Did someone buy the WBU?

[bridportboxer]

Just a question really, I remember it was for sale a while back, did anyone actually buy it? Also what are peoples thoughts on the lower level world titles. I am all for them providing they provide small hall promoters the chance to sell extra tickets, though I am not sure this would include the WBU as they are tied into the bigger brands, Sports Network etc.

[Bard of Boxrec]

im sure i bought it for a fiver and a packet of pringles some while ago, but my memory eludes me and i may have been pissed. Actually I think someone else on boxrec outbid me with some good quality confectionary or junk. I was gutted!

[bridportboxer]

im sure i bought it for a fiver and a packet of pringles some while ago, but my memory eludes me and i may have been pissed. Actually I think someone else outbid me with some good quality confectionary or junk. I was gutted!

lol. They may have the least number of world champions currently.

[oliverfennell]

Just a question really, I remember it was for sale a while back, did anyone actually buy it? Also what are peoples thoughts on the lower level world titles. I am all for them providing they provide small hall promoters the chance to sell extra tickets, though I am not sure this would include the WBU as they are tied into the bigger brands, Sports Network etc.

Whether it's small hall promoters or bigger brands, it's the same problem - misleading people into thinking they're watching "world championship boxing". It doesn't matter who the promoter is.

[bridportboxer]

Just a question really, I remember it was for sale a while back, did anyone actually buy it? Also what are peoples thoughts on the lower level world titles. I am all for them providing they provide small hall promoters the chance to sell extra tickets, though I am not sure this would include the WBU as they are tied into the bigger brands, Sports Network etc.

Whether it's small hall promoters or bigger brands, it's the same problem - misleading people into thinking they're watching "world championship boxing". It doesn't matter who the promoter is.

Misleading people is business. It happens at every facet and every level of business. Tescos tell people they are the cheapest despite Asda being the recognised and official overall cheapest - every year.
When you get your car MOT'd the garage will say it's passed but..
Why shouldn't small hall promoters have the opportunity to shift extra tickets based on having a 'world title' fight?

[oliverfennell]

Because ultimately it can damage the sport.

Let's say Joe Bloggs and his mates see a poster advertising "World Championship Boxing" in the window of their local kebab shop. "Great," they think, "that's Saturday night sorted", and they book their tickets.

Remembering the "good old days" of world championship boxing featuring Benn, Naz, Lewis, they turn up to a 1,000-seat venue and get served something like Skelton-Moli or Hobson-Polakovic.

Consequently, they never again buy a ticket for a boxing match.

(I know the two examples above are Sports Network, but you get the idea)

[jomothepure]

I can confirm I made a formal bid of $1.75million in October of last year. It looked, for a time, like the deal was sealed. However, the owner decided he didn't want to deal in Zimbabwean dollars. I could see him greedily eyeing up my new trainers and the Australian dollar some cheeky newsagent passed off to me as a pound coin. But I told him speak to the hand sister. We don't deal in Zimbabwean dollars, then it's your weight in out-of-date Russian kopeks or nothing at all. Anyway I stormed out and nearly knocked out Al Sosnowski, who was in the lobby waiting to find out if the WBU were going to sanction his fight with Joe Hipp. (Apparently the WBF was forcing mandatory challenger Zoltan Petranyi onto him, so he's looking elsewhere.)

Anyway, I implore you find upstanding gentlemen to support my bid to takeover the WBU. As president, I promise to:

~Keep a continual supply of gaffer tape handy, so we can upgrade all WBU title belts to WBA title belts.

~Make Vitali Martynov mandatory challenger for all WBU champions in all divisions

~Proclaim Audrey Harrison heavyweight champion and get him some fights (note to self: get Joe Hipps number)

~Create a new superlightheavyweight division

~Pledge 25% of all sanctioning fee proceeds to the BWWCC (bubble wrap wlad's chin campaign.)

[jomothepure]

Why shouldn't small hall promoters have the opportunity to shift extra tickets based on having a 'world title' fight?

Further to what Oliver said, FW is not a small hall promotor. Hatton and Enzo were not small hall fighters.

[bridportboxer]

Because ultimately it can damage the sport.

Let's say Joe Bloggs and his mates see a poster advertising "World Championship Boxing" in the window of their local kebab shop. "Great," they think, "that's Saturday night sorted", and they book their tickets.

Remembering the "good old days" of world championship boxing featuring Benn, Naz, Lewis, they turn up to a 1,000-seat venue and get served something like Skelton-Moli or Hobson-Polakovic.

Consequently, they never again buy a ticket for a boxing match.

(I know the two examples above are Sports Network, but you get the idea)

Ok, on a different sport, Poster up in the window says 'World Championship Cage Fighting' - does that hurt the sport of MMA or does it help it? Will the people that go to the event start watching MMA more and more? Who is the MMA Heavyweight Champion?

I don't like mis-matches - but for the purpose of promoters selling more tickets and in turn making a little more money is there really a problem advertising world championship boxing for a IBC WBF WBU fight?
Should these fights be televised as 'World Title Fights' - No, but for the small promoter who isn't going to get a sell out, why not?

