May 6th 2019 - Champions/Contenders
There may be multiple "belt holders" and sanctioning body "title holders" in a weight division, but there can only ever be one true World Champion: The Lineal Champion.
Lineal Championship vacancies, as recognised by LinealBoxingChampion.com (LBC) is filled by the winner of a fight between the #1 and #2 contenders, or in rare instances, a fight between the #1 and #3 contenders. To limit bias and ensure the most deserving contenders are selected, the ratings from five leading independent boxing websites (not sanctioning bodies), are assessed: Boxing News, The Ring, Transnational Boxing Rankings Board (TBRB), Boxing Monthly and ESPN.
“Stripping” a champion for inactivity is inconsistent with prize fighting history. The boxing champions of the bareknuckle 18th and 19th centuries were not stripped for inactivity. The pioneering champions of the gloved era were not stripped for inactivity. Ring Magazine founder, Nathaniel Fleischer, repeatedly affirmed during his 50 years as editor, that champions should not be “stripped.”
World titles should be won in the ring, they are earnt. LinealBoxingChampion.com adheres to prize fighting championship history. Champions will not be “stripped.”
A Lineal Champion can only lose his championship status if he retires, is defeated in a championship fight, or moves to another weight division.
