Quote Originally Posted by OumaFan
yeah "lineal" is thought of as the "man who beat the man"

does go back to the original belt holder. not an exact science as sometimes it can go vacant and you could technically say the line ended there. So it can be about who's the recognized "man" of the division but only if had gone vacant. Baldo was actually linear at welter for a little bit which shows its not about who's thought of as the best. And Roy was never lineal even though he was recognized as the best.

here's one sites list of the "lineal" line at light heavyweight:

http://cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/lheavy.htm
The difference between that link and the Ring's belt is that Virgin Hill is here considered the linear champion after beating Henry Maske. The Ring, while acknowledging several champs between Foster and Spinks (unlike here), didnt have a champ until RJJ got the nod in 2001.

Whether or not Hill was a linear champ, I dont know. How do you appoint someome to that position? He didnt hold all the belts - RJJ held the WBC, Dariusz the WBO - but perhaps winning an unification was considered enough?

Anyway, if Hill/Dariusz was the first linear champ since Michael Spinks, then Erdei is the linear champ today. If RJJ was the first champ since Spinks, Hopkins is the MAN today. I may personally adhere to the last suggestion.