I don't usually equate The Ring Championship with the lineal championship, but in this case they have Forrest as the successor to the crown after Marlon Starling moved up to challenge Nunn, that's more than a decade's difference. Weren't Whitaker, De La Hoya, and Mosley lineal champions as well?
heres my lineal lineage (i base it on after a champ retires the next fighter to win 2 belts in the division gets the title IMO) Paddy Duffy Tommy Ryan Mysterious Billy Smith Tommy Ryan Vacated by Ryan George Green Joe Walcott ]Vacated by Walcott George Green Joe Walcott Vacated by Walcott Mysterious Billy Smith Matty Mathews Eddie Connoly Jim Ferns Matty Mathews Jim Ferns Joe Walcott Honey Mellody Mike Sullivan Harry Lewis Vacated by Lewis Dixie Kid Marcel Thomas Mike Glover Jack Britton Ted 'Kid' Lewis Jack Britton Mickey Walker Walker stripped of Title but still held lineage Pete Latzo Joe Dundee Dundee stripped held Lineage until losing to Fields who was recognised champion Jackie Fields Young Jack Thomson Tommy Freeman Young Jack Thomson Lou Brouillard Jackie Fields Young Corbett III Jimmy McLarin Barney Ross Ross stripped of IBU title but still held lineage until being reinstated as champ Henry Armstrong Fritzie Zivic Freddie Cochrane Mart Servo Servo Retired Sugar Ray Robinson Robinson vacated title Johnny Bratton (for NBA title) Kid Gavilan (unified Title) Johnny Sexton Tony DeMarco Carmen Basilio Johnny Sexton Carmen Basilio Basilio Vacated Title Virgil Akins Don Jordan Benny Paret Emile Griffith Benny Paret Emile Griffith Luiz Rodriguis Emile Griffith Griffith vacated title Curtis Cokes (NBA version) Curtis Cokes (unified) Jose Napoles Billy Backus Jose Napoles John H. Stracey (WBC title by beating Napoles) Carlos Palomino (WBC) Wilfred Benitez (WBC) Ray Leonard (WBC) Roberto Duran (WBC) Ray Leonard (WBC) Ray Leonard (unified) Leonard Vacated title Don Curry (WBA champ beat McRory for WBC to unify) Llyod Honeyghan (beat Curry but relinquished WBA tiltle so held WBC and IBF) Jorge Vaca (for WBC and IBF, IBF stripped him) Lloyd Honeyghan (Beat Vaca for WBC) Marlon Starling (WBC) Maurice Blocker (WBC) Simon Brown (WBC) Buddy McGirt (WBC) Pernell Whittaker (WBC) Oscar De La Hoya (WBC) Felix Trinidad (held IBF title and beat De La Hoya for WBC title to become unified and lineal champ) Trinidad vacated title Cory Spinks (Unified WBC,WBA and IBF tiles against Mayorgo) Zab Judah (WBC,WBA and IBF) Judah stripped of WBA Carlos Baldomir (beat Judah for WBC and IBF but IBF refused to recognise him) Floyd Mayweather Jr (WBC against Baldomir, Mayweather had already beaten Judah for IBF title so essentially unified division) Mayweather retired
bump. thought id revive this great list- and see who we put on the end here: cotto margarito mosley ??
Good effort but whats your criteria for crowning a new lineal champ? 1 and 2 facing each other or all 3belts unified? Assuming its the former I would have thought 1 of the fights from DLH-SSM 1, SSM-Forrest, Forrest-Mayorga would crown the champ, Mosley was pretty much considered 'the man' from what I remember
Interesting, I will have to think about this, been ages since I did this list. I don't think anyone has establish superiority. the 1 and 2 facing each other., when vacant. After taht its man who beat the man.......