I think that he might have been the first , dont think in the division's history that two people would have conteseted the 'vacant smw lineal title' until Calzage schooled Lacy
To be honest, the only way that you could argue that the WBC is better than the other 3 in this day and age is because in the past, they had the strongest champions (not always, but often, along with WBA). Therefore the modern WBC beltholders have a small amount of linear prestige in some cases, whereas no one could argue that the IBF or WBO has ever had the best champs in the past.
Thanks for your thoughts gents. So I offer a list of lineal champs - any comments, let me know: Heavy: Wlad Klitschko Cruiser: David Haye Light Heavy: Bernard Hopkins Supper Middle: Joe Calzaghe Middle: Kelly Pavlik Light Middle: **** knows - Cory Spinks? Welter: Floyd Mayweather Light Welter: Ricky Hatton Light: Juan Casamayor (though Juan Diaz is best) Super Feather: Manny Pacquiao Feather: Chris John Super Bantam: Israel Vasquez After that, God knows - we don't see too many fights involving smaller guys like that in UK.
Nar , Pac and John and Wlad arent lineal champs yet , they are the number 1s of their classes , but the real championship is vacant at the mo. Check The Ring, Pac and JMM will clear that up very soon though. The HW lineal title will be Wlad's soon i predict (unless someone hits him on the chin!!) aswell
Your definition of 'lineal' is completely wrong dude. Lineal is a technical term in boxing, its pretty confusing. To be lineal, you dont have to be the best in the division, only to have beaten the man who beat the man. For example, Zsolt Erdei is the lineal champ at LHW. Very few divisions even have a proper lineal champ.
Is your reasoning that in the late 90's Michalcweski beat Lou Del Valle and then Virgil Hill before Jones did and that would have won him the vacant lineal lhw title ? I wanna know how Hill and Michalcweski were ranked in the ring goihg into their bout , dont know how to look it up though
You can not rank the WBO alongside the WBU & IBO. Thats straight up bull****. The WBO strap has come on leaps ond bounds, and I now rank it above the WBA and alongside the IBF when talking belts (other than Warrens little grip on it for a few of his fighters).
I've spoken to sources close to Joe and I can confirm the WBC is his second favourite after the prestigious WBO strap