Lineal Heavyweight Championship from John L Sullivan to Oleksandr Usyk

Oleksandr Usyk recently became the lineal world heavyweight champion in addition to becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion when he beat Tyson Fury in an historic heavyweight championship boxing match.
During the 1880s John L Sullivan was recognized as the first lineal world heavyweight champion under the Marquess of Queensbury rules, and the heavyweight lineage can be traced from Sullivan all the way to Usyk, where along the way there have been a total of 39 recognized lineal world heavyweight champions. This video will provide a boxing documentary recap of the entire history of the lineal world heavyweight championship.
In addition to Sullivan and Usyk, the following heavyweights have been recognized as lineal world heavyweight champions: James J Corbett, Bob Fitzsimmons, James J Jeffries, Marvin Hart, Tommy Burns, Jack Johnson, Jess Willard, Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, Max Schmeling, Jack Sharkey, Primo Carnera, Max Baer, James Braddock, Joe Louis, Ezzard Charles, Jersey Joe Walcott, Rocky Marciano, Floyd Patterson (2x), Ingemar Johansson, Sonny Liston, Muhammad Ali (3x), Joe Frazier, George Foreman (2x), Leon Spinks, Larry Holmes, Michael Spinks, Mike Tyson, Buster Douglas, Evander Holyfield (2x), Riddick Bowe, Michael Moorer, Shannon Briggs, Lennox Lewis (2x), Hasim Rahman, Wladimir Klitschko, and Tyson Fury. There have additionally been a few other boxers along the way who arguably held the distinction of being the lineal world heavyweight champion, including Peter Maher, Tom Sharkey, and perhaps even Vitali Klitschko, among others.
This video will provide a recap of the entire history of the lineal world heavyweight championship from John L Sullivan to Oleksandr Usyk.
The lineal heavyweight world championshiop dates back
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This episode of Rummy's Corner was written, narrated, and produced by Geoffrey Ciani (aka - Rummy).
Lineal Heavyweight Championship from John L Sullivan to Oleksandr Usyk

[@listonheinz9103]

Several years ago I lost interest in the sport and unsubscribed to all my boxing related channels. I kept a single one, Rummy’s Corner. Videos like this are the reason I had to keep that subscription.

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I appreciate the heart-warming support. Thank you very much!

[@chonqmonk]

@@RummysCorner It's true man, your channel is awesome. The only one even close imho is RichTheFightHistorian, and it's much different, and yours is way more fun...

[@buckdacious]

Yea Rummy is awesome! His videos are very detailed and you can tell he loves the sport! He's just bad a picking a winner in fights

[@sldoma]

I was not into boxing, was into mma and kickboxing. Rummy’s corner same way brought me into the fold. And helped me realise I’m just a combat violence fan hahah

[@General_Jist]

@@sldoma i went the other way started out boxing for a few years then didna k1 fight then mma, my takeaway was violence is violence only the rule sets change, but the principles remain the same 😄

[@BombshellCreations]

Usyk is an old school, classic, hardcore, throwback, timeless boxer. He's what boxing needed now more than ever.

[@mrlesta]

. hes no throwback hes a cry baby when he gets punched in the belly

[@Jahno71]

He only fights 12 rounds

[@runningsuperska]

Damn, that no neutral corner rule was brutal.

[@TheGhostOfJohnWicksBeagle]

Usyk has the makings of a Varsity athlete.

[@bens9422]

haha thats so good god bless Usyk

[@clicheguevara9917]

Big hands

[@SaunKrystian]

“Small Hands, that’s his problem”

[@Viktor-gk5ri]

Quasimodo predicted all this.

[@suitedandbooted363]

😂😂😂😂😂 classic

[@langleyh8243]

Rummy your videos remind me why I love the sport of boxing, you're the man!

[@hanoman78]

Yes, an updated version of the lineal champ.. Thx brother..

[@StacksMaxwell]

“Tokyo” Douglas……I love it. Thank you for your hard work, Rummy. Another fantastic video. 😃✌️

[@omarvazquez3355]

Rummy is the undisputed GOAT of KZbin boxing videos. 🐐 🤴 👑

[@RummysCorner]

Most appreciated. Thank you very much. Cheers!