[Lenny]

Why shouldn't small hall promoters have the opportunity to shift extra tickets based on having a 'world title' fight?

Further to what Oliver said, FW is not a small hall promotor. Hatton and Enzo were not small hall fighters.

Yeah I can't remember the last WBU champ who wasn't with Frank

Also are you asking why small hall promoters shouldn't be allowed to make a bit of extra money by misleading the public?

[bridportboxer]

Why shouldn't small hall promoters have the opportunity to shift extra tickets based on having a 'world title' fight?

Further to what Oliver said, FW is not a small hall promotor. Hatton and Enzo were not small hall fighters.

I didn't say they were. I don't agree with a large brand such as Sports Network using the WBU title, I do agree with a small promoter like Sanigar using the WBU.

[bridportboxer]

Why shouldn't small hall promoters have the opportunity to shift extra tickets based on having a 'world title' fight?

Further to what Oliver said, FW is not a small hall promotor. Hatton and Enzo were not small hall fighters.

Yeah I can't remember the last WBU champ who wasn't with Frank

Also are you asking why small hall promoters shouldn't be allowed to make a bit of extra money by misleading the public?

Yes I am.

[dondada]

Further to what Oliver said, FW is not a small hall promotor. Hatton and Enzo were not small hall fighters.

Yeah I can't remember the last WBU champ who wasn't with Frank

Also are you asking why small hall promoters shouldn't be allowed to make a bit of extra money by misleading the public?

Yes I am.

Well, the answer is no. Just because it happens elsewhere doesn't mean it's OK. Minor 'world' titles are a complete load of shite and do a lot of harm to the sport - especially with the general public.

[Bard of Boxrec]

I can confirm I made a formal bid of $1.75million in October of last year. It looked, for a time, like the deal was sealed. However, the owner decided he didn't want to deal in Zimbabwean dollars. I could see him greedily eyeing up my new trainers and the Australian dollar some cheeky newsagent passed off to me as a pound coin. But I told him speak to the hand sister. We don't deal in Zimbabwean dollars, then it's your weight in out-of-date Russian kopeks or nothing at all. Anyway I stormed out and nearly knocked out Al Sosnowski, who was in the lobby waiting to find out if the WBU were going to sanction his fight with Joe Hipp. (Apparently the WBF was forcing mandatory challenger Zoltan Petranyi onto him, so he's looking elsewhere.)

Anyway, I implore you find upstanding gentlemen to support my bid to takeover the WBU. As president, I promise to:

~Keep a continual supply of gaffer tape handy, so we can upgrade all WBU title belts to WBA title belts.

~Make Vitali Martynov mandatory challenger for all WBU champions in all divisions

~Proclaim Audrey Harrison heavyweight champion and get him some fights (note to self: get Joe Hipps number)

~Create a new superlightheavyweight division

~Pledge 25% of all sanctioning fee proceeds to the BWWCC (bubble wrap wlad's chin campaign.)

this is hilarious.

[bridportboxer]

Yeah I can't remember the last WBU champ who wasn't with Frank

Also are you asking why small hall promoters shouldn't be allowed to make a bit of extra money by misleading the public?

Yes I am.

Well, the answer is no. Just because it happens elsewhere doesn't mean it's OK. Minor 'world' titles are a complete load of shite and do a lot of harm to the sport - especially with the general public.

Do they do alot of harm because the bigger brands use them as real world titles then put together poor fights, or do they do a lot of harm because a small hall promoter puts on a good show with close fights and uses a lower level world title? In other words if they didn't get exploited by the larger promoters would it be fair for the small promoters to use them in good, equal all action fights that people want to see?
Do they actually do harm to the sport financially?

If the poster said 'World Championship Wrestling' do you think your going to see Hulk Hogan? Does that hurt wrestling?

[oliverfennell]

If the poster said 'World Championship Wrestling' do you think your going to see Hulk Hogan?

I'd hope not, given Hogan must be about 60 by now!

Anyway, yes it would hurt wrestling, and yes, your previous example does hurt MMA. I, along with many other boxing fans, watched the Cage Rage event featuring Julius Francis, and there were "title fights" on there which blatantly were not world class affairs, even to my untrained eye.

And I have to insist your small hall v big brand argument is not valid. A rip-off is a rip-off, regardless of the vendor. If your independent corner shop packaged a bottle of perry as champagne, would that be any better than if Tesco did the same?

Case in point: Lee McAllister v Craig Docherty was a recent WBU "world championship" in a small hall. Was that any better or worse than, say, Maccarinelli v Delaney? No, regardless of who the promoter is, it's still false advertising.

[bridportboxer]

If the poster said 'World Championship Wrestling' do you think your going to see Hulk Hogan?

I'd hope not, given Hogan must be about 60 by now!

