The greatest title in the whole world???

[ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY]

On that note, I feel it sucks for some fighters to be in the shadows while actually reigning as a champion. I mean, take Floyds division right now. With no disrespect to them whatsoever, it is just a fact that no other "champion" in the same weight class as him can really be taken seriously if they claim this or that becsause the fact is there is but ONE world and there is no dispute whatsoever that he is the champion of it in his weight class.

[ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY]

In terms of prestige amongst the fans the governing bodies have diluted themselves into near irrelevance.

Thats the thing, when Marciano, Louis, Ali, Holmes and Tyson were champs the WHOLE world knew...but 15 recent heavyweight champions could walk down Main Street USA right now and no one would recognize them..

[MisterHardtop]

Great list by the thread starter, reading it I realised just how many champions I have seen and how many I've met and interviewed....makes me feel old.

In all seriousness, the heavyweight lineage was all but diluted since Ali's retirement, but the best heavyweight in the division has often been easily distinguished, Holmes was the greatest heavyweight on the planet in the early to mid 80s with Tyson doing the job in the dying years of the decade. In the 90s it was Holyfield, Bowe and Lewis, with Lewis eventually gaining the upperhand at the end of the decade and the start of the new millennium.

Since then, for the last 6-7 years, the Klitschko's have reigned supreme, so yes, the situation is more fractured than pre-Spinks but every generation has had it's defining heavyweight CHAMPION, the TITLISTS do not matter.

Just the way I see things anyway.

You make some very good points.

It is a sad state of affairs that boxing's biggest title is seemingly lost. The Klitschkos have turn a sterling job of trying to unify the division but below the top 2, it is a very weak list of names. David Haye has all the talent in the world but lacks the heart and the likes of Povetkin and other Euro heavies are good, technically gifted boxer but lack the edge to compete against the Klitschkos.