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.

Women’s Monthly Boxing Ratings

April 6th 2019

The introduction of female boxing in the 2012 Olympics has strengthened the credibility of the sport, providing it with an internationally recognised seal of approval. Women’s professional boxing is flourishing, and the depth of quality fighters is increasing.

Unfortunately, just like with men’s boxing, it is littered with a confusing array of “world” title belt holders, and vacant titles are often decided via mediocre match-ups. BoxRec provides a useful reference point, but its ratings are computer-based, and are therefore open to oddities, so deciphering who the best fighters are is problematic.

Our authoritative, monthly divisional rankings (beginning, April 6th, 2019), which are compiled by knowledgeable experts, aim to provide a degree of much needed clarity.

We will use our ratings to identify who the top contenders in a weight class are, and, as is tradition in prize fighting history, a box-off between these contenders, will crown a new Lineal World Champion. Champions will only lose their title if they are defeated in the ring, retire or move weight divisions. In contrast to the various sanctioning bodies, our Lineal Champions will not be “stripped,” and there will be only ever be one world champion per weight division.

Claressa Shields and Christina Hammer are the top 2 contenders at Middleweight. The winner of their greatly anticipated contest will become our site’s first Lineal Champion.