Title Defenses: W. Klitschko 13 Lennox Lewis 12

[Mikhnienko]

Volodymyr vs Lennox did happen in 2001 and if it wasn't for that damn blackout we would know who would have won h2h. ***ing Cheadle

[Pirao]

I do. I was just responding about Vitali's fight with Byrd.

I know, that's the point, if you give credit to Lennox you have to give credit to Byrd too for beating Vitali.

[TheGreatA]

I see, so according to you Calzaghe was not a champion when he held the WBO title, and so didn't have 21 defenses as supermiddleweight champion, right?

There was no legitimate, undisputed champion in the division and Calzaghe was number 1 ranked at super middleweight (although at times Ottke overtook his position) so he atleast had a claim to being the champion.

The WBO belt meant nothing in the heavyweight division and shouldn't be directly compared to the titles Lennox Lewis held.

There's a boxer named Omar Narvaez today who has made 15 WBO title defenses and will go onto make more, does he rate with the all-time greats around his division like Jung-Koo Chang who also made "only" 15 title defenses? Artur Grigorian made 17 defenses of the WBO title, was he the best lightweight of recent times?

The point is, comparing the WBO belt, which the likes of Herbie Hide and Francesco Damiani had held, to the legitimate, recognized heavyweight titles that Lennox Lewis held, is not valid. Wladimir has only been a real title holder in the division for the past 4 years, because there has been no outstanding champion at heavyweight outside of his brother Vitali and his claim to being the champion is as valid as anybody's. In the early 2000's, there was only one champion and that was Lennox Lewis.

[bolopunchez]

I know, that's the point, if you give credit to Lennox you have to give credit to Byrd too for beating Vitali.

Byrd was lucky that Vitali injured his shoulder, considering Byrd wasn't the one that injured it.

Lewis, on the other hand, cut Vitali with a clean punch.

[Pirao]

There was no legitimate, undisputed champion in the division and Calzaghe was number 1 ranked at super middleweight (although at times Ottke overtook his position) so he atleast had a claim to being the champion.

The WBO belt meant nothing in the heavyweight division and shouldn't be directly compared to the titles Lennox Lewis held.

There's a boxer named Omar Narvaez today who has made 15 WBO title defenses and will go onto make more, does he rate with the all-time greats around his division like Jung-Koo Chang who also made "only" 15 title defenses? Artur Grigorian made 17 defenses of the WBO title, was he the best lightweight of recent times?

The point is, comparing the WBO belt, which the likes of Herbie Hide and Francesco Damiani had held, to the legitimate, recognized heavyweight titles that Lennox Lewis held, is not valid. Wladimir has only been a real title holder in the division for the past 4 years, because there has been no outstanding champion at heavyweight outside of his brother Vitali and his claim to being the champion is as valid as anybody's. In the early 2000's, there was only one champion and that was Lennox Lewis.

I have agreed that Lennox was the man at HW, but the WBO was a legit title at the time, and that's that.

Tell me, the WBA belt Haye has means nothing too, then?

[Pirao]

Byrd was lucky that Vitali injured his shoulder, considering Byrd wasn't the one that injured it.

Lewis, on the other hand, cut Vitali with a clean punch.

So? They both won within the rules, if you give credit to one you have to give credit to the other, maybe you don't want to give credit to Byrd because it would destroy your argument that noone in Wlad's resume would beat Tua and Vitali?

[T-97]

I have agreed that Lennox was the man at HW, but the WBO was a legit title at the time, and that's that.

Tell me, the WBA belt Haye has means nothing too, then?

The title Haye has is similar to when Wlad had the WBO belt, both had/have a claim as a Heavyweight titleists, but at the point in question, neither were 'the champ'. When Wlad had the WBO belt, Lewis was the champion, no question. Now, Haye has a WBA belt, but Wlad is the heavyweight champion.

Just thought I'd throw my input in here

[BattlingNelson]

I have agreed that Lennox was the man at HW, but the WBO was a legit title at the time, and that's that.

Tell me, the WBA belt Haye has means nothing too, then?

WBO back then was as legit as the IBO is now.

[Pirao]

WBO back then was as legit as the IBO is now.

No, it was as legit as the WBA, WBC and IBF belts, as I've said a number of champions have been undisputed holding the WBO and two other belts, and Calzaghe's 21 defenses are counted since he had the WBO belt.

[Pirao]

The title Haye has is similar to when Wlad had the WBO belt, both had/have a claim as a Heavyweight titleists, but at the point in question, neither were 'the champ'. When Wlad had the WBO belt, Lewis was the champion, no question. Now, Haye has a WBA belt, but Wlad is the heavyweight champion.

Just thought I'd throw my input in here

I totally agree, that's what I'm saying too. Lewis was the man then, but Wlad was still a titlist, just like Wlad is the man and Haye is a titlist now.