Should muhammad ali be recognised as a 4 times champion?

Ali is claimed to be the first heavy weight champ to win a belt 3 times, but looking through the history books I believe this is wrong and in fact he won a version of the title 4 times.
After defeating liston in 64, as we all know he changed his name to ali, and then signed for a rematch with sonny. The wba then stripped ali of there belt, which was awarded to Ernie terrell after defeating Eddie Machen. Ali defended his remaining belt a further 7 times until meeting terrell in 67. He won that fight by unanimous Dec therefore regaining the wba belt. That in effect makes him at that point, according to the wba, a two time champion. Beating foreman a third and spinks 4 times. It's not the lineal belt he beat terrell for as he held that through out but strictly speaking, holding the wba 4 times.

 

How does that happen? Did he win a particular governing body s belt 5 times?

 

If u go by every time you win a particular belt, for example the wbc, and u win it lose it then regain that means your a two time wbc champion. Ali won it 4 times separate so he's a 4 times champion imo

 

No.

 

Sorry but it's a yes. He's held that wba belt 4 times. Liston, terrell, foreman, spinks. Last time I counted that s 4. Not talking about the lineal but if you go by that Holyfield hasn't won it 4 times either. And he's in the record books as a 4 times champion.

 

Was not he WBC champ when he fought Tyrell? I think only Holy is recognized as 4-time champ

 

Holyfield is in the books as a 4 times champion. He beat Douglas, lost to bowe, regained the wba from bowe. Lost to moorer. Regained same wba belt from tyson. Lost it to Lewis. Regained wba from vacant fight against ruiz. 4 times belt holder but only twice lineal title holder.

 

He was wbc champion when he met terrell but had been stripped of wba. So he won that back by beating Ernie.

 

Without question, he's a 4-time WBA world heavyweight champion.

 

Thank u legend x. That's just what been trying to point out. I realised he's down as the lineal champ 3 time holder but in effect he's a 4 times belt holder. Yet only holyfield is recognised as this.

 

Yes, it's clear cut.
The WBA recognized him as champion in 1964 when he beat Liston, but stripped him later that year.
He won their recognition back in Feb 1967 against Terrell, and they stripped him that same year when the draft board trouble prevented Ali from fighting.
He was then WBA champion from 1974 to 1978, and from 1978 to 1979 when he relinquished it.
Four times.

 

It is, no doubt s. And yet u look at the record s it states only holyfield is a 4 times champion.

 

No. Only one championship counts...the true championship. Ali won that title by beating Liston and only lost it when he retired in 1970. End of story.

Holyfield beat Douglas to win the championship, lost it to Bowe, rewon it vs Bowe and lost it to Moorer. Moorer then lost it to Foreman.

 

That's the lineal your talking about which has ali winning the belt 3 times. Holyfield only held the lineal twice but in the record s he's listed as a 4 times champion. If they go by that then they should recognise ali as a 4 times winner. Lewis one a belt three times but only held the lineal twice.