Another "European Title" ?

[bripez]

I was just looking through the results section, and noticed a show in Germany that had a couple of fights (different weights) for the "IBF East/West Europe Title".

What is this ? - I have never heard of this one before ?

We already now have the "EU" to go alongside the proper European / EBU title - are the various governing bodies now starting their own versions ?

I know that there are a lot of different threads on this, but surely it has gone too far - eg. Tony Bellews fight at the weekend was for the "WBC Silver Title"

Will we get to the stage in a few years where every fight is for some kind of title or other ?

[stevieb_8006]

i just ignore them. its not like they sell fights anymore. Every1 knows the score, and lets face it, they arent going anywhere. i just look at it as a trophy the boxer gets for winning, like a sprinter getting a medal for winning a race.

[milpool]

I read recently that these organisations claim that having these titles gives the boxer credibilty and makes them more money in the long run. Apparently if you have a title, however spurious it is, it makes you more of an attraction.

Not sure I agree...some of the names of these titles are so ridiculous that nobody would ever give you any credibility if you held the WBC Intercontinental Silver European Youth title.

[Cholo_cws]

The trouble is, with every alphabet trinket comes sanctioning costs that have to be paid and it's fight going fans or tv who are paying for them. If not part of a Sky/Hearn contract (if relevant), how much more would tv have to pay to show Alexander-Brook just because it has a world title tag attached? It might not seem a lot for one fight but when there's four governing bodies at it it adds up. I wonder if a single person bought a ticket ot tuned in to watch Brook-Hatton just because it was for IBF International and WBA Inter-continental titles? Didn't Bob Mee report that there was something like 1200-1300 alphabet sanctioned fights last year? I resent them taking money out of boxing to fund their unnecessary existence.

[tancy lee]

There too many titles but i think the intercontinental/internatiional were created for fighters who domestically maybe dont have many fighters in there weight divisions,and if there used for that reason then i dont think there a bad thing as they let a fighter get a ranking over time ,and that oppertunity to win and defend a title might not be avail to them
Domestically the brit/area/celtuc title suitt he uk cause of the breakdown of it ...Masters title certainly are good for small hall and help the promotor sell the show.

[vxrandall]

The trouble is, with every alphabet trinket comes sanctioning costs that have to be paid and it's fight going fans or tv who are paying for them. If not part of a Sky/Hearn contract (if relevant), how much more would tv have to pay to show Alexander-Brook just because it has a world title tag attached? It might not seem a lot for one fight but when there's four governing bodies at it it adds up. I wonder if a single person bought a ticket ot tuned in to watch Brook-Hatton just because it was for IBF International and WBA Inter-continental titles? Didn't Bob Mee report that there was something like 1200-1300 alphabet sanctioned fights last year? I resent them taking money out of boxing to fund their unnecessary existence.

its kinda tricky tho isnt it because the existence of a title not only gives the fighter something to shout about, a trinket yes but for a fighter it can represent a significant achievement and provide a confidence boost to train harder, aspire higher. AND the existence of a 'title' on the card will surely uplift ticket sales and improve the revenue which in turn translates (at least in theory) into better purses for the fighters themselves. its about marketability. a necessary evil in the modern world.

promoters, tv networks, sanctioning bodies....all have short comings and fingers can be pointed at each for things wrong with the sport but at the same time...there is a perverse symbiosis that makes each and all necessary. as usual, non bias media and genuine fans know who real champions are regardless.

how do you solve a problem like boxing?

[m1kee50]

it is the biggest load of bollocks...

anyone want to watch the Bellew fight?
yeah sign me up

anyone want to watch the WBC silver titlist fight?
what?

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

The Alphabet people do not pretend for legitimacy anymore, they are just milking the promoters now so every major bill has title fights galore. One upon a time, a world title fight was a big deal now - who gives a shit? I don't care - do any of you really?

Once though, they were a big threat. The IBF-UK welterweight title fight between Sylvester Mittee and Terry Marsh would have ruined boxing in this country beyond recognition, but someone, somewhere stopped them, why can't someone stop them now?

[LeedsLad]

It's just as bad here, in all honesty.

We've got the British title, the English title, then area titles, and these silly British Masters and International Masters titles.

Those need booting off sharpish.

Just go back to the British, and then the area belts.

Sack the Commonwealth off as well, given that it's basically an interim British title used to keep fighters apart or a stepping stone for a British fighter to beat up some never been stopped, teak tough fighter from the same town as Azumah Nelson who happens to drive a taxi for a living.

[Scorby Tuttle]

It's just as bad here, in all honesty.

We've got the British title, the English title, then area titles, and these silly British Masters and International Masters titles.

Those need booting off sharpish.

Just go back to the British, and then the area belts.

Sack the Commonwealth off as well, given that it's basically an interim British title used to keep fighters apart or a stepping stone for a British fighter to beat up some never been stopped, teak tough fighter from the same town as Azumah Nelson who happens to drive a taxi for a living.

I agree