By Tim Royner: Famous fight announcer Michael Buffer doesn’t think too much of Tyson Fury calling himself the ‘lineal heavyweight champion’ of the word. Buffer calls it “nonsense,” and points out that Wladimir Klitschko, who is the guy that Fury claims he got the ‘lineal title’ from, only held 3 of the 4 titles.
(Photo credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank Boxing)
The last TRUE lineal champion was Lennox Lewis, who held all the belts. When Wladimir was the IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight world champion, his brother Vitali Klitschko held the WBC belt. Buffer says Wladimir was never announced as the ‘lineal heavyweight champion’ before his fights.
The ESPN commentators are calling Fury ‘lineal champion’ and it makes things confusing. Some boxing fans believe that Fury is trying to increase his status in the eyes of casual fans, to confuse them, and make them believe that he’s a world champion.
It’s interesting that the broadcasters fail to say anything about Fury’s efforts to put himself on the same pedestal as world champions Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua.
The lineal stuff is nonsense says Buffer
“I think what everyone is hoping for is the winner of Wilder vs. Fury will fight AJ, so we can have a true and legitimate undisputed world champion,” said Buffer to IFL TV. “I mean, all this lineal stuff, that’s all nonsense. The last lineal champion was Lennox Lewis. I have no idea how it got picked up again with Wladimir [Klitschko], because when he was the world champion, his brother [Vitali Klitschko] was also the WBC champion.
“As the announcer, he [Wladimir] was never announced or presented as lineal heavyweight champion,” said Buffer. “You’re trying to put me on the spot to say who I want to win,” said Buffer on the Wilder vs. Fury rematch. “Whoever wins, wins.”
Wladimir never called himself as the lineal champion, because he never held all 4 world titles at once. In other words, Wladimir was NEVER the undisputed heavyweight champion during his long reign. He likely would have if not for his brother Vitali holding down the WBC belt for a number of years.
The potentially good news is that the lineal business that Fury spouts could end on February 22, as Wilder says he’ll never call himself lineal champion after he beats Fury. He doesn’t want that invisible title. Of course, if Fury beats Wilder, he’ll likely refer to himself as the WBC champion and lineal heavyweight until he loses.
Buffer: Deontay Wilder can blow somebody up
“Our matchmaker with Matchroom had a great line on Deontay Wilder and his ability as a devastating puncher,” said Buffer. “He said he’s like a third world country with a nuclear bomb, and he really is. At any moment no matter what’s happening, he can just blow somebody up, and he’s an amazing guy.
“And, of course with Fury, not a massive puncher, and not a great output, but his skills and his defensive abilities, and his size and his personality in being able to dominate a press conference and everything else, it just makes him an overwhelming fighter both in and out of the ring,” said Buffer.
“So I’m looking forward to that fight,” said Buffer on the Wilder-Fury 2 rematch. “I would think that AJ and Fury would wind up as the biggest fight in history. If they had it at Wembley, they would have to put stands on top of the stands. The number would be astronomical,” said Buffer.
Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KOs) is one of those fighters who can fall behind in a fight, and then bail himself out with a knockout from one of his right hands. That’s what makes Wilder so good. He can look bad for an entire fight, and still score a knockout at any time.