Tyson Fury already has a Top 10 ATG Lineal title reign.

[LoadedWraps]

He’s actually a two time lineal champion with zero defenses. He’s one of six boxers ever to win the lineal heavyweight championship twice, so he’s on an exclusive list anyway.

Don’t let ESPN fool you with its nonsense. There’s no way you can consider Fury a lineal champion who has six title defenses.

To be fair, as lineal champ, the title is on the line every time you fight. So yes, while the defenses might not have been all against elite fighters, he still defended the title.

[ShaneMosleySr]

He lost the lineal championship because he retired.

He won it back against Wilder in the second fight.

To be fair, as lineal champ, the title is on the line every time you fight. So yes, while the defenses might not have been all against elite fighters, he still defended the title.

[LoadedWraps]

He lost the lineal championship because he retired.

He won it back against Wilder in the second fight.

He never really retired.

We knew he would be back all along, you don't strip a lineal title, you can only lose, or retire and the title is inherited when it is clear you won't fight again.

[boliodogs]

Fury's career has far exceeded my expectations. He dethroned Wladimir Klitschko after a 9 1/2 year, 18-defense reign. Has defended the title 6 times vs. Seferi and Pianeta (tune-ups following 2 1/2 year drug ban), Wilder twice (draw, KO win) who had 10 WBC title defenses, and Schwartz and Wallin (undefeated European heavyweight prospects).

Wilder III, Joshua I, Joshua II would give him 9 defenses with victories over Wladimir Klitschko, Wilder twice, and Joshua twice. That would be an all-time resume.

Yes Wlad had an impressive long reign as champion but champions age and get worse and eventually retire or get beat. Wlad was about to turn 40 when Fury beat him and that takes much shine off the win. Wlad was ripe to lose and if Fury did not beat him some other good fighter soon would have.

[W1LL]

So either fury lost his lineal title be not defending it as i and Ring magazine believe or at best he defended it twice against wilder. If you want to call every fight he had since beating Wlad as a world title fight then he does have 6 defenses. I don't.

If you want to use that logic then it is only fair the same logic be applied to ALL fighters, past and present. This would greatly alter tha amount of defences of some of the longest-reigning Lineal champions.

[Marchegiano]

If you want to use that logic then it is only fair the same logic be applied to ALL fighters, past and present. This would greatly alter tha amount of defences of some of the longest-reigning Lineal champions.

That's true but currently the widely accepted lineal lists are inconsistent.

So who says they have to be consistent about Fury?

For the record I'm old school and consistent, Fury decides what is and is not a title defense because Sullivan did, but, CBZ recognizes Fury's retirement gap and not Corbett's so even the respected historians don't feel the need to be consistent.

Why should fans apply the same logic for all fighters?

[W1LL]

To be fair, as lineal champ, the title is on the line every time you fight. So yes, while the defenses might not have been all against elite fighters, he still defended the title.

Talking about what is fair, how do these people purport to label Fury vs. Wilder II a vacant Lineal title fight AFTER THE EVENT? That is simply ridiculous. Guarenteed those same people would have happily agreed to Wilder having won the Lineal off Fury if it had turned out that way.

[W1LL]

That's true but currently the widely accepted lineal lists are inconsistent.

So who says they have to be consistent about Fury?

For the record I'm old school and consistent, Fury decides what is and is not a title defense because Sullivan did, but, CBZ recognizes Fury's retirement gap and not Corbett's so even the respected historians don't feel the need to be consistent.

Why should fans apply the same logic for all fighters?

You are totally right, and that settles it. Tyson Fury has been reigning Lineal champion coming on five years, and has successfully defended six times. Thanks for clearing that up March!

[boliodogs]

He lost the lineal championship because he retired.

He won it back against Wilder in the second fight.

He did not win it back because Wilder was not the lineal champion. He must beat AJ to be undisputed and lineal. Beating Wilder once, twice or ten times doesn't do it. He needs to regain ALL the belts he gave up when he left boxing. Those belts don't just stay his for three years unless he defends them which he did not. AJ stepped up and won those belts in the ring so they now belong to him.

[ShaneMosleySr]

Fury did retire.

The two organizations that determine lineal championships said the position was vacant after he retired.

He then won their titles back.

I’m going by what they say, not by what Fury wants to be reality.

He never really retired.

We knew he would be back all along, you don't strip a lineal title, you can only lose, or retire and the title is inherited when it is clear you won't fight again.