Anyway, yes it would hurt wrestling, and yes, your previous example does hurt MMA. I, along with many other boxing fans, watched the Cage Rage event featuring Julius Francis, and there were "title fights" on there which blatantly were not world class affairs, even to my untrained eye.

And I have to insist your small hall v big brand argument is not valid. A rip-off is a rip-off, regardless of the vendor. If your independent corner shop packaged a bottle of perry as champagne, would that be any better than if Tesco did the same?

Case in point: Lee McAllister v Craig Docherty was a recent WBU "world championship" in a small hall. Was that any better or worse than, say, Maccarinelli v Delaney? No, regardless of who the promoter is, it's still false advertising.

Good argument, although technically it isn't false advertising.

[oliverfennell]

If the poster said 'World Championship Wrestling' do you think your going to see Hulk Hogan?

I'd hope not, given Hogan must be about 60 by now!

Anyway, yes it would hurt wrestling, and yes, your previous example does hurt MMA. I, along with many other boxing fans, watched the Cage Rage event featuring Julius Francis, and there were "title fights" on there which blatantly were not world class affairs, even to my untrained eye.

And I have to insist your small hall v big brand argument is not valid. A rip-off is a rip-off, regardless of the vendor. If your independent corner shop packaged a bottle of perry as champagne, would that be any better than if Tesco did the same?

Case in point: Lee McAllister v Craig Docherty was a recent WBU "world championship" in a small hall. Was that any better or worse than, say, Maccarinelli v Delaney? No, regardless of who the promoter is, it's still false advertising.

Good argument, although technically it isn't false advertising.

Technically, you're right. Nobody can sue over it! But you know what I mean.

[bridportboxer]

I'd be interested to know what small hall promoters actually do think of these titles.

[oliverfennell]

I'd be interested to know what small hall promoters actually do think of these titles.

Small hall title fights tend to be of the Area and Masters varieties. Despite the spuriousness of the WBU and co, I imagine their sanctioning fees are bigger than the aforementioned.

[bridportboxer]

I'd be interested to know what small hall promoters actually do think of these titles.

Small hall title fights tend to be of the Area and Masters varieties. Despite the spuriousness of the WBU and co, I imagine their sanctioning fees are bigger than the aforementioned.

True. Does anyone actually know about the original question - did it sell?
What's actually involved in setting up a 'world championship' sanctioning body, it must be relatively easy as there quite a few about.

[oliverfennell]

I'd be interested to know what small hall promoters actually do think of these titles.

Small hall title fights tend to be of the Area and Masters varieties. Despite the spuriousness of the WBU and co, I imagine their sanctioning fees are bigger than the aforementioned.

True. Does anyone actually know about the original question - did it sell?
What's actually involved in setting up a 'world championship' sanctioning body, it must be relatively easy as there quite a few about.

I imagine it's just the same process as setting up any business. Just register the name, appoint a director, open accounts, etc.

As for the original question, I don't believe it has been sold/bought, as I'm sure I would have heard about it. It is still in operation, however, as seen in the recent McAllister-Docherty fight. Don't know who's running it in the interim.

[bridportboxer]

Small hall title fights tend to be of the Area and Masters varieties. Despite the spuriousness of the WBU and co, I imagine their sanctioning fees are bigger than the aforementioned.

True. Does anyone actually know about the original question - did it sell?
What's actually involved in setting up a 'world championship' sanctioning body, it must be relatively easy as there quite a few about.

I imagine it's just the same process as setting up any business. Just register the name, appoint a director, open accounts, etc.

As for the original question, I don't believe it has been sold/bought, as I'm sure I would have heard about it. It is still in operation, however, as seen in the recent McAllister-Docherty fight. Don't know who's running it in the interim.

That bit of the business is easy, but surely there must be a bit more to it, with regard to being a recognised body? Maybe I'll buy it! though I don't think it could be worth anywhere near the £750,000 orginally asked

[oliverfennell]

True. Does anyone actually know about the original question - did it sell?
What's actually involved in setting up a 'world championship' sanctioning body, it must be relatively easy as there quite a few about.

I imagine it's just the same process as setting up any business. Just register the name, appoint a director, open accounts, etc.

As for the original question, I don't believe it has been sold/bought, as I'm sure I would have heard about it. It is still in operation, however, as seen in the recent McAllister-Docherty fight. Don't know who's running it in the interim.

That bit of the business is easy, but surely there must be a bit more to it, with regard to being a recognised body? Maybe I'll buy it! though I don't think it could be worth anywhere near the £750,000 orginally asked

I don't see why there would be any more to it. It's not like there's any "higher-ups" to answer to in this sport. If jokers like the WBE and IBU can make a living - and they make the WBU look like the A-listers of boxing - then no reason why anybody with a certain amount of capital can't start their own organisation. Which is actually part of the problem.

[steve689]

Bogus world titles? Fake baubles? Shame on you, tell that to Zap!

Zapir Gereev

Global Boxing Council Intercontinental Welterweight Champion
Vacant WBE European Youth Welterweight Champion
Vacant EBF European Youth Welterweight Champion