When the Champ ( Lewis ) retires with this belt, the two who fight for it next are linear champions in all cases. Look it up Haye. Vitali was Ring Magazine champ, and #1 across the board for a period in time by every major 3rd party ranking. Box Rex. Ring Magazine. Fight News, etc... After Vitlai beats Peter, the detractors will be quiet once again.
He certainly should be allowed to still carry The Ring belt. That The Ring ****ed up and jumped the gun by awarding it to him is neither here nor there...they did and no-one else has won it since, which seems really rough on Wlad but that's their rules. Of course, if Lewis came out of retirement he should still be allowed to carry The Ring belt as well. No-one beat him when he held it, same situation as Vitali. It's kinda screwed up all round, but Vitali (if he wishes) should definitely be allowed to carry that Ring belt.
He can't expect to. He walked out of the game for legitimate reasons or not so he's almost a new boy in town and it wouldn't be fair to the new dominant faces in the business. New time, whole new ball game, you gat to sacrifice yourself to earn it, the rest is just history.