Was Virgil Hill/Michalczewski Linear Champ at 175? Look at this timeline

I don't know if Hill was ever a lineal champ persay, but I think there were sporatic periods between 1989 -1996 when he was generally considered by most as the best lightheavyweight in the division. This time line was briefly interrupted of course, whith Hill's loss to Hearns in 1991.

 

October 2003 - DM loses to Gonzalez - Michalczewski was shot at that time. He was spending more time making business and in the clubs than in the gym.

All DM haters are reminding his last two fights, neglecting his former achievments and calling him "euro bum". Watch Michalczewski-Hill, then make a opinion.

 

In all fairness, I think Hill was well on the decline by the time he fought DM.

 

No argument here,

Hill was still one of the top dogs in 1997. Was he at his optimal peak? I doubt it.

 

Garbage thread.

 

Then why bother commenting?

 

Good spin, but the flaw in your conclusions are Maske/Hill was made before Jones Jr fought at 175, thus the #1 and #2 fighters in the division fought a day after/same day (depending on time zones) Jones made his debut.

Hill won to become the Light Heavyweight World champion; Roy Jones and Michalczewski were #1 and #2 contenders as Maske retired.

 

I was just going to say this.

 

Exactly. Even if you think Jones was the "best" in the division he still wasn't the true champ. Tyson only became true champ when he beat Spinks even thought you could see he was number one. Same with Foreman even when he beat Moorer there were people in the division who I would regard as better but he was the true linear champion.

 

NONE of those fighters were anywhere near as "proven" as Hill and Maske at that weight. McCallum only held the title briefly and had already lost it on a big upset to Tiozzo, who himself had already lost to Hill; Roy then beat McCallum after that, which at best puts him on par with Tiozzo - in other words, below Hill. Dariusz was just a rising contender at best, barely known outside of Germany at this time.

Hill and Maske were the two most accomplished fighters currently at this weight, hands down. Maske had won his title from Prince Williams (considered the #1 or 2 fighter at the time), defended it twice against Rocchigiani. Hill was a two-time champion with a shitload of defenses under his belt, including one against the current co-champion Tiozzo. When Hill upset Maske, it meant that he took his place as the top-rated fighter in the division; and that, combined with his previous win over co-titlist Tiozzo, brought him general recognition as the lineal champion as well.

This completely contradicts your own logic. What about the fact that Adamek, Briggs, and Erdei were all on the way up at this time?