Lineal championship

Rare card · No. 72905

In combat sports where champions are determined by challenge, the lineal championship in a weight class represents an intangible world title first held by the victor of a bout between top contenders in the division. A fighter who defeats the reigning champion in a match within the same weight class becomes the next lineal champion. In professional boxing, the lineal champion is informally known as "the man who beat the man." There is no universally accepted method for determining the beginning of each championship lineage, leading to the absence of a single canonical list of lineal champions. A lineage can be interrupted if the reigning champion retires or moves to a different weight class. Other circumstances, such as prolonged inactivity, legal problems, or a champion's inability to defend the title, may also lead to disruptions in the lineage. Additionally, when a sanctioning body such as the WBA, WBC, IBF, or WBO strips a title, this action is generally disregarded in determining the...

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