Oleksandr Usyk and Naoya Inoue achieve historic boxing milestones

Oleksandr Usyk has joined an elite group of only 40 men to become a lineal heavyweight champion in the last 140 years. The lineal title is distinct from belts issued by sanctioning bodies like the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO, as it is awarded to the fighter who defeats the recognized champion in the ring.

In the realm of pound-for-pound rankings, Naoya Inoue has become the 25th fighter to reach the number one position since 1970. This milestone follows Usyk's defeat to Rico Verhoeven and marks the 38th change at the top of the unofficial rankings, joining a historical list of champions that includes Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather, and Manny Pacquiao.