Anybody think Wlad will try to get to 26 defenses?

McGrain, I go through periods of reading this blog more than posting, right now I'm posting more. I usually disagree with you, but I will gladly admit I can usually learn from you as well. You do have a great knowledge of boxing's history and it is admirable. And you usually have more rational arguments to back up your position that most posters.

Assuming you are right, and I don't dispute it, I didn't know that distinction between the boxing terminology of "lineal" and "linear". Not to argue a mooted point, but I will say the dictionary definition is more akin to a direct transfer of power than the #1 v #2 scenario you outline above. That said, again, I accept your definition. I would only argue that if I got it wrong and used them interchangeably, I've little doubt that the great majority of fans are unfamiliar with the distinction as well. Along those lines, I'm dubious of its significance. #1 v #2? presumably by Ring, right? Even if I placed that much credence in Ring to completely adhere to their rankings(which I don't) it still seems a very shallow way of looking at it. The way I and others outlined earlier in this thread, that Wlad got a legitimate belt against a legitimate champ, and went on to prove himself the best of those belt holders, is a much more meaningful one to me and probably to most other observers as well.

I bolded some responses to more specific points above. Ultimately, we'll have to agree to disagree.

 

Wlad has been the man for the past 10 years, to me that's as good as being the lineal champion.

 

Answers above, we're starting to go over the same territory now, so I'll probably let this be it unless I see something new. Again, we'll have to agree to disagree.

 

Unfortunately "colored" title doesn't count as world championship, so Johnson only had 9 title defenses.

Wladimir has 23 world title defenses, 18 consecutive. (He was just a titleholder during the WBO reign, he became the legit champion by beating #1 champion Chris Byrd for the IBF title).

 

I definitely don't agree with counting title defenses since the Chagaev/Povetkin fight(s).

I think if you agree that Wlad is "the best now" and "lineal" then you should be including his first defense that he made until now (18). Unless you think that from 2006 until now there was someone better.

I think the flaw in your logic is that you are missing who is "The Champ" until the #1 and #2 fighters fight and then not going back and including their victories like they didn't do all of this work to get to that fight.

There doesn't seem to be a champion in your logic which doesn't make sense.

 

That is 100% true, but his schedule still won't allow him to face either of them before early 2017 if you consider he will probably fight Glazkov, Chagaev and Wilder before them. I really think his performance during the next 1-2 fights should reveal whether he starts deteriorating.

A comment on the general discussion: when Wlad fought Ring #1 Byrd for the IBF title, the rest of the division was rapidly changing, Rahman drew against Toney then lost to Maskaev who came back from nowhere. Toney lost against Peter, whom Wlad had beaten not so long before. Brewster lost to Lyakovich who went on to lose to Briggs who lost to Ibragimov, Valuev lost to Chagaev, etc. It was simply impossible to tell who would be a proper opponent for the lineal title. What we know for sure, however, is that by beating Peter, Byrd, Brock and Brewster, by mid 2007 Wlad had beaten four top 10 heavyweights, 3 of them having a very strong claim to belong to the top 5 when Wlad fought them (Peter, Byrd, Brock). That suffices for Wlad's lineal title by no later than mid-2007. The rest of the divison was a complete mess. Who should have been his opponent? Maskaev? Briggs? Rahman? Valuev? Maybe Peter, but Wlad just came from a victory against him in late 2005.

 

As someone said in a previous post, Holmes has 19 title defenses. The Marvis Frazier fight was not a title defense. Wlad will tie Holmes if he defeats Fury.

BTW, I don't think he will try to break Louis' 25 defenses.

 

There is too much confusion about the lineal title. Its meaningless in this era. Things change.

Holmes could be the champion since 1978 (when Ali was the actual champ), 1979 (when Ali retired) or since 1980 (after he beat Ali). Depending on how you see it, he had 20, 19 or maybe even 12 title defenses.

Tyson was champion since 1986 or 1988? Spinks was definitely the champion in 1986-1988.

Lewis was champion since 1998 or 1999? Depending on your view, he could have 5 or 8 title defenses.

Wlad Klitschko could have started his reign in 2006, 2009, 2011 or 2013. He has 18, 11, 8 or 3 title defenses? Its a bit ridiculous.

Very confusing.

In my book, Wlad has been THE CHAMP since 2006.

 

Nah I don't think he'll try for it, he should have been busier in recent years to make it.
And I can't see him break Louis time record either. It would take him all the way up to Jan 31st 2018 to accomplish that, wich is a stretch to say the least.

But the total # of succesful defences will almost certainly be broken by him, as well as the #2 spot held by Holmes (20 defences in a row), he already has the #2 spot for time as well, wich surpasses the full decade mark probably around the time his next defence after Fury takes place.
Good chance he will be the 1st guy to hold all the belts in the division since there are 4 major sanctioning bodies too.

I expect him to make it to 22 to 24 succesful defences in a row, wich are marks that are extremely hard to get to.

 

Some of the best pound for pound belt holders had the WBO Belt. Do I think he will pass Louis? NO. He'd have to line up a tour of good regional , but over matched world class fighters, and stay very active to do it.

He'll KO Fury, and pass Larry Holmes though. Keep in mind many felt the IBF belt was a joke while Holmes had it

 

I believe he will if his next fight goes smooth,if he has sighned a 5 fight deal that's telling right there hes looking in that directuion would be great if he can break a Louis record and get some great fights with a guy like Joshua as maybe his last fight.