Lineage in today's climate

Two different points.
Hopefully I've explained my views on the 122 pound lineage.

My other point was that "number 1 and number 2" can often be disputed, so I'd say a new lineage should require that those "1 and 2" be clear cut, preferably by having eliminated number 3, 4, 5 etc. or by being so obviously superior in recent accomplishments that no one can dispute it.
I think TBooze was making pretty much the same point originally.

 

Didn't one of their most popular fighters (the Irish bloke, whose name escapes me) recently lose a catchweight contest and the rematch will see his opponent drop weight?

 

It can have some merit, depending on context, but I think some put too much stock into it, as if being the 'lineal' champ trumps all other factors. For one thing, the lineage in any division doesn't actually stretch back very far anyway. For another, who decides who is the lineal champ when the previous one retires? It's all pretty arbitrary. The current lineal heavyweight champ is the man who beat the man who beat whoever the lineal champ was after Lennox Lewis retired.

 

Exactly.
Personally, I think Wlad's the only HW since Lewis's retirement to establish himself as a real champion, thus establishing lineage.
Wlad, and now Fury, that's the extent of the line.

 

In all fairness Donaire was probably the best p4p finger behind Mayweather, Pacquiao and Marquez. For myself there isn't any disputing that this was one of the best wins of the last decade all things considered. Rigo did get knocked down, but dominated 80% of the fight with relative ease.

 

I don't like the catchweight stuff either but it has always gone on.
Remember lightweight limit used to be 133 pounds, middleweight started out at 154 anyway, and was raised to 158 before being settled at 160. So these things have been historically fluid.
Henry Armstong was just one of many great fighters who defended his title at contracted weights below the actual recognized division limit.

 

For real? I feel like a mong for having no prior knowledge to this whatsoever :-(

 

I might be mistaken, and I feel like a mong.