[@ezsmith3765]

I like Rummys Corner & Rich the fight historian. Everyone else is in 3rd place and ⬇️

[@Irish_qatari1982]

The accent the voice is the best

[@MaybackMusicGroup1]

​@@RummysCornerwhich boxing books you recommend for boxing history? Thank you rummy

[@joejo4549]

I'd like him to branch out into TV reviews or something, seeing as he references them so much

[@davidh.8798]

That was a great watch, thanks for posting.

[@RummysCorner]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@lucascady4992]

Fury said, "if lose to Usyk, I was never any good" 💯

[@TimmyTurner421]

He also called Usyk a middleweight. that middleweight battered Fury from pillar to post and almost knocked him cold had the referee not interfered.

[@WilliamWhareaorere]

Conman fury fucked all his fans up the arse😂😂

[@Jahno71]

Well he was spot on

[@Boxsmart101]

Just mind games that's all it was calm down

[@angelopueyygarcia43]

​@@Boxsmart101it backfired

[@sugarray6705]

S+ tier boxing channel Very respectful to the sport you talk about. You should do your own top ten videos. Power, speed, competition, etc

[@janwiracha4827]

For me, this is the best channel about the history of boxing on KZbin. Thank You.

[@FormerIFBBJudge]

MR. Olympia title is up there.

[@CraigPark]

One of the best Boxing channels, thank you for the content Rummy!

[@RummysCorner]

I appreciate that. Thank you very much!

[@stephenejack3855]

Great detailed and timely history of the belt. My favourite boxing guy strikes again. Thanks, Rummy.

[@Mark-qn9xl]

Geoff, you are a true legend of boxing content. A real fan of the sport. I am a fair bit older than you and grew up with stories from my father of the legends of the sport, especially Joe Louis. In fact I named my son Louis in his honour. I used to listen to fights on the radio and eventually see them on TV. We did not have TV until 1973. I remember avoiding all newspapers and radio coming home to watch the replay of the 2nd Ali vs Frazier fight. Only for the panel to ask the question why Ali won before showing the fight. I paid a fortune to go to a casino to see Spinks vs Tyson for 90 seconds of action. One of my best memories was Douglas beating Tyson. My favourite fight was Duran beating Leonard in their first fight. The different sanctioning bodies are not there to promote boxing and improve the sport. Nor are they there to ensure the best fight the best. They are there merely to add wealth to the executives and provide them some sort of power trip. I loved boxing, I was a boxer. Although I keep up to date, mostly, the different bodies have robbed me of the joy of following the sport closely. For your videos, please keep them coming as they are a window into the past when I loved the sport.

[@leilui100]

Thank u rummy from italy the only boxin channel i follow

[@RummysCorner]

Thanks for the kind support and thanks for watching. Cheers!

[@e8412561]

…another smashing video Rummy…👌🏻…love your work…Richie from Liverpool, England…

[@RummysCorner]

Thank you, Richie. Most appreciated. Cheers!

[@abdihassan7208]

videos like these is the reason why i follow you!

[@RummysCorner]

Appreciate that! Thank you very much!

[@martinglass8838]

Great job Rummy!! You have achieved a place in the boxing world as the most informative and listenable voices in the sport. You’re my go to for the skinny in boxing.

[@Chayka112]

Genuinely was just thinking about an updated video of this

[@LMACYST1]

Been waiting for another history long form vid since the 90s heavyweight one, love them!

[@brentstephens4081]

Thanks for the comprehensive breakdown Rummy

[@NullaLexInk]

I love that you brought up the Maher lineage. One of my favorite things about it is, even if one does consider the temporary retirement of Corbett as ending the original one, it still leads to Jeffries. Sullivan loses to Corbett on September 7, 1892 Corbett loses to Fitzsimmons on March 17, 1897 Maher loses to Fitzsimmons on February 21, 1896 Fitzsimmons loses to Tom Sharkey on December 2, 1896 Sharkey loses to Jeffries on May 6, 1898 And then these two guys with different claims to being the man meet on June 9, 1899. In a weird sort of way, it was the one of the very first Heavyweight Unification fights! Edit: And I see you brought it up near the end of the video too! 😀

[@devilface97]

​@@Themozartthugwyat earp disqualified fitz because he was being paid to help sharkey. Sharkey was tough crude fighter who fouled constantly, fitz was taking him apart and enjoying it

[@guccikage]

Almost a decade ago you made a fire song about this 🔥

[@RummysCorner]

LOL

[@Chayka112]

Fax

[@giancarlojosueolmedoromana573]

We need a Part 2!!!!!!!

