Matchroom and the IBF

[Alba]

seems to have quite a close working relationship with all there cards having some sort of IBF fights or eliminators. Very similer to Warren and the WBO ?

Thoughts

[dondada]

seems to have quite a close working relationship with all there cards having some sort of IBF fights or eliminators. Very similer to Warren and the WBO ?

Thoughts

I suppose all promoters try and establish good relationships with one or two boards but they've a long way to go to get to that level...

[Bronxbull666]

I have noticed this, not sure if it is an exclusive affiliation, but must be a good relationship between all concerned. I fully expect Bellew to be fighting a top IBF ranked fighter next, Brook is in a good position and of course Froch holds the title. I think as a promoter or manager, if your business is mapping out careers, setting targets etc... You look at your stable and match your best boxers to the rankings of a particular body. There must be advantages to a good relationship, a bit of favouritism and title fees etc...

[Alba]

I have noticed this, not sure if it is an exclusive affiliation, but must be a good relationship between all concerned. I fully expect Bellew to be fighting a top IBF ranked fighter next, Brook is in a good position and of course Froch holds the title. I think as a promoter or manager, if your business is mapping out careers, setting targets etc... You look at your stable and match your best boxers to the rankings of a particular body. There must be advantages to a good relationship, a bit of favouritism and title fees etc...

no def dosent do any harm,but when it comes to allegdly, people talk about there relationship with WBO in quite a derogatory manor (i mean forums and fans in genreal) ,so in drawing a comparison between the two ,do we think in say 5 years time folk will be talking the same about IBF/Matchroom

[Bronxbull666]

Quite possibly, but I think half the problem with Alledgedly and the WBO is that the WBO surely has to be considered the lesser of the 4 main titles by fans and forums? It is a popular title in Europe with the bigger weights and not highly sought after from anywhere else. The jury is still out on Cleverly and Burns, as it was with Calzaghe until the IBF unification with Lacy. I think all the Super-middle WBO champs have been European? It's a credential thing for me.

I also seem to remember the WBO not agreeing with unification with WBC for example.
Anyway, could anyone dispute Froch's claim to the IBF title in the same way they do with Cleverly and WBO?

[milpool]

Quite possibly, but I think half the problem with Alledgedly and the WBO is that the WBO surely has to be considered the lesser of the 4 main titles by fans and forums? It is a popular title in Europe with the bigger weights and not highly sought after from anywhere else. The jury is still out on Cleverly and Burns, as it was with Calzaghe until the IBF unification with Lacy. I think all the Super-middle WBO champs have been European? It's a credential thing for me.

I also seem to remember the WBO not agreeing with unification with WBC for example.
Anyway, could anyone dispute Froch's claim to the IBF title in the same way they do with Cleverly and WBO?

I rank the WBO as the fourth most prestigious. Simply because of its chequered past with so many paper champions throughout the years being WBO belt holders.
I don't think it helps when you get numpties challenging the champions, and I can go back and include some of the stiffs Eubank fought. We're seeing it now with Nathan Cleverly, some of these guys shouldn't be near world title level.

Fair enough the others can be just as bad but for me the WBO is just a stepping stone in most cases.

[whiskey]

It's the champions that make a belt.

For example, the WBO light-heavyweight title has spent a decade passed around Germany since its creation in 1988.

The WBC version has little pictures of former holders like Roy Jones, Qawi, Andries, Tiger, Hearns, Leonard, Pascal, Bhop etc..

.. If the WBO added pics to theirs it would have Barber, Erdie, Brahmer and Nate Clevery.

[winkveron]

Wasn't Bellew's fight on Sat for an int'l WBC belt? Rather than IBF

[hoot]

I Know Kell brook had to fight Hatton top 10 ranked at the time (for the international ibf) then the no 3 ranked carson Jones in a ibf elim,putting brook at 2, Now the no 3 ranked Hector salvadear for a final eliminator, There is no number 1 ranked, think bailey was ranked 1 at the time, I would say the ibf shot was not handed to him with a mexican roadsweeper, so matchroom + the ibf do appear legit.

[magnus]

When and if Matchroom fighters start getting mandatory shots in return for beating no-one other than domestic opposition, then it could be compared with the WBO. Gary Lockett and Mike Jennings were vey good fighters, but did nothing to deserve their mandatory positions.

[hoot]

When and if Matchroom fighters start getting mandatory shots in return for beating no-one other than domestic opposition, then it could be compared with the WBO. Gary Lockett and Mike Jennings were vey good fighters, but did nothing to deserve their mandatory positions.

If randel bailey at 1 mike jones at 2 carson jones at 3 kell brook at 4 hector salvadear at 5, who should kell brook fight to get a mandatory ?

[magnus]

When and if Matchroom fighters start getting mandatory shots in return for beating no-one other than domestic opposition, then it could be compared with the WBO. Gary Lockett and Mike Jennings were vey good fighters, but did nothing to deserve their mandatory positions.

If randel bailey at 1 mike jones at 2 carson jones at 3 kell brook at 4 hector salvadear at 5, who should kell brook fight to get a mandatory ?

The point of my post, based around the OP, is that Matchroom fighters (i.e. Brook) are currently not just being granted inexplicable mandatory positions. Brook is having to beat fighters in the top 10 to earn it.

I wasn't commentating on who Brook should or shouldn't have to fight in the top 10.

[Deadendgeneration]

Thanks to the WBC's and WBA's multiple belt-holder policies, the IBF probably has the most credibility left at this stage.

[brian13]

Thanks to the WBC's and WBA's multiple belt-holder policies, the IBF probably has the most credibility left at this stage.

Have to agree on this. It is rare the IBF comes in for criticism. In terms of good relationship etc. Hard to say that considering most of Matchroom fighters are fighting good opponents and getting where they are on merit.

[Bronxbull666]

Thanks to the WBC's and WBA's multiple belt-holder policies, the IBF probably has the most credibility left at this stage.

Have to agree on this. It is rare the IBF comes in for criticism. In terms of good relationship etc. Hard to say that considering most of Matchroom fighters are fighting good opponents and getting where they are on merit.

I agree with you both on this. The diamond, silver, super, regular nonsense is highly irritating. You only have to look at Barker getting the Martinez fight to see that Hearn will get you the fights you want.

[Bronxbull666]

Also, Lee Purdy claimed the IBF International title on the Bellew card, didn't realise it as I didn't see the fight. Just been reading a bit about him on BBC Sport site.

[BoxingDaz]

Thanks to the WBC's and WBA's multiple belt-holder policies, the IBF probably has the most credibility left at this stage.

Have to agree on this. It is rare the IBF comes in for criticism. In terms of good relationship etc. Hard to say that considering most of Matchroom fighters are fighting good opponents and getting where they are on merit.

I agree with you both on this. The diamond, silver, super, regular nonsense is highly irritating. You only have to look at Barker getting the Martinez fight to see that Hearn will get you the fights you want.

Barker v Martinez was an easy fight to make at the time due to Hearns dealings with dibella over froch vs johnson, so its barker who should get all the credit for taking the fight not hearn for being the middle man and accepting the fight on barkers behalf.

[Bronxbull666]

But, Hearn could have protected his investment and took Barker an easier route. A lot of promoters would have gone elsewhere and said,"it'll come in a year or so." As you say, full credit to Barker.