Can Wlad Break Joe Louiss Record Of 25 Title Defences? Manny Steward says he can!!

You're saying that Holmes' win over Ali is significant and elevates his prestige as a fighter?

We're talking about Holmes versus Ali's corpse?

 

From the top of my head I think it's peter, byrd, iggy, chagaev and haye. Byrd was also top 5 in the first fight. I can't remember if brock broke the top 5. Can't remember if chambers did although I suspect he might have done.

 

I don't think Byrd was Top5 during their first fight. He possibly was after the win over Vitali Klitschko.

Obviously in the second he was.

 

Stoney, to better summarise what i'm saying.

I think wlad has done as much to establish himself as champion than anyone else has done.

I think lineage is worth something if it's publicly recognised (for example briggs was never really regarded as a champion after beating big george).

I think refusing to recognise bad decisions is a step forward and whilst the wbc have made plenty of bad decisions, that was a good one..

 

Ok., but would you encourage the WBC to do the same with Sharkey-Schmeling II, et al.?

 

Holmes beat his predecessor, that's it. Determining a lineage isn't about formidability so much as finding smooth paths. Hell, right now, I have Holmes as following Ali based on the fact that he was the best HW in the world as well as his defeating his predecessor. I may go back and install him only after he was ranked 1 or 2 and defeated the 1 or 2. That would be more consistent.

Does anyone out here have The Ring's rankings after 9/6/79 (when Ali retired)? I'd love to know when Holmes defeated the second best HW out there...

 

History can't be rewritten but for the record I regard the max-jack 2 fight a robbery and kept max as the top man. Had the commissions done the same i'd have been glad.

I'm almost 100% certain that larry and earnie were top 2 for their rematch btw.

 

I'm all for the appointment of some international board of unconnected "experts" with the authority to overrule idiotic decisions and blacklist judges, but going backwards would only make a mess.

I think #2 was Tate. It may be that Holmes never faced the Ring's #1 contender...

Someone prove me wrong. Please.

 

If someone counts Holmes' reign since 1978 or 1979, Klitschko's reign should be counted since 2006, in my opinion.

It is generally considered that Tyson's reign started in 1986. That same year, Michael Spinks was walking in the streets saying he was heavyweight champion.

The lineage of heavyweight champions is cloudy, no doubt. The problems are, particularly, in 1949-1950, 1967-1971, 1978-1980, 1986-1988, 1994-1999 and 2006-2009.

 

It would make a mess which is why I say I would have applauded a decision to hand the belts back to Schmelling. Same I applaud the WBC's decision to sanction Young v Norton (even if it was for the wrong reasons).

Year end 78 saw Holmes and Norton top 2. Start of 79 Shavers blasted Norton into oblivion.

He then got his shot at Larry and got stopped late on.

I don't have the monthly mags from that year so I can't help you I'm afraid but joining the dots it seems like it would have been earnie.

 

Thanks but the Ring's annual ratings don't count. The question is did Holmes face a guy ranked #1 by The Ring at the time Holmes fought him.

 

If it weren't shavers, it weren't noone.

Before than ali was the paper champ and after shavers he didn't fight a top contender until cooney but I doubt he made top spot.

 

I would say Byrd, Chagaev, Haye, Ibragimov, and Peter.

 

I agree wiht "T" he has couple of straps - not the undisputed lineal title, he has 26 more defense to make if he ever beats his bro and lifts the rest of o them...