Is Wladimir Klitschko vs. Povetkin for the lineal World Heavyweight Championship? Since Vitali hasn't fought in over a year and doesn't have a fight scheduled doesn't that make Povetkin the no. 2 ranked fighter under Wladimir? Thus a true World Heavyweight Champion will be crowned since the first time since Lennox Lewis.
RING has Povetkin as #1, Vitali is out of the rankings. There's really nothing left he can possibly do as the WBC has a no unification rule now, so holding all the belts is a pipe dream. Wlad has been recognized as lineal by The RING and quite a few people since beating Chageav, anyway. But some people will never be convinced....
What happens if Vitali makes a reappearance next year..Until he's gone officially , its still only the mickey mouse lineage on the line.
It doesn't work that way. The claim is lost, Vitali would have to make a new ranking if he fights again.
Vitali took 4 years out and came back no.2. If he comes back he's still WBC and linear champ who was never beaten.
He only became WBC champ not when he announced his fight, but when he defeated the current WBC champ Sam Peter. If he beat in 2008, Oleg Maskaev, he won't be the WBC champ at all or number 2. He only became no 2 when he defeated WBC champ Sam Peter, who was no 2 in 2008 after Wlad. He'll only get a high ranking if he defeats a number 2 fighter in his first fight after Charr. Remember, we don't reward fighter who has gone on to be inactive. What if Vitali announces his retirement without fighting another fight? Will this retroactively, in your eyes at least, be for the lineal chamption? Or what if Vitali never announces his retirement but simply doesn't fight anymore? At what point will the lineage, in your eyes, slip from his hands?
Somebody beat me to it, but Vitali was rewarded the #2 ranking not for coming out of retirement but for beating #2 Samuel Peter. Come on dude, this isn't ancient history. :good
