Did you consider Vitali Klitschko "the" heavyweight champion of the world after his victory over Corrie Sanders? He's not usually on these "lineal champions" lists, but as the number 1 he did beat number 3 (which knocked off the last number 2), which was sometimes enough to re-establish the lineage in the past. He also had a strong showing against the last lineal champion, who didn't want to give him a rematch in the bout that was somewhat controversially stopped. The Ring crowned him the champion with some backlash, but at the moment, some outlets viewed that fight as the bout for the real championship that will determine Lennox' successor. How do you guys see it?
Some of us made the argument that he was at the time, but a bigger group thought that he was not, and in the end the title claim didn't put down roots.
He was never legitimately the champion, though he was debatably a theoretical case for best in the world at the time junior was getting knocked around & shortly thereafter. In the early aftermath of Lewis’ retirement, he let his big chance slip. Thus, we lost a red-hot contender for worst linear Heavyweight champion of all-time.
