lost to The Nail?
What happened to the lineal MW title after Canelo stopped avoiding GGG?
Usyk's promoter said Usyk had never heard of the lineal HW title and doesn't care whether people call him the lineal champ or not. Now that Fury has lost, his imaginary lineal title no longer exists.

[norak]

The Lineal Championship only really matters if there isn't an Undisputed Champion. Now that Usyk is the Undisputed Champion Lineal Championship is meaningless.

When Tyson became Undisputed Champ he was seen as the true Champ even though some felt Michael Spinks had a claim as the Ring Magazine Champ. But Mike Tyson was recognized as the World Heavyweight Champion and was even coronated by Muhammad Ali.

When Frazier unified the WBA and WBC Championships even the Ring Magazine recognized him as the World Heavyweight Champion even though Ali had not lost the Championship in the ring.

[Roberto Vasquez]

Marketing propaganda from Top Rank, given credibility shamelessly by Dan Rafael at ESPN.

Tyson Fury was due to be stripped of all his titles due to his failed drug test and his other investigation for prior failed drugs test. He vacated his belts instead and retired.

Then he came back after being retired for years and claimed he was still the champ.

If Lennox Lewis came back today and fought Jake Paul, would that be for the heavyweight championship?

Of course it wouldn't. Lennox gave up his belts and retired.

The lineage of "the man who beat the man" was broken when Marciano retired.

This is like p4p... some horse **** people made up.

Yes i think marketing and "fanboy-ism" is the real reason. I think really it's only something you talk about when you have no belts. e.g. Fury when he came back from "retirement"/PED ban.

Surely he would have been stripped of the Lineal title for that drug ban anyway?

[TheOneAboveAll]

Humor, right?

Well, you did miss Cain, but that's not why your list is silly.

[QueensburyRules]

Why Does No One Talk About The Lineal HW Title Anymore?

It was a big thing when Tyson Fury came from retirement. Here was the great "Lineal Champion" against the hard-hitting WBC Champion in Wilder. Fury fans couldn't shut up about how much the Lineal belt meant and the history behind it.

Now Usyk has won it - no one cares about it. It's like it doesn't exist.... People seem to worry more about the IBF belt possibly not being up for grabs in the rematch

Why?

- - Blubber bigging up the mythical Lineal Title up there with Leprechauns, pots of gold at the end of the rainbow, and then U of course.

[billeau2]

Why Does No One Talk About The Lineal HW Title Anymore?

It was a big thing when Tyson Fury came from retirement. Here was the great "Lineal Champion" against the hard-hitting WBC Champion in Wilder. Fury fans couldn't shut up about how much the Lineal belt meant and the history behind it.

Now Usyk has won it - no one cares about it. It's like it doesn't exist.... People seem to worry more about the IBF belt possibly not being up for grabs in the rematch

Why?

Some of us do talk of it, quite a bit.

[billeau2]

Most people are ignorant as to what a lineal championship even is.

Ohh like your ignorance regarding Bruce Lee? I agree!

[Willow The Wisp]

A new lineage has just been established, neither wlad or fury were ever lineal. If the man who beat the man has retired, a new lineage can only be established by becoming undisputed hence why Wlad was never the lineal champ therefore fury wasn’t either.

Usyk has achieved everything and should retire as the lineal undisputed champ.

Not the historic "rules", but you can make your own without collapsing civilization.

[Willow The Wisp]

Well, you did miss Cain, but that's not why your list is silly.

Not my list, any more than British sovereigns, popes, etc.

You're silly.

[billeau2]

Outside of diehards, yes. You know Stephen A and the rest of the casual faces at ESPN that constantly used it had no idea.

Always felt like they were trying to make Fury the man because he was with TR and only had one belt while AJ and then Usyk had the other 3.

Like so many things in life: the Lineal seems designed to be viewed through the perspective of ignorance, and naturally people then equate the title with these perverted views.

So for example, the concept of "Intelligent Design" which, prior, to when it was used as a foil for scientific understanding, was originally the notion of how a system, as a whole was purposeful and complete... became a sign post for religious fundamentalism. Or even Eugenics! Which originally was to be a way for human beings to control for diseases, but alas became a way for racists to claim illogical notions of "purity."

Would it suprise anyone to know that the lineal is one of the most logical, useful, elegant ways to designate a champion in boxing? It is flexible, no alphabet soup can control it... It is for the people at all times, and it has the most meaning precisely because of these attributes. A champion, the people's champion, is the man who beats the best. Period. In times when someone retires, or there is some question of more than one best, there may be more than one until this resolves, but it always does resolve, all by itself! If I claim the lineal and retire, at a certain point I lose the title. Simple... If someone claims to beat the best, and another likewise, they can fight each other... Which means there is almost always a lineal champ!

What confuses people is that the lineal is pure. It is not designed to be manipulated by any sanctioning body, or otherwise. It may take a few years but it always resolves IF the sport is functioning properly and the best are fighting the best. The people designate the lineal... not Tyson Fury, not any agenda driven organization, etc. In the eyes of the people reside the man who licked the best and is now their champion... Simple and elegant!