Comments Thread For: Undisputed chaos: A heavyweight timeline from Mike Tyson to Oleksandr Usyk

[BrankoB]

Nobody except the Ring considered Vitali Klitschko a lineal champion. I have never seen Vitali included in any list of lineal heavyweight champions.

And yet he was the real deal. In my humble opinion he would be competitive with any heavyweight that has ever lived and he would defeat most of them. If I had to put my money on a fight between Vitali and anyone on that long list in this article, I would not bet against Vitali.

[famicommander]

And yet he was the real deal. In my humble opinion he would be competitive with any heavyweight that has ever lived and he would defeat most of them.

I agree. He was my favorite heavyweight at the time. But he wasn't the lineal champion and I don't know anybody not affiliated with the Ring who would ever say he was.

[Toffee]

Nobody except the Ring considered Vitali Klitschko a lineal champion. I have never seen Vitali included in any list of lineal heavyweight champions.

Lists of lineal champions are usually worked backwards from whoever the individual believes is lineal at the time.

Right now there's no debate that it's Usyk. But there's doubt at every step of the way getting here.

There's doubt about exactly when Wlad became lineal, but little doubt that he eventually did it. Fury's ban and retirement ended his own reign in my opinion, but it's just my opinion. I feel the same about other retirements and bans. Ultimately it's never mattered as eventually it gets resolved at a point in time.

I think there's a strong case for Joshua v Klitschko establishing a new lineage which made Usyk lineal going into the Fury fight.

All that has doubt in it though, just as Fury's claim did. Which is why it was pure marketing that people insisted that it had to be him under their own rule making.

In any case, Usyk ended all doubt, just as great champions have done throughout history. The fact that it always comes together is what makes it worth a damn. If lineal status was worth what Fury did with it then it would be a worthless designation.

[Left Hook Louie]

And yet he was the real deal. In my humble opinion he would be competitive with any heavyweight that has ever lived and he would defeat most of them. If I had to put my money on a fight between Vitali and anyone on that long list in this article, I would not bet against Vitali.

Agreed.
Apart from his one fight with Lewis, we never really got to see the best of Vitali.
In the mythical bro matchup, I think Vitali beats Wlad by decision.

[BrankoB]

Agreed.
Apart from his one fight with Lewis, we never really got to see the best of Vitali.
In the mythical bro matchup, I think Vitali beats Wlad by decision.

I think he beats everyone, Wlad and Lennox included. Lennox was lucky that Vitali sustained that cut and that fight was stopped, most commentators thought from the side of the glove and not from a direct hit.

[Bob]

I've lived through all of that, what a siht show the once great sport has become.
The division had no interest after Lennox right up until Fury beat Wlad & Aj got given Olympic gold then unified.
I only started reading these online paper's wondering why Wilder & Aj weren't undes*****g in 17.

Surely something can be done, hopefully Turkish forms a split group with only one promoter & one belt with Dana.

[famicommander]

Lists of lineal champions are usually worked backwards from whoever the individual believes is lineal at the time.

Right now there's no debate that it's Usyk. But there's doubt at every step of the way getting here.

There's doubt about exactly when Wlad became lineal, but little doubt that he eventually did it. Fury's ban and retirement ended his own reign in my opinion, but it's just my opinion. I feel the same about other retirements and bans. Ultimately it's never mattered as eventually it gets resolved at a point in time.

I think there's a strong case for Joshua v Klitschko establishing a new lineage which made Usyk lineal going into the Fury fight.

All that has doubt in it though, just as Fury's claim did. Which is why it was pure marketing that people insisted that it had to be him under their own rule making.

In any case, Usyk ended all doubt, just as great champions have done throughout history. The fact that it always comes together is what makes it worth a damn. If lineal status was worth what Fury did with it then it would be a worthless designation.

There is absolutely ZERO case for Joshua v Klitschko being a lineal championship fight. Klitschko was coming off a loss and an 18 month retirement. Klitschko wasn't even ranked by anybody at the time.

Joshua vs Usyk II was the new lineal title fight after Fury retired again. Wilder had taken a loss, Fury was "retired" so Usyk and Joshua were the consensus top two.

[Buzzbron]

He just bought the Ring ****zine- Turki should just buy all the sanctioning organizations and retire the belts- lord knows that they are for sale

[Toffee]

There is absolutely ZERO case for Joshua v Klitschko being a lineal championship fight. Klitschko was coming off a loss and an 18 month retirement. Klitschko wasn't even ranked by anybody at the time.

I'd pay attention if you could get anything right.

Klitschko didn't retire - and you clearly know that.

He was obviously ranked. He was fighting for two titles (ranked 2 and 3 by them) and was ranked 1 by the Ring. He was also ranked 1 by TBRB until just before this fight was announced.

There's a case. Just as there is for plenty of other fighters and fights.

That's the point. Being able to make a case isn't good enough - you need to remove doubt. Usyk did that against Fury. He's the first one who can really say he's the lineal champion since Fury's retirement and ban. Everyone between then and now just had a claim.

[patterroni]

What an amazing post! It truly captures the essence of Mickey Walker’s relentless spirit, colorful personality, and incredible journey through the world of boxing. A fascinating story!