When John L. Sullivan put the belt around his waist in 1885, he couldn’t have imagined that 141 years later that same line would be challenged by outside boxing.
The lineal heavyweight championship has long been defined by one rule – “man beat man.”
From Sullivan to Jack Johnson, Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis, the lineage provided boxing with its clearest and most consistent measure of supremacy, connecting each champion directly to those who came before.
This continuity has survived retirement, litigation, and the rise of multiple sanctioning bodies. He stayed completely in boxing.
Usyk vs. Verhoeven match scenario
Oleksandr Usyk currently maintains that position at the top of the division, with victories over Tyson Fury removing any doubts about the number one spot.
His expected clash with kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven on May 23 in Giza introduces a situation that boxing has never had to clearly deal with.
If Verhoeven had scored a hard-fought victory as a -1400 outside underdog, boxing would have been faced with the possibility of recognizing the kickboxer as the lineal heavyweight champion.
There is no physical title involved. The Ring belt is out of the question, and the lineal championship has never existed in a physical form. It’s a recognition, not a trophy.
By definition, a lineage will pass away. The man who defeated him would become a man, regardless of background, code or discipline.
This is where the lineage begins to unravel.
For over a hundred years, the championship was held exclusively in boxing. There was never a need to consider a champion outside the sport.
Verhoeven could theoretically win the lineal crown and never compete in boxing again.
In such a case, the lineage would not advance in the usual way. It would be up to boxing to decide how – and whether – the recent champion should be recognized.
Linear risk
Despite only a 7% chance of this happening, the risk is no longer theoretical.
Such fights are no longer uncommon. Intertwining fights and changing promotional plans create situations that the sport has never properly dealt with.
The lineal championship has always been boxing’s most stable thread, built on results rather than interpretation.
If a man who beats a man is no longer a boxer, the definition is no longer elementary. Then the line is no longer clear.
For now, the pedigree remains intact. However, boxing is approaching a situation it may not be able to resolve cleanly.
These fights now test the formula.
As it stands, the full, linear history of the heavyweight championship remains clearly defined within boxing’s own structure, as fully tracked by World Boxing News.
About the author
Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.
Terence Crawford has named an opponent he would “love to face” with Gervonta Davis in his expected return to the sport.
The former world champion hasn’t fought since March 2025, when many felt he was lucky to draw with Lamont Roach.
Nevertheless, “Tank” retained the WBA lightweight title and was scheduled to face Roach in an immediate rematch before negotiating an exhibition match with Jake Paul.
But instead of spending time with the YouTuber-turned-boxer, Davis was forced to deal with domestic violence allegations from his former partner, Courtney Rossel.
Davis, however, has expressed greater interest in a rematch with Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz at 140 pounds, even though he passed the Mexican in 2021.
Meanwhile, Crawford has no desire to watch “Tank” fight Schofield or Cruz, but he would happily sit back and watch him clash with Shakur Stevenson.
I’m talking to Danielle Pirello“Bud” called the WBO super lightweight world champion the perfect opponent for Davis, believing their potential meeting would be one of the best fights that could be had.
“I’d like to see Shakur vs. ‘Tank’ Davis.”
Stevenson had previously called on Davis to sign a contract several times, perhaps making him increasingly doubtful whether the Baltimore player would ever sign.
Therefore, it is unrealistic to expect an immediate fight between “Tank” and Stevenson, especially after the latter’s dominant performance against Teofimo Lopez in January.
Two credible opponents emerged after Deontay Wilder vs. Anthony Joshua finally fell after an eight-year battle for the fight.
As World Boxing News documents from start to finish, after nearly a decade of back-and-forth, a Wilder-Joshua fight is no longer an option.
Joshua now has bigger fish to fry in the UK in 2026 as the former two-time heavyweight champion pushes for a British superfight with Tyson Fury.
Promoter Eddie Hearn effectively ruled out Wilder as a warm-up opponent, leaving the Londoner’s next moves without the “Brown Bomber” involved.
After the summer warm-up, Fury’s double will follow and by the time Joshua is finally free, Wilder will be 42 years aged.
This causes Wilder to look elsewhere.
Deontay Wilder’s opponents
Joshua’s compatriot Moses Itauma has already called for a fight, putting himself in a risky clash with one of the best fighters in the division.
Itauma is already shunned and would be seen as a bad turn for Wilder.
However, what stands out is a potential Pay-Per-View showdown in the United States with Andy Ruiz Jr.
The two were linked to fights between 2020 and 2023, when, ironically, the Tyson Fury trilogy stalled before Ruiz’s contract situation made any agreement impossible.
As previously reported by WBN, talks on financial terms were finally broken off when the fight was already clearly decided.
The interest never went away. WBN also revealed how fan demand for the Wilder vs. Ruiz match had skyrocketed, generating millions of views as fans insisted that the fight would finally happen.
Now, after their September showdown at Allegiant Stadium, Wilder vs. Ruiz is the front-runner if either fighter is to return to the heavyweight world title hunt.
Following Joshua’s departure from the table, Wilder’s next move is under scrutiny and calls for a rematch with Derek Chisora are met with an extremely lukewarm reception.
Whether he takes on an emerging name like Itauma or returns to unfinished business with Ruiz, this decision will impact how he re-enters the heavyweight scene.
The title isn’t out of the question for Wilder, but the next move has to be the right one.
About the author
Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Since 2010, he has interviewed world champions, published exclusive international performances and reported on in-ring performances. His work is distributed on major platforms including Apple News. Read the full biography.
Rafael reported that sources indicate that the junior middleweight fight is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, July 26, in Australia, which means the U.S. broadcast will take place on Saturday evening, July 25.
If finalized, it would be Spence’s first fight since his loss to Terence Crawford in July 2023. The former welterweight champion has spent a long period out of the ring, which would also mean him moving up to junior middleweight against an opponent who is naturally bigger and more busy.
This makes it a challenging return task rather than a unthreatening tune-up. Spence will return after almost three years away overseas and will face a fighter who has already operated at a world-class level in the division. This July will mark approximately 36 months since Spence’s last fight. At the age of 36, such passivity is arduous for most people.
Tim Tszyu is also trying to maintain his standing in front of the home crowd after a recent arduous run. Still, he remains one of the stronger names at 154 and brings size, pressure and knowledge of the weight.
The schedule provides a clear commercial window for both sides, with the Australian stadium-style afternoon event morphing neatly into Saturday night on American television.
Nothing is official until the contracts are signed, but if it does happen, Spence will take the risk immediately. Many players at the end of the break ask for something more fragile. This one goes the other way.
Robert Segal is a boxing reporter at Boxing News 24 with over a decade of experience covering fight news, previews and analysis. Known for his first-hand reporting and in-ring perspective, he delivers authoritative coverage of champions, challengers and emerging talent from around the world.
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