[@RamonOlguin]

What!? Where?

[@lsr3794]

This video reminded me of why ‘I love this game’

[@ExplainedThroughRap]

I have followed boxing a long time and never really understood this properly until now. Great job!

[@danselector3694]

Absolute quality this Rummy. Great footage. One of your very best.

[@jerryberry8181]

Thanks for all the content Rummy, tons of respect 🙏🙏🙏

[@taurbaby]

Hats off to you rummy, this video is one of the best, if not the best boxing video ive ever watched. Kudos to you and all your hard work and insight!

[@RummysCorner]

Thank you very much! I really appreciate that. Cheers!

[@ba2724]

For someone who DKSAB, you did well with this Undisupted vid. Thanks, Rummy.

[@RummysCorner]

Appreciate that. Thank you very much!

[@boisesoccer]

Linear heavyweight champion belt is the most important one, hopefully it will continue that legacy in the future.

[@cacogenicist]

Love watching Floyd Patterson. Someone needs to bring back the peek-a-boo. Another excellent upload from Rummy

[@chrisbennett6260]

not enough footage shown of patterson or sonny liston the big bear

[@ADAM_COLLECTS]

RUMSFELD! Great work! I am glad this video has been made because I no longer have to listen to Tyson Fury call himself the Lineal Heavyweight champion.

[@SurendranNambiath]

Fantastic update to your earlier video on the same topic! Thanks!! All the best!!

[@RummysCorner]

Thank you. Glad you liked it!

[@alonsomajikal3158]

Fantastic video Rummy. The visuals comprihensivley accompanied the narration of the video. Thank you for taking the time and making the effort to educate and provide fans of this sport, such as myself, with interesting and niche topics. Salute

[@RummysCorner]

Thank you very much. Salute!

[@miless544]

Great historical summary! My dad and I always enjoy watching your latest boxing installments.

[@RummysCorner]

Thank you both very much. Cheers!

[@MrSCOTTtheSCOT]

Bloody good video , what a volume of research and editing to deliver this . amazing watch.

[@michaeljamesmccabe]

Great work on the footage. Especially the old stuff. The old timers are very legit, and their speed would be a real problem all the way up and including now.

[@skunclep1938]

They would still be underweight and too short. Even giants like Carnerra & Willard would have been too weak and too slow. Unless of course you want the modern fighters to train for 45 rounds instead of 12. That training alone would drastically shorten their careers, but the likes of Fury, Usyk, Joshua and even Lennox & the 2 Klitschkos would make short work of the old timers. That’s just natural, and it should be so. Who would want their children to be weaker or less successful than themselves?

[@SithLord2066]

If you're wondering why Rummy hasn't made a video about the Fury-Usyk awesome undisputed heavyweight championship fight, he did make one.... he posted it only a few hours after the fight. But DAZN or HBO or whoever owns the copyrights took it down, along with every other boxing video that contained even a few seconds' worth of video of the fight. I think next time Rummy just use still screenshots to avoid copyright takedowns.

[@markbrill1632]

Beautiful piece ! Love ya Rummy.

[@MrF3athers]

You are such a great boxing historian. Great Video, thank you for the insights! ☺️❤️

[@RummysCorner]

I appreciate that! Thank you very much!

[@salvitoripopadillo4539]

Whoa. I clicked on this and didn't even know it was my favorite boxing channel! $15 tickets in 1892. 🤔That seams high for back then. Thanks Rummy! Fantastic video as usual!

[@LaBamba13]

Nice one rummy excellent work 👏 😊

[@RummysCorner]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@martinmulligan8451]

Love rummys corner look forward to the content always amazing 👏

[@RummysCorner]

Thank you very much!

