is Mayweather still the lineal champ at 147?

Mayweather isn't the ring champ anymore either, he wrote a letter to all the boxing organizations when he retired asking to be taken off their lists.

 

An interesting point. I'd still have to say he's the king @ welterweight- he's still not been beaten in the ring so it's hard to justify stripping him of his supremacy in the division. Other than PBF, you'd have to say Cotto is the man at present. Beat Sugar Shane in a close fight and is taking on all others in the division at will. I know Sugar Shane beat Margo and I know Cotto lost to Margo but that victory over Cotto is now severely tainted IMO. Who cares though? The division is white hot at the moment and there are some monster fights to look forward to.

 

I think that list is wrong. For one, it misses that Judah beat Spinks, Baldomir beat Judah and Mayweather beat Baldomir.

I guess it is also assuming that Margaritto/Mosely was #1/#2 that re-established lineage? I think Cotto would have been #2 based on his victory over Shane, but that would likely mean that Cotto/Margaritto was #1/#2 and *that* fight re-established lineage, giving Margaritto the title and then having it pass to Shane with his win. However you slice it, though, that list is flawed, even if you accept arguments that Shane is currently lineal.

As for Floyd, I guess it depends whether you think Cotto/Margaritto (or Margaritto/Mosely) re-established lineage. If so, then I'd say the title was claimed in his abscence.

The precedent I can think of is Ali. When he was forced into exile, a Frazier/Ellis fight gave the paper title to Joe but I don't think he was considered truly "lineal" until he beat Ali (though I'm not sure on that). Had Ali won FOTC, I don't think Frazier would be in the list of lineals and Ali would have been considered lineal until he was beaten.

Interesting question, though. If JMM beats Floyd, is he lineal? I don't remember discussion about Cotto/Margaritto or Margaritto/Mosely as lineal matches but I would side that Cotto/Margaritto did re-establish lineage. What the "official" ruling is when a #1/#2 happens and "the man" returns from retirement... I dunno.

 

atsch
He hasn't fought a welterweight for nearly 3 years!!!!
And he probably wouldn't till sometime next year(what with JMM now then more than likely Pacquiao after), in total it will be close to 4 years by the time he fights a welterweight again.

To be the best at welter you have to beat the best at welter, he hasn't!
:deal :good

 

I would normally say yes if the boxer retired and then unretired within a year. But longer than that, I think the boxer has to fight at least one or two fights to 're-prove' himself. Cuz too many boxers have stepped out for awhile and returned only to realize they've lost a lot of speed and other skills.

 

mosley-cotto 2 for the ring belt.

 

A good counter arguement but I'm still sticking with PBF followed closely by Cotto. When PBF's beaten @ welterweight by a welterweight then I'll concede defeat. When Vitali returned I still considered him the best @ HW- he may not have fought for years but he is still the best in the division, IMO. Until both are beaten I'm not changing my mind.

 

No.

 

Yes he is. Retiring or not makes no difference. If he'd stayed retired and somebody else unified all he titles then you can say, ok, new lineage but he didn't and they haven't. Same thing at heavyweight, Lewis is the lineal champ in retirement. There is no clear cut champion until a unification happens, Lewis being retired makes the heavyweight championship vacant.

 

It's not a question of unification, but of a fight between #1/#2. The question then becomes was Cotto/Margaritto #1/#2 and, if so, what does that mean when the retiring guy returns.

 

It means he's the linear champ and there's demand for him to fight #1 ad/or #2. He's still the linear champ though until he's beaten.