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Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko: Champions together?

Even after Wladimir Klitschko beat Ruslan Chagaev, the heavyweight picture isn't entirely clear - who do YOU think is heavyweight champion?

So, who really IS heavyweight champion of the world?  The Ring Magazine has crowned Wladimir Klitschko as the champion of the world.  Some people say it's really Vitali Klitschko who is champion, since he was champion when he retired, and nobody else became champion before he unretired.  Then there's the argument that there is no champion at all, because #1 has never faced #2, and you need that to happen to crown a new champion.  Finally, I've heard some arguments that people should consider the Klitschkos as "co-champions" of the heavyweight division, since together they've cleaned out the weight class, and they're brothers who shouldn't reasonably be expected to face off in a sport where the goal is to hurt your opponent.

So who ya got?

Poll
Who is the heavyweight champion of the world?
Wladimir Klitschko
75 votes
Vitali Klitschko
16 votes
Nobody
34 votes
Wladimir and Vitali are champions together
49 votes

174 votes | Poll has closed

Comment 10 comments  |  0 recs  | 

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For what it's worth

I’m still of the mind that there is no champ. It’s unfortunate, because Wlad has pretty much singlehandedly cleared out the heavyweight division, but his brother unretiring mucked things up.

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Jun 25, 2009 6:07 PM EDT reply actions  

Hello, and agreed

I’ve read this blog for a while now, so let this be my introduction. My name is Jordan. I love way upstate in New York in a near border, college town called Potsdam. I’ve been in love with the fight game ever since I was a little kid courtesy of my grandfather.

I tried to make an unpopular case for there still being no heavyweight champion recently on the certifiably insane boxingscene forums. Here is what I posted it as it is my answer to this question as best as I can say it:

“Ring Magazine does not get to determine the lineal championship of any division. Lineal is the man who beat the man who beat the man until someone retires without losing. The way lineage is re-established is simple, and this is the only way it can happen. You take the top two fighters in the division (and there MUST be a consensus) and match them together. There is no other way. You cannot take the number one ranked and match him with a random contender and claim it is the lineal title because that is easier. We just have to deal without having one.

We right now are in an era where there has been no lineal heavyweight champ since Lewis. There are two clear cut, indisputable heavyweights that rank above all others. They, however, are brothers. The only fight that can re-establish a lineal reign is the obvious matchup of the Klitschkos. We’re cheating ourselves to try to make it otherwise. The only way there can be a lineal champ (unless they actually were to fight each other) is with some patience. Eventually one will retire or lose and fall down the rankings making a re-establishment of the lineage possible.

Ring magazine usually keeps its rankings and champion in line with the lineages, but occasionally it fails to. It does not determine who the linear champion is. No body, sanctioning or media, does such a thing. That is why the lineal title means something. The Klitschkos are great, great fighters. I am not disparaging them at all. I am in the minority (at least here in the states) who believe they would give any number of all time greats serious, serious problems. They have just simply not re-established lineage because of one another. The Ring Magazine title is not automatically representative of the lineage."

by jcarr71 on Jun 25, 2009 7:02 PM EDT reply actions  

It’s a good argument, and welcome to BLH.

by Scott Christ on Jun 25, 2009 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions  

This

is the correct answer, for the correct reasons. It’s an unusual, and somewhat unfortunate situation, certainly, but it is what it is.

by The Boxer Rebellion on Jun 26, 2009 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions  

I go with Wlad. It’s one of those situations where I’m willing to overlook some things. As clean and clear as I want boxing to be, some things have to be ignored.

by Scott Christ on Jun 25, 2009 7:45 PM EDT reply actions  

Yeah...

It’s the definition of an unusual situation. If it were the case that number one and number two were ducking each other, I’d say “You know what? Neither of you cowards are champion.” But obviously that’s not the case here.

If someone put a gun to my head and asked me who the true champ was, I would have to say Wlad. I think its because he has the Ring belt and partially because he has the longer, better record.

(…and partially because I think he would beat “Vitali Jones” these days)

"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb

by jrok on Jun 25, 2009 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions  

Im with you too. People can make a case for either one but for me Wlad was there when Vitali retiered. He earned his top spot before Vitali came back and since his return he hasnt looked all that great realy. Wlad beat the guy who was regarded as the 3rd best and beat him giving him the belt we now use as THE champion but before that you could of still said he was the best heavyweight only now he has the belt

"Good, so it can’t go any deeper." - Arturo Gatti after being told he was cut to the bone

by sigidy on Jun 26, 2009 2:00 AM EDT up reply actions  

Wlad

I think not having a champion for the better part of a decade is stupid. It’s pretty fuckin obvious who the class of the division is. Vitali has had two fights in the last 5 years, so due to inactivity alone he’s out. I just don’t think there’s a point in NOT having a champ when Wlad has beat pretty much anyone who has posed a threat in the past. God I hate sanctioning bodies.

Boxing is like jazz. The better it is, the less people appreciate it.
-George Foreman

by jsims2 on Jun 26, 2009 3:18 AM EDT reply actions  

the Klitschkos as “co-champions” of the heavyweight division, since together they’ve cleaned out the weight class, and they’re brothers who shouldn’t reasonably be expected to face off in a sport where the goal is to hurt your opponent.

I’m going with this.. I’m no expert at all, but they cleaned out the other contenders already..

by Anton Tabuena on Jun 26, 2009 4:17 AM EDT reply actions  

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