WTF is this?

[The Insider]

Why are title belts rarely/never sponsored?

They are in a round about way. You pay Bruce 250 quid and he will send you a belt or turn up with it if your really lucky and what usually happens is the promoter gets one of the events sponsors to present the belt at the conclusion of bout. The BBBoC have nothing to do with the belt at all and do not conduct check weigh ins even though there are now "gold" belts of 12 rounds duration (which the board could find themselves in dangerous waters over). Remember that Bruce/Luxembourg still have a court battle ongoing with the board so who knows what's going on behind closed doors.

Do you not think small hall promoters could get a bit extra in their pockets if they put on sponsored title fights e.g. "The Vauxhall Vectra Challenge Cup"? Every match on the bill could be for something or other and there would be no sanctioning fee to pay. That's what they do in horse racing.

Great idea but I'm not sure the board would swallow it on any if their recongnised titles I.e Area, English, Celtic and British.

[SamWise72]

It's rare enough for anyone to bother making more than one defence of the British or European titles, never mind area (many of which are somehow vacant) or these two bob titles, for which the only qualifying criteria are "fought over 8 x 3 once and had ten bouts" and yet which they must still break those rules to match.

[The Insider]

It's rare enough for anyone to bother making more than one defence of the British or European titles, never mind area (many of which are somehow vacant) or these two bob titles, for which the only qualifying criteria are "fought over 8 x 3 once and had ten bouts" and yet which they must still break those rules to match.

I wouldn't put Area titles n the same boat as Masters titles. Area title contests have to be submitted to the relevant Area council who's comittee deliberate over the contest and decide weather it's a satisfactory match and is in the interests of boxing.

I mentioned the master gold belt a while ago on its first outing...
boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=159829&hilit=masters+gold

[spudder56]

It's rare enough for anyone to bother making more than one defence of the British or European titles, never mind area (many of which are somehow vacant) or these two bob titles, for which the only qualifying criteria are "fought over 8 x 3 once and had ten bouts" and yet which they must still break those rules to match.

Exactly my point this sanctioning body couldnt care less about its own rules never mind the fare dished up

[SamWise72]

It's rare enough for anyone to bother making more than one defence of the British or European titles, never mind area (many of which are somehow vacant) or these two bob titles, for which the only qualifying criteria are "fought over 8 x 3 once and had ten bouts" and yet which they must still break those rules to match.

I wouldn't put Area titles n the same boat as Masters titles. Area title contests have to be submitted to the relevant Area council who's comittee deliberate over the contest and decide weather it's a satisfactory match and is in the interests of boxing.

I mentioned the master gold belt a while ago on its first outing...
boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=159829&hilit=masters+gold

I wasn't intending to do that at all. I think area titles are completely legit and mean something, yet it can be two years or more between, for instance, Southern area heavyweight title fights. Why bother with Masters when area titles are available? With the international masters title, it becomes even more obvious that it's just a way to attach a "title" to literally any match. Every Latvian postman is eligible to fight for them.

[Alba]

Masters title's work for small hall shows and play there part in helping sell a bill as they can mark it championship boxing. I get the gripe though about Area titles taking a preference etc however sometimes it might not always be possible to find an opponent to fight at the weight and who meets the criteria for being from that area.

[magnus]

Great idea but I'm not sure the board would swallow it on any if their recongnised titles I.e Area, English, Celtic and British.

That's fair enough. I definitely agree, for now, that the major titles should be controlled from the top i.e. the Board.

What I'm trying to suggest is that rather than coming up with more and more spurious titles where sanctioning fees have to be paid, why not just get a sponsor for a trophy and have lads fight for that, it could be a one shot deal or it could be something that is fought for monthly, yearly, or whatever.

From the "Ken's Kebab 4 Round Challenge Trophy" as a £200 sponsor to the "BP Global Cup" as a £1M sponsor.

I'd tend to agree with this. By all means dish out trophies to winners, it gives the fighters something to put on the mantlepiece without resorting to bullshit titles. Then, work at making Area titles something for small hall fighters to aspire to.

[fasteddie]

What I dont like is when good boxers like Adil Anwar are Fighting for British Masters title thats meaning less

its probably to keep him active and happy leading upto his british title fight against the winner of hamilton/williams,when Hamilton pulled out against Williams at the end of November they brought the British masters gold out for Williams to fight goodings. I think its just to keep the boxer happy and the t.v company's so on paper there is still a title on the bill,not that I agree with all these titles myself

[WildWaylon]

WBU!!! Ha Ha Ha - Head office, a garden shed on an allotment in Cambridge according to rumour.

[Khaosai-Galaxy]

Wasnt the original "point" of championship belts to draw fans to the fights, rather than actually define who is the best at what level?

Actually, i may be confusing it with the Oscars, now that i think about it.