Muhammad Ali is the only three-time lineal heavyweight champion in the history of boxing
In combat sports where champions are decided by a challenge, the lineal championship in a weight class represents an intangible world title initially held by the victor of a bout between top contenders in the division.[1] An alternative perspective suggests that vacancies in divisional championships can only be filled by an undisputed champion.[2] A fighter who defeats the reigning champion in a match within that weight class becomes the next lineal champion. In professional boxing, the informal term for the lineal champion is "the man who beat the man."[3][4]
There is no universally recognized and accepted protocol for how to start each lineage so there is no singular canonical list of lineal champions. A break in the lineage may occur when the current champion retires or changes weight class. Additionally, other factors such as prolonged inactivity, legal issues, or a champion being unable to defend their title for various reasons can contribute to a disruption in the lineage. When a sanctioning body strips a title (such as the WBA, WBC, IBF, or WBO) it is commonly disregarded in the determination of a lineal champion.
Jay, Phil (2023-09-26). "The History of the Lineal Heavyweight Championship: 1885 - 2023". World Boxing News. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
"Raskin: The fight that boxing fans demand". ESPN.com. 2008-03-24. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
^"Undisputed vs Unified vs Lineal - Different Boxing Champions Explained". 7 July 2022.
^Raskin, Eric (2008-03-24). "In an ideal world, Casamayor fights the 'Galaxxy Warrior' next". ESPN. Archived from the original on 2015-11-17. Retrieved 2008-11-20.
^Castellano, Daniel J. (2005). "Critique of "Lineal" Boxing Championships". Repository of Arcane Knowledge. Archived from the original on 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2008-11-19.
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