Does Moses Itauma beat all other prospects and contenders ?

Twice. But it doesn't change his status.

 

He vacated the alphabet belts that don't have anything to do with the status of the world champion. He still has the crown cause until either retires or is beaten for it. You can of course argue that guys like Sullivan, Jeffries, Johnson wasn't champions cause they didn't have belts, but it's just utterly stupid.

 

In my mind the winner of Dubois vs Kabayel would be the legitimate man to beat at heavy instantly. Usyk should get the chance to try it, but I assume he won't and it seems like Usyk himself doesn't expect to necessarily win anymore.

I find a situation where someone just rests on his laurels and is still praised as the one to beat ridiculous.

Imagine Real Madrid winning the Champions League and then just not competing next year and people still claim that they're the best team in the world until they are beaten.

 

Looking at the fact that out of 5 of 7 years of his reign Jack Dempsey was inactive, having 2 and 3 year breaks, we're not even close to champions rests on their laurels. Even Fury wasn't inactive for that long.

 

Well thats just an abomination. Doesn't mean it's great now : )

Actually to me it's not bad now since usyk abdicated and I don't consider him a champ anymore. To me he is on his retirement run and I don't see any reason to count him in the mix or diminish other fighter's standing when he doesn't want to fight the others.

If he fights kabayel next in a total surprise move I will instantly grant him champ position again. Even before the fight. But I assume noone here expects that to happen

 

He isn't retired and he is still the lineal champion recognized by The Ring and TBRB.

 

Alphabet belts are meaningless if they are not being held by the real champion. Usyk remains the king until he retires or he's beaten.

 

Well, him being the lineal and The Ring champion says otherwise.

 

Dubios ducking Parker should also be mentioned. He didn't deserve his second fight against Usyk based on that alone.

 

I agree that Usyk, in my mind, is still number 1. BUT. If he's not fighting it's not fair or realistic to claim that he will remain so.

Still relatively early days though, and someone else needs to start unifying titles before they can formally go above Usyk.

 

Only if you believe he faked being sick. Which even Parker doesn't believe in and he had no hard feelings towards Dubois saying he once fought sick and it didn't go well for him.

 

He never honoured the fight. In my view, it's a duck plain and simple.

But I know I'm probably gonna be in the minority there