Did Roy Jones duck Michalczewski?

Once established, lineage is clear-cut by definition. It passes from one fighter to another based on results in the ring. If Fighter A is the lineal champion and loses to Fighter B, Fighter B takes becomes the lineal champion. This continues until the champion is no longer active in that decision, at which point the title is vacant until a new claim is established (which can be subjective).

Hill-Maske and Michalczewski-Hill established a new lineage, and there isn't a credible argument against that. Michalczewski therefore was the lineal champion, and as he remained active in the division remained champ until he lost to Gonzalez, regardless of whether Jones was a better fighter or how many alphabet titles he won.

"The Man" is more of a grey area in the sense that it is a completely abstract concept that people use to plug holes created by lineage, and to perpetuate it over time. The Ring Magazine title was brought back in 2001, purporting to be based on lineage, but with additional conditions (that have grown over time). They chose to ignore the lineal issue and stick the belt on Jones, even though Michalczewski would have met their criteria in 1997 and Jones at no point did.

Essentially Jones was a) more attractive to The Ring commercially and b) considered by the editors to be a better fighter, which is why they ignored their own criteria and went with him.


Regarding a potential Jones-Michalczewski fight, from both the perspective of both fighters the reward did not justify the risk, and neither was willingly going to give up home advantage. Jones had the Ring belt and American fans didn't give a **** about Michalczewski, and Dariusz was considered the champ in Germany and raking it in fighting whoever he liked.

Personally, I think it's the biggest omission on Roy's record (much bigger than Benn, Collins, Eubank or whoever). Beating a 40+ and 0 guy with 20 defences and victories over Virgil Hill and many common opponents would have looked great on his resume.

 

:yep:yep:yep

 

who?

 

Wrongfully stripped my ass ,Guthrie was involved with King at the time ,DM's promoter wanted nothing to do with him or any fighter he was associated with ..

He could have contested but preferred to dump the belt instead of facing Guthrie ..Same with the WBA in De Vale ..Thats why he kept the WBO he didn't have to oblige the other sanctioning bodies the WBO let him fight who ever the hell he wanted ..Just look at the murderers row of fighters he faced after he won the title ! Yet Jones is responsible for ducking him ..Sure he was .