It's Time to Admit That The Lineal Champ System Does Not Work in Today's Era

[-PBP-]

Especially when the recognized champion doesn't fight the #1 contender. Adonis Stevenson hasn't beaten anyone of relevance since beating Chad Dawson and will babysit the lineal champ label while ducking Kovalev. He literally ran to another network to avoid the fight.

Respect to Cotto for stepping up and beating Martinez but Martinez vs GGG was long overdue. GGG is clearly the best MW in the world right now.

When the best fighter in the division is not the recognized champion that is a sign that the system does not work.

[bojangles1987]

Yep, I'm long past pretending the lineal champ is always the real champion of the division. Sometimes it's true, sometimes it isn't.

In the case of light heavyweight, it's not.

[SeekDaGreat]

Especially when the recognized champion doesn't fight the #1 contender. Adonis Stevenson hasn't beaten anyone of relevance since beating Chad Dawson and will babysit the lineal champ label while ducking Kovalev. He literally ran to another network to avoid the fight.

Respect to Cotto for stepping up and beating Martinez but Martinez vs GGG was long overdue. GGG is clearly the best MW in the world right now.

When the best fighter in the division is not the recognized champion that is a sign that the system does not work.

I agree. Doesn't mean **** anymore. Because the best rarely fight the best, they drag this **** out as long a they can, and milk all these bums as long as they can and maybe 3-4 years down the road you MIGHT get the fight you're looking for, after a.) it's already too late or b.) one of the guys fell off the top.

That's boxing for you $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Russian Crushin]

Its not a system, its recognition of a champion. Sometimes champions lose to big underdogs so we have a situation where a champ is not the best fighter in the division.

Buster Douglas when he beat tyson

Sonny boy Jaro when he beat Pongsaklek Wonjongkam

Its up to the champ to face the top contender, which should happen at least once a year with guys fighting 3 times a year. Thats not too much to ask. The problem is so called champs running away scared

[Luilun]

Lineal thing is a joke just think of Baldamir and Cotto at middleweight over Glovokin please. You just can't have a lineal Champ with 4 titles to choose from the only way a person should be lineal is if the Champs fought each other to unify

[JaguaresMx]

why we keep the pretense is ******

we all know at this moment Kovalev has greater right to call himself the champ; we all know GGG is the best MW on the planet.

Great for Stevenson to have beaten Dawson (after Ward mauled him) and huge props to Cotto for being a champ; but come on, no need to pretend they are THE champions when they wont even get in the ring with other champs

[SthPaw]

I agree, doesn't make sense to have a bunch of champions in a division as they do these days, and call one of them 'the' champion. I understand it is a good way of keeping track of the man-who-beat-the-man situations, but when, like you said, you have a lineal champion that doesn't fight much/doesnt fight the main challengers while meanwhile someone elsewhere is racking up the other belts* it doesn't work.

It is a good concept that I wish was actually more stuck too coz there is nothing more that I would like to happen to boxing than for there to go back to being one title, one champion, each division.

*See Lightheavyweight division.
--Stevenson is the lineal champ, blatantly avoids Kovalev while in the meantime Kovalev has racked up the other belts. Who is the main man??

[Weebler I]

It's something to note, but people shouldn't put too much stock in it.

[Scott9945]

The concept of a lineal champion is becoming more fractured everyday. I'm not saying that is good or bad, just that denying it is delusional. It won't be much longer until it is considered something from the past.

[Cinci Champ]

Especially when the recognized champion doesn't fight the #1 contender. Adonis Stevenson hasn't beaten anyone of relevance since beating Chad Dawson and will babysit the lineal champ label while ducking Kovalev. He literally ran to another network to avoid the fight.

Respect to Cotto for stepping up and beating Martinez but Martinez vs GGG was long overdue. GGG is clearly the best MW in the world right now.

When the best fighter in the division is not the recognized champion that is a sign that the system does not work.

actually we dont know who the best is we just have opinions until they fight