Quote Originally Posted by Bilbo View Post
Quote Originally Posted by Fenster View Post
Quote Originally Posted by Bilbo View Post

I'd class him as the undisputed champ of that division. Whether he would technically be a world champ I don't know but I do know he would be number 1 which is what's important.

I know the lineage is important but it doesn't follow that beating the man makes you the best fighter in the division.

Marquez beat Casamayor to win the linear lightweight championship but there are probably at least 5 lightweights who would beat Casamayor, Manny, J Diaz, Campbell, Santa Cruz would probably all smoke him. I'd easily pick Juan Guzman over him as well if he made weight. No way beating Casamayor makes Marquez the best in that division. Not saying Marquez might not prove to be the best their, but he's got to beat Manny, Juan Diaz and Nate Campbell to prove that, or at least Manny and Nate or the winner of such a fight.

Likewise with Floyd beating Carlos Baldimor. Sure he was the linear champ but in reality I would have bet my house to him losing to any of the top 10 at welterweight, he was a fat, slow plodder.

So yes lineage is important, but it doesn't mean everything. You can be linear champ and still not be the best in your weight class.

Now Calzaghe I believe is the best fighter in his weight class, but Dawson is the guy who is actually winning belts and trying to actually make a name for himself at 175.

Hopkins and Calzaghe essentially just had their rivalry fight at the 175 weight limit. Unless Calzaghe fights and beats Dawson I won't recognise him as a genuine two weight world champ, not because he hasn't won a trinket belt, but becuase he hasn't beaten a proper light heavyweight champ yet.
Blimey, you're confusing me now.

The whole point of recognising the linear champion is because multi world champions is utterly ridiculous.

The man that beat the man at least keeps some order. Even if the apparent best fighter isn't occupying the position.

As long as you recognise Dawson is currently top dog because of the form he has shown and NOT because he has an alphabet title, i agree. I think.
Yep that's it in a nutshell

Calzaghe is the true LHW champion of the world.

I think as time goes on the alaphabet belts mean less and less to real fans.
All they do is confuse fight fans and put people off the sport.

I only recognise The Ring champions as real world champs these days.