Tyson Fury’s Lineal Champion Status in Question Before Oleksandr Usyk Fight

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are just a day away from history. With their eyes focused on the undisputed title, the two heavyweight champions sat down for the final press conference ahead of the big day. But the fact that two of boxing’s most prominent names are finally sharing their thoughts and views doesn’t mean the show should be deprived of its moments, which seems kind of beyond the realm of reason.

The highlight of the presser could be the face-off. ‘The Gypsy King’ simply refused to look at the Ukrainian unified heavyweight champion, who instead continued with his steel-cold gaze at the Mancunian. Otherwise, both champions appeared deferential to each other. It was probably quiet before the storm. However, even the subdued atmosphere couldn’t prevent a few barbs from flying. Oleksandr Usyk’s manager, Egis Klimas, somehow found an opportunity to question Fury’s lineal championship. Seemingly, it barely raised a flutter. But the poser once again became a talking point among some followers. So what’s the truth? Is Tyson Fury not a lineal heavyweight champion?

Tyson Fury: Side Comment Fuel Speculation

First, Klimas told Team Fury that it would not be a ‘walk in the park’ for them tomorrow. Without taking any names, he mentioned how Usyk has a record of taming big names to achieve his goals. So his objective would be to continue with the same purpose. However, he had a doubt.

Egis Klimas asked, “Tyson Fury, how did he find himself a lineal champion? Let me ask you this: that’s all I have my message going to be to him. Everybody calls him lineal, but I would like to know how he became lineal.” Usyk’s manager further stated that ‘The Gypsy King’ had earlier defeated Wladimir Klitschko; however, the Ukrainian great wasn’t a lineal champion either, he asserted.

Later, Sergey Lapin, Usyk’s trainer, took over and shared how their journey started back in 2018 and has brought them to the biggest stage in boxing today. But the misgivings surrounding Egis Klimas’ claims persist. So what exactly is the truth? Or, for that matter, what is a lineal championship?

Lineal Championship: A Brief History

To put it in the simplest terms, in boxing, a lineal champion is one who defeats a current lineal champion, continuing the unbroken chain of champions. So basically, it’s a championship lineage that commenced over a century ago, when John L. Sullivan, governed by the newly established Marquis of Queensbury rules, became the first heavyweight champion of the sport.

Strictly speaking, thus far, only 38 men have had the distinction of receiving the coveted honor. Four of the champions, Floyd Patterson, George Foreman, Evander Holyfield, and Lennox Lewis, became lineal champions twice. ‘The Greatest’ Muhammad Ali remains the only boxer to bag the title three times.

So getting back to the current era, the problem seems to occur sometime when the title changed hands from Hasim Rahman to Lennox Lewis during the rematch. Rahman’s lineal reign lasted barely a few months in the year 2001. On November 17, 2001, Lewis retrieved all the belts. Herein lies the problem. Because, in 2004, the Canadian-British legend retired from boxing.

Arguments: For and Against ‘The Gypsy King’

Wladimir Klitschko is the next lineal champion on the list. However, he and Lennox Lewis never clashed in the ring. So how did he become a lineal title holder, as Egis Klimas asked? Hence, the argument is that if ‘Dr. Steelhammer’ had never been a lineal champion, then the 2015 victory over him doesn’t legitimize Tyson Fury’s claim as the current title holder.

There are two arguments for the narrative. Both remain debatable, per several boxing pundits. First, Hasim Rahman ended Lennox Lewis’ first reign as a lineal champion when they met for the first time on April 22, 2001. Seven years later, on December 13, 2008, Klitschko defeated Rahman in Germany during a title defense. So going by the logic of the king who defeated a king, Klitschko could be considered a lineal champion. However, arguments fail at the same time since Rahman was a former lineal champion and not a reigning one.

There’s a second line of thought. Wladimir Klitschko’s lineal reign began in 2009, when he defeated Ruslan Chagaev on June 20. Now, reportedly, the number-two ranked heavyweight at the time was his brother Vitali Klitschko. As most fans know, both champions had taken vows never to go against each other. So that elevated Chagaev to face the younger brother, who, with the win, became the next lineal champion after Lennox Lewis.

Thus, the whole issue remains open to discussion and disagreement. If Wladimir Klitschko’s claim as the lineal champion stands validated, then Tyson Fury is a bona fide lineal title holder as well. Otherwise, if there are doubts over his credentials, it has to go back to Klitschko and further down the line.

What’s your take on the whole matter? Do you agree with Egis Klimas’ statement?