Who's the most credible Non-Lineal Champion of all time?

[gilgamesh]

Many of us divided about whether or not we recognize random alphabet TItleholders as true Champions or not, I'm personally in the camp that just considers them to be Contenders with Belts, and I don't recognize them as Legitimate Champions in most cases.

Who in your opinion is the man who wasn't a "Lineal" Champion in his respective weight class, but definitely had a credible claim in his own right.

You can provide different answers for different weight classes.

[Riddick Bowie]

Ken Norton

[Ambling Alp II]

Norton seems like a good pick for heavyweight.

Light-heavyweight -Maybe Victor Galindez.
Middleweight -Marcel Thil

*Saw a list of "lineal" champions and Stanley Ketchel is not listed. Every record book I have seen counts him as the champion.
Carlos Palomino was listed as a lineal champion. Don't get the reasoning.

[Jeff_lacy_ko]

Is vitali lineal?

Joshua
Norton

[gilgamesh]

Is vitali lineal?

Joshua
Norton

Joshua was one of the ones that sprang to my mind too. He never beat Fury for the lineal, but he definitely became the face of the division for a few years there and had 3 of the 4 belts

[JC]

The Cyberboxingzone has a 'claimants' page for those who didn't win the lineal. I don't know whether they are all accurate or not, but a lot of great fighters listed there e.g., Beau Jack, Freddie Miller, Carlos Zarate, Khaosai Galaxy

http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/claimants.htm