[@bsteezy3]

You do really thorough videos. Great job bro. I've been watching since the pandemic

[@RummysCorner]

Glad you like them! Cheers!

[@profexb2409]

grate video , really enjoyed it , very important historic facts

[@nationiron]

Fantastic lineal boxing history lesson! 👏

[@6104cday]

Dude great great episode Loved it loved every second of it

[@RummysCorner]

Happy to hear that. Thank you very much.

[@goport]

Excellent video. Very informative.

[@thelastarfighter81]

Great video you always have the best boxing content

[@samarthur1847]

Great video, thank you Rummy.

[@RummysCorner]

Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers!

[@roneythetube]

What am amazing piece of work Rummy. THE definitive list. Great work, historically accurate and very well researched! Lots of great info. Bravo 👏

[@Lex-up6mg]

I love lineal champ videos.

[@iannelson6951]

Rummy I am once again telling you if you made a Patreon to allow polls to pick a video topic I would 100% sign up.

[@RummysCorner]

I actually have had one for a few months now, although I do not tbelieve I have any at the moment.

[@steverorison665]

I'm excited a 40+ minute video from Rummy, automatic 👍

[@BoyYuKrazy]

Been waiting to hear your take since the decision was read. You are my favourite boxing history channel by a wide margin.

[@fredzep01]

Rummy’s Corner that was a great video, you've earned a subscriber....

[@bonnescottkarra5879]

Thankyou Rummy! Well done!😀

[@joythurston3729]

great work rummy! Thanks for the video. Really good stuff.

[@ravcreed]

A wonderful look at the history of the lineal heavyweight champion, Rummy does it again. Does anyone else remember the old Sega Genesis game, "Greatest Heavyweights" ?

[@sarty23]

Excellent video, Rummy!

[@RummysCorner]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@travisbicklejr]

Thank you for this video, Rummy!

[@bareknuckles2u]

MASTERPIECE!! Rummy should get an award for this video!

[@thamsanqabuthelezi8460]

U re made this video. Thanks. Great work.

[@dr.doolittle4763]

Great video paesano.

[@siegfriedo]

Amazing video. Love these lineal champ ones. ❤️‍🔥👍👏

[@GrahamMaund]

Absolutely brilliant post from rummys corner

[@eliasguerra6231]

Lmfao gentleman Jim had some booty shorts on, wtf was that 😂

[@luka-ut7yk]

best boxing channel

[@SaunKrystian]

Excellent Update 😵‍💫🥊

[@paulhaley5009]

Uysk is king...thank you great video..marvellous 👍

[@1583217]

Excellent piece, thank you.

[@marianng3950]

We are blessed to witness a true all time great. What Usyk has done and how he did it is unparalleled. A legitimate legend of the game. Long may he reign

[@milosarsenijevic633]

One of the most loving boxing channels about boxing... Can't wait for next with - I don't know s$&t about boxing... 😅

[@reztez7241]

W timing! I was just looking for an updating video

[@xdalious]

a masterclass as always, rummy!

[@johnjuarez8005]

Those 43 minutes flew by!

[@RummysCorner]

Thanks for that. Cheers!

[@Jonnysonone]

brilliant video, thank you

[@Dsfd100]

Brilliant. A salute

[@ambo6251]

great video, loved every second of it

[@jasonellis9777]

Great video! Thank you. I’m sure it’s tough but these longer ones are really cool to watch. I’m trying to remember who you picked in tonight’s fight??? I would assume it was Wilder since…well, lol. Thanks again.

[@andrewryan7583]

Well done! That was great cheers!

[@RummysCorner]

Glad you enjoyed. Thank you for watching!

[@OberaAndreas]

great work rummy, tyvm

[@stuartfilby2358]

The simplicity of the concept 'to be the man, you have to beat the man' for me makes the lineal title holder the true champion, especially in the modern multiple champion era. This video captures it perfectly and it stuns me that it doesn't have 1m+ views.

[@ianbrett3276]

John L Sullivan and Oleksandr Usyk look like they could come from the same era on your cover photo for this video,we could nickname Usyk The Simferopol Strong Boy 👊🥊

[@olugbengarotimi2987]

@Rummy’s Corner great video.

