I did. What the f*ck is wrong with you guys? Why don't you recognize Vitali even though RING magazine did, and you're using RING as your criteria for who was champ and who wasn't?
Brigg was never recognised as Ring champ but was recognised as lineal champ. Jones was never recognised as lineal champ but was recognised as Ring champ. The two are not one and the same. Forget my label. Out of all of those who never beat a lineal champion, nor won a match featuring 1vs2, who is the best ever HW in your opinion.
You have to figure that some of the black contenders denied a shot by the colour bar, would have been lineal champions had they fought for the title. This alone would be enough to propel them to the top of the list.
I haven't seen many of them fight. Wills strikes me as a Ruiz type fighter but clearly a higher level. Stands to reason he'd be a top 5 mainstay in any era. Langford has the talent but someone of the stature of Tyson being a counter puncher in the pocket, gonna be hard to succeed against more modern fighters. McVey was a bit of a wrecking ball who could be found wanting if the opponent stood up to his power and there's been plenty of those types through the years. I don't low enough about Godfrey, Jackson or Jeannette to comment on their styles. Any of those would you make a favourite over Vitali in a 12 round bout?
I dont think that it is important to be honest. The questions that I think we should be asking are: A. Who has the best resume of the fighters who never held the lineal title? B. Why did they never hold the lineal title?
But I'm not talking greatness. I'm literally talking best. Most everyone being discussed have legitimate reasons for not gaining lineage. Spoon got the short end of a close decision Norton was denied a fight with Spins Vitali wouldn't face his brother Colour line was drawn. Tua just wasn't good enough. Not sure how that relates to the thread question though.