Was Vitali Klitchko ever the Lineal HW champion?

On April 16th, 2004, the rankings were:

1. Vitali
2. Byrd
3. Sanders

But on April 17th, Byrd had a Draw with then unranked Andrew Golota.

Thus, for the April 24th bout between Vitali and Sanders, it featured #1 vs. #2.

 

I looked it up and my brief detail of the rankings above is directly from The Rings' rankings.

 

He still is, come back Vitali and dethrone the fraud that is known as Beyonce Wildebeast.

 

You become Lineal Champion one of two ways.

1 - you beat the man who is Lineal Champion

2 - you become recognized as the undisputed best in the division and start your own lineage.

Vitali did neither of these. He had his chance to do the first against Lewis and blew it, and failed to do the second because he neither cleared the division or unified the titles.

So, no, Vitali was never Lineal Heavywight Champ.

 

By your own definition, you ought to appreciate the opinion-based-nature of your second criteria to becoming lineal champion.

Vitali was ranked #1 and Sanders was ranked #2 going into their fight. Vitali became lineal champion, defended it once, then retired and gave up the lineal title.

 

Vitali beat Sanders when Sanders was ranked 2nd because Byrd took a knock in the rankings for drawing with Golota, not because Sanders had done more to prove he was worthy of being considered one of the division's two best fighters than Byrd had.

At the end of the year rankings Byrd was ranked only one place behind Vitali and was considered the division's second best fighter. Furthermore Byrd had been ranked amongst the division's best since 2001 - in 2001 only Lewis, Wlad and Tyson were in front of him, in 2002 it was only Lewis and Wlad, in 2003 it was Lewis and Vitali, in 2004 only Vitali was in front of him, in 2005 he was top ranked heavyweight.

Sanders having #2 ranking for a brief moment when Byrd slipped up did not make him the division's second best fighter.

As far as my second definition being opinion based goes, I did quantify what would consistute being considered the division's best - clearing the division of worthwhile opposition or unifying the major belts.

 

1. "worthwhile opposition" is entirely opinion based.

2. that is giving far too much credibility to the major belts (see: Wilder and Martin holding half the HW major titles... or any other number of countless examples)

I do greatly respect your response and post. But it is what it is (shrugs).

 

No. Lewis retired Lineal champion.


Wladimir however established a new lineage as far as I'm concerned.

 

Ring rankings have **** all to do with being a lineal Champ...

 

I'd say he was, not due to the fight from Lennox, but he beat Kirk Johnson who was Lennox's mandatory, then after Lennox abdicated the throne, he fought and beat Sanders who was the next highest ranked. So yeah lineal champion I'd say yes.

 

Ring Magazine and many others say he was. Lineal is a concept. There is no direct link. Gene Tunney took the initial title to his grave.

The reset button happened after Marciano retired again.

 

Byrd lost to wladimir who lost to Sanders who was beaten by Vitali! There you go!