30 title defenses automatically becomes the greatest of all time ?

Historically, champions with the highest number of title defences fought in eras considered weak: Louis, Holmes, Wlad. So we would need to have a circumstance where an ATG reigns over a weak division again. Besides that, he would need to have a busier schedule than today's champs and I don't think it's possible due to how boxing business works today. So I don't think we will see more defences than Wlad put together, let alone Louis.

 

That's the lowest acceptable number.

 

Still more acceptable than 18.

 

When do you start counting for Wlad then from when he beat Ibragmiov or Chagaev? Maybe later?

 

Don't know if that's right, actually, since Vitaly was out there.

Sell it to me.

 

I made a edit after. So I presume just the 2013-2015 defences.

 

I might be leaning that way. Vitaly was out there, so how can he become lineal without beating Vitaly?

 

Cause Vitali entered the scene when Wlad was 1 win away from becoming THE champ. Wlad and Chagaev were 2 best heavyweights that emrerged after Vitali retired.

 

Ok, so let's say that Frazier beats Ellis after Ali made his come back against Quarry but Frazier never faces Ali, would he still be lineal?

 

Ali lost the remains of his championship recognition when he retired in February 1970. He had a claim, but wasn't widely recognized. Vitali was never the lineal champion, so his comeback changed nothing.

 

Ok, so you would see Frazier as lineal under these circumstances?

Vitaly was The Ring champion before he retired the first time.

 

Only counting hypothetical belt defenses is like only counting Picasso's realistic paintings.

 

Hard to tell, as Ali would probably needed to be considered in the scuffle for the championship due to him being lineal before and never losing the title in the ring. Good thing we don't need hypotethicals in this one. Frazier best Ellis and gained universal recognition.

Vitali was The Ring champion but never gained universal recognition. And even The Ring called his coronation a fiasco after few years.

 

Not 100% clear cut for me, I have to say. But Vitaly was out there and the guy to beat.

 

This. "Oh he dominated everybody because the field was garbage. But two years after he retired all these awesome fighters just appeared. Lucky for him he retired!"