fighters who you think are paper champs

Anyone who isn't lineal is technically just a paper champion. And even the lineages can and should be disputed... Afterall, everyone can agree or disagree with the debate over whatever fight produces a "lineal champ," as one doesn't have to agree with any particular ranking system.

No way is Garcia a legit champ after the Khan fight as neither were even among the top 2 in the division (Matthysse and Peterson; and Bradley if he wasn't quickly swept out of the rankings after one fight at WW and much less than a year since last fighting at JWW).

YPH is not after The Ring booted out Huck to allow YPH/Cunningham for the title. It was hypocritical to previous actions/rankings to remove Huck after one voyage to HW when he said he would likely return to CW and his activity in the division didn't warrant him exiting the rankings.

Wladimir is questionable since Vitali was the clear #2 over Chagaev. I understand the Rings' long stance of "unless undeniable circumstances prevent it," and I don't think the K bros should fight. But Chagaev had no right to be in a contest for the lineal title.

Salido vs. Mikey bypassed John, who was at the very least much higher ranked on merit and accomplishment than Mikey was entering that fight.



Which would mean that the only "true non-paper titlists" are: Chad Dawson, Andre Ward, Sergio Martinez, Nonito Donaire, and Akira Yaegashi.

I think a realistic way of figuring it out would be to personally decide who the best fighter in the division is, and to consider them "champion" since the sanctioning bodies and Ring magazine clearly have no intent on deciding that.

 

Geale lives in Australia. He is Australian atsch

 

Nathan Cleverly.
Case closed.

 

He's not even the worst paper champ at 175.

 

Khabib Allakhverdiev is a paper champ.

 

I'd say Guillermo Jones has been hiding with his WBA cruiserweight belt long enough. Lebedev is gonna take care of that soon enough.

Edit : for those who don't know, he's had the belt since 2008 and defended it 3 times in 5 years. No defenses in 2009 and 2012.

 

Cleverly, Alvarez, Malinaggi, Povetkin and Golovkin stand out for me. But being a paper champ is subjective, it can be argued people like Hopkins and froch are paper champions, but due to fan preferences they aren't really considered so.

 

JCCjr was the paper champion example at MW.

 

I love Froch, but he is and always has been a paper champion, he's never been the best in the division. Andre Ward is the current SMW champ, Kessler, Stiegtliz and Froch are paper titlists

 

Austin Trout and Canelo Alvarez are both paper champs if we really want to be honest .

Alvarez best win is against a terribly shot Sugar Shane . No way he gets credit for that win .

Trout best win is a close fight against a Lackluster Cotto who fought on his c game and still manage to win 5 rnds .

Both fighters are unproven im my eyes .

 

Yes , another fine example .

 

i dont think paulie is a paper champ, he went oversees and beat senchenko easily. i think he earned his belt...

paper champ for me canelo, unless he beats trout

 

Thats not Trout's fault, Trout beats any version of Cotto.

 

Will you rate the winner of Trout vs Canelo a real champ? If not, who does the winner have to beat before you do rate them?

 

:-( How? he beat guzman, and is trying to fight the best at 140, not his fault he got injured