I don't want to be dismissive at all and he certainly did not duck Cunningham as he went on to bigger things. It is just that the term "undisputed" is oftentimes misunderstood. He was the number one guy which is illustrated in a very credible way by the "Ring Belt".
You do not understand the term "undisputed". I recommend you to read the relevant explanations provided in this thread again.
Blade you say WBO doesn't count... i beg to differ. the WBO is the ORIGINAL world title belt so holds just as much weight as the IBF organisation
Why it is so hard with some of you, this is not hater thread. The logic "you beat the man who beat the man" applies to "linear" but not "undisputed" champ. There is a very fine line, there. You are undisputed if you have all the belts, Haye did never held the IBF belt so he is not undisputed, simple as that.
who cares about the IBF belt, he held 4 belts, the ring belt and beat the two of the number one contenders / champions.
I don't want to belittle his accomplishments and Haye deserves respect for unifying three belts (if you want to count the WBO strap). However, he can't call himself the "undisputed cruiserweight champ", that is all.
I wouldn't even mention this usually, because its such a nonsense technicality that it wouldnt be worth it. But because the premise of this thread is based on a similar nonsensical technicality, I will. The WBO was started in 1988, Holyfield was still fighting at cruiserweight '88 and didn't hold the wbo belt, so by your logic (not mine) he wasn't the undisputed crusierweight champion, in the same way Haye wasn't the undisputed crusierweight champion either, even though he and Holyfield both actually were recognized as such by every sane person.
And to add to this point in the next 10 years there will be a Top Rank belt, a WBG belt a BBW belt and a ABCBW belt. will the undisputed champion have to hold all of these belts in 10 years?
Can you not see what the bloke is saying? It's not that hard... CUNNINGHAM HAD THE IBF BELT. It doesn't matter that Haye was recognised number 1. He never had all of the belts, and so by definition cannot be undisputed.
cunningham would not have made it past round three against haye so it is just as well haye moved up sooner rather than later for sc.