[@jotunblod]

Excellent thumbnail image. The hairstyles make it look like they could be in the same era.

[@andrewmorris6187]

I really enjoyed this video.

[@Cam-jx4drgh]

Awesome video. This would have taken some effort!

[@Colby_0-3_IRL_and_title_fights]

Show me a sporting title with a greater history than this. The heavyweight championship of boxing is the most prestigious title in all of sports.

[@andycarter4581]

Great work, thanks

[@aidancleary1081]

Love the channel! Would you ever consider doing a Dream Fight video between Oleksandr Usyk and Evander Holyfield, the only two to achieve Undisputed CW and HW?

[@RummysCorner]

I'm actually hoping to do something sort of along those lines later in the year.

[@aidancleary1081]

@@RummysCorner Awesome! Keen to see it, mate!

[@GoodNyew]

I’m so pumped for this video, what a great surprise

[@melvert33]

In that Fitzsimmons v Corbett fight those are hot pants they're both wearing!

[@betomens9615]

didnt want to watch the video till getting to my bed at home and watch it while eating my lunch.

[@Kudeghraw]

I just like how the heavyweight division is all nice and tidy now. No belts being held hostage and the current champ is not a ducker.

[@fasasitaiwo5782]

Been waiting for this Rummy, you remain my number one channel. Taiwo watching from Nigeria🇳🇬 👍🏾

[@PalladinPoker]

There is a major detail left out about Fury's claim. His license was suspended because he failed a PED test. I won't accept that you can become lineal via cheating so I would have the lineage going Wlad -> AJ -> Ruiz -> AJ -> Usyk.

[@Priceluked]

@PP-zw9stHe failed it for the planned rematch.

[@tjayenterprises5190]

Anything to make AJ better then what he is

[@mhiggott2931]

@PP-zw9st Fury tested positive for nandrolone in his test after the Christian Hammer fight in February 2015. He also failed to provide a sample when requested in September 2016. That's two failed tests which should have meant a lifetime ban, and he would have had a backdated ban that was in force at the time of the win over Klitschko if the BBBofC could have afforded to take the correct action. Even if you think the win over Klitschko was fair, keeping him as 'lineal' champion while suspended for two failed drugs tests seems bizarre even by the standards of the 'lineal' fans.

[@PalladinPoker]

​@@tjayenterprises5190 Lineal is pretty much BS anyways. Very few considered Spinks the true champion when he fought the undisputed Mike Tyson and literally nobody said Lennox Lewis had to fight Foreman or Briggs to be the "real champ".

[@Franics_699]

Could you do a video where you explain the boxing title belts?( Wba,wbc,wbo and ibf). Like a boxing a guide for beginners. And also the regional belts and national titles like the NABF,NABO,OPBF, EBU,USBA, and commonwealth titles.

[@boxinggospel5334]

Fury and Wladimir were never lineal. Wladimir never fought the other top fighter, Vitali. Usyk becoming Undisputed becomes lineal and starts a new lineage.

[@chrisbennett6260]

yep

[@MaccaveliPL]

He fought multiple top fighters: 1. His bout with Chris Byrd in 2006 can be considered the first when two top heavyweights at the time squared off 2. Ruslan Chagaev was viewed as the second best heavyweight after Wlad in 2006-2009 era. Vitali came back in 2008 and got the recognition as the number 2 back in some rankings, but Wlad's fight with Chagaev is widely viewed as no. 1 vs no. 2 match. 3. Wlad beat number 2 rated contender David Haye in 2011, the best heavyweight beside the Klitschko brothers in the division. 4. Wlad beat Alexander Povetkin in late 2013, when Vitali was inactive for over a year and retired short after, so another no. 1 vs no. 2 (3) match up. 5. If you're still not convinced, Wlad's defeated Kubrat Pulev, number 1 contender to the title in 2014 after Vitali retired. Wladimir's claim is as strong as it can be. He was the lineal champion.

[@DrazenPerkovic-p8j]

You are wrong, Tyson was rightfully lineal champ

[@DrazenPerkovic-p8j]

Usyk beat the man who beat the man

[@Priceluked]

Undisputed and lineal don’t mean the same thing dummy.