TYSON FURY is now the second longest reigning lineal heavyweight champion of all time.
Fury won the honour when he dethroned Wladimir Klitschko, along with the WBA, IBF and WBO titles.
And although he vacated the straps after a hiatus from the ring, as the British legend was not beaten, he retained lineal status.
Fury would reign as champion again in 2020 by beating Deontay Wilder for the WBC belt.
He has since defended the crown three times and is in talks to unify the division against Oleksandr Usyk.
It would crown the heavyweight division’s first ever four-belt undisputed champion.
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In that time period, Fury has reigned as the lineal champion for seven years and two months, surpassing Jack Dempsey’s record.
But he has some way to go to dethrone Joe Louis, who was on top for 11 years and eight months.
When Fury, 34, knocked out Dillian Whyte, also 34, last April, he called himself the greatest heavyweight of all time.
He said: “I’m the best heavyweight there’s ever been, there ain’t ever been one who could beat me.
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“I’m not just being confident. Six foot nine frame, 270 pound weight, can move like a middleweight, can hit like a thunderstorm and can take a punch like anybody else.
“I’ve got balls like King Kong, a heart of a lion, the mindset of the Wizard Oz, it is what it is.”
Fury and Usyk, 36, are currently in talks for an April 29 fight at Wembley stadium.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
