Why do people say "Lineal" when they mean "Ring"

The lineal title is intended to be the-man-who-beat-the-man-who-beat-the-man.

But in most weight divisions that ceased to be the case decades and decades ago.

The relevance of lineal titles becomes more and more diluted every time a link is broken and someone bestows the title on someone who didn't actually beat the-man-who-beat-the-man-who-beat-the-man.

Lineal titles are now chains held together by sticky tape and band-aids.

 

Chagaev was the WBA Champ. Chagaev beat Valuev for that title. Wlad was already IBF, WBO, and IBO Champ.

 

I agree with this part of your post. (the rest not so much) It's important to not break a link just because some crybaby fanboys are upset that their favorite fighter isn't the Lineal champ lol.

However, when it's clear that the Lineal Champ won't be defending it, then it's vacated and can be re-established. At that point, it's important to re-establish it with a fight worthy of such a distinction.

 

I've always read that a Lineal was re-established when the #1 and #2 fought each other.

 

This

The truth hurts certain turds on here.

 

Yeah you got a point. But Ring can be stripped, making it more important in my eyes.

 

Vitali, after losing to Lewis in 2003 (for Lineal and Ring Titles) went on to re-capture the Ring Title in 2004 along with the vacant WBC Title by defeating Corrie Sanders. Vitali then retained the WBC and Ring Titles vs Danny Williams, then announced his retirement. (those fights were not for the Lineal Title, only for the Ring Title, because they weren't big enough fights to re-establish Lineage)

During Vitali's retirement between 2005-2008, Wladimir had established dominance in the division, winning two of the four world titles available. Vitali returned from retirement in late 2008 and won the WBC Title from Sam Peter. The Lineal Title was still vacant at that time. Vitali never was the Lineal Champion, he only fought for it once when he lost to Lewis.

Wladimir had more belts, was more active, and was fighting higher ranked competition. When Wladimir signed to fight Chagaev, who was the WBA Champ who had toppled the undefeated monster of the division known as Valuev, that fight became for both the vacant Ring Title and for the Lineal Title.

Wlad had more major titles, had big wins since Vitali retired, was fighting a higher ranked opponent in Chagaev, who was the WBA Champ, as opposed to Vitali, who only had the WBC Title and was fighting lesser competition. You need a major fight against another highly ranked opponent, generally vs a major title holder or with multiple titles on the line, for a new lineage to be re-established.

 

Who is your all time favorite heavyweight? Just curious