World Boxing News provides a list of lineal world champions through the seventeen weight classes currently active in boxing.
Minimum accolades to be considered ‘lineal’ are three world titles from 1985 to 1988 and at least four thereafter.
Recognized organizations come from the WBC, WBA, IBF, IBO and WBO.
Moving up in weight, therefore vacating titles ends the line. Two world titles are no longer considered lineal, only unified.
Therefore, it’s become increasingly difficult to fully become a ‘lineal’ ruler in any division.
As they say, ‘you have to be the man who beat the man’. To become ‘that man’, you now need to overcome the politics and win four championships.
At present, only Tyson Fury at heavyweight and Canelo Alvarez at middleweight are seen as ‘lineal’ world champions.
Fury won four versions from Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 and subsequently retired. Any lineal champion who returns from retirement without defeat is still considered as such.
Canelo is lineal for defeating Gennadiy Golovkin, a champion holding four titles as the time. This is despite the IBO sanction fee not being paid.
The female ranks can boast a trio in middleweight ruler Claressa Shields, Cecilia Braekhus at welterweight and Katie Taylor at lightweight.
LINEAL BOXING CHAMPIONS – OCTOBER 2019
MINIMUMWEIGHT
Holder: Vacant
Current Number One: Wanheng Menayothin
Last Held: N/A
LIGHT FLYWEIGHT
Holder: Vacant
Current Number One: Ken Shiro
Last Held: N/A
FLYWEIGHT
Holder: Vacant
Current Number One: Kosei Tanaka
Last Held: Pre-dated to 1966
SUPER FLYWEIGHT
Holder: Vacant
Current Number One: Juan Estrada
Last Held: Pre-dated to 1984
BANTAMWEIGHT
Holder: Vacant
Current Number One: Naoya Inoue (2 titles)
Last Held: Pre-dated to 1972
SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT
Holder: Vacant
Current Number One: Rey Vargas
Last Held: N/A
FEATHERWEIGHT
Holder: Vacant
Current Number One: Gary Russell Jr.
Last Held: Pre-dated to 1964
SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT
Holder: Vacant
Current Number One: Leo Santa Cruz
Last Held: Pre-dated to 1967
LIGHTWEIGHT
Holder: Vacant
Current Number One: Vasyl Lomachenko (3 titles)
Previous Holder: N/A
Female Holder: Katie Taylor
LIGHT WELTERWEIGHT
Holder: Vacant
Current Number One: Mikey Garcia
Last Held: Terence Crawford (2017)
WELTERWEIGHT
Holder: Vacant
Female Holder: Cecilia Braekhus
Current Number One: Errol Spence
Last Held: Floyd Mayweather 2015
SUPER WELTERWEIGHT
Holder: Vacant
Current Number One: Julian Williams
Last Held: Winky Wright 2005
MIDDLEWEIGHT
Holder: Canelo Alvarez
Previous Holder: Gennadiy Golovkin (2017 – 2018)
Female Holder: Claressa Shields
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT
Holder: Vacant
Current Number One: Callum Smith
Last Held: Joe Calzaghe (2007)
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
Holder: Vacant
Current Number One: Artur Beterbiev
Last Held: Joe Calzaghe (2008)
CRUISERWEIGHT
Holder: Vacant
Current Number One: Mairis Briedis
Last Held: Oleksandr Usyk (2018)
HEAVYWEIGHT
Holder: Tyson Fury
Previous Holder: Wladimir Klitschko (2011- 2015)