The WBC is hurting boxing by letting titleholders fight weak opponents instead of mandatories

[Freedom2013]

The WBC should be forcing Deontay Wilder to fight Alexander Povetkin next, but they will not. The pampered Wilder wants to unify with Charles Martin, and make Povetkin wait many more months.

The WBC should have made Alvarez fight Golovkin, but they never will.

[caldo2025]

All of these divisions are pathetic and you're probably right with naming the WBC because they seem to be the worst. Until there's a clear cut structure in place systematically ranking these boxers on performance instead of money and promoter's clout, it's always going to be a fiasco. Unfortunately, the inmates are running the asylum in Boxing. Floyd didn't fight a mandatory challenger for the last 8 years. That's where it all started getting worse and now everyone is trying to grab the same type of power that Floyd had.

[Undefeated49-0]

The WBC should be forcing Deontay Wilder to fight Alexander Povetkin next, but they will not. The pampered Wilder wants to unify with Charles Martin, and make Povetkin wait many more months.

The WBC should have made Alvarez fight Golovkin, but they never will.

You act as if this is something that is new in boxing, Lewis dumped his belt in the trash so he wouldn't have to face Chris Byrd. Numerous fighters has done this, Wilder vacated the belt and is no longer the Champ so he can't be forced to fight anyone. Now it should be a tournament of the top 5 fighters in the WBC (excluding Wilder since he's vacating it) to determine who will be its' champ.

Wilder appears to be collecting accolades (I'm not making excuses for him), so IMHO I believe he just wants to be able to say he was a two time champion ASSuming he beats Martin.

I agree that he should be made to fight Povetkin but seeing that he won't have the belt then there's no need for it.

[campfire]

Wilder should be forced to defend and so to should Canelo he's Middleweight Champion and whats he fighting the 5 or 6 best Welterweight
in the world Ketchel and Greb will be turning in their grave's

[Horse]

Povetkin seems happy enough being the mandatory.

[Lennox]

Ultimately the WBC WBA IBF and WBO can all be accused of hurting boxing by letting weak fighters fight for titles but it has been going on for a long time and probably will continue. The WBC are actually the least worst.

Statiscally every year these organisations allow fighters outside the top 50, often top 100 and further.

The WBA have allowed fighters who have never beaten a top 100 opponent and have three losses to fight.

The WBA have had champions not even ranked in the top 100 after they have won.

Today WBA flyweight interim champion Gregorio Lebron with a record of 13-3, ranked independently at 54 fights Stamp Kiatniwat in a rubber match. Lebron previously beat Stamp (who had not beaten a top 100 opponent before and Stamp is only top 100 opponent now) Stamp is ranked 55 (because of the previous loss) Stamp beat Gregorio in their first fight to claim the crown. Stamp was ranked 48 then and Gregorio 85. This sort of stuff is going on all the time.

Fans wont get behind the best one of all and that is the IBO. The IBO has the right principles, unfortunately because it is not corruptable many promoters and TV companies can't align to it, hence the best financial matches can't be made. Lewis dumped his title because no TV company was willing to pay for the fight. The very top fighters harness the IBO belt because they don't have the same mandatory demands.

Most fights don't happen because of the money agreements and the contract obligations to the promotional company/TV.

Fighters' themselves are the brave ones they don't duck fights, most will fight anyone, as they become more understanding of the fight value they realise that they may have 2, 3, 4 , 5 fights left so look to maximise the money. If they get $1,000,000 for a fight and then lose their next fight is on the undercard for $25,000 and sometimes they don't see value in that.

[man]

Lewis dumped his belt in the trash so he wouldn't have to face Chris Byrd.

really? lennox lewis ducked the monster
chris byrd?

[Undefeated49-0]

Lewis dumped his belt in the trash so he wouldn't have to face Chris Byrd.

really? lennox lewis ducked the monster
chris byrd?

I never called Byrd a Monster but he did beat the Monster Klitschko and this did happen:


1. The WBA sanctions a fight between Lewis and Michael Grant, but after a court ruling brought forth evidence that the oft-maligned sanctioning body had broken its own rules, they refused to sanction the fight. Instead, by the rules, the WBA told Lewis that he would have to fight their mandatory #1 challenger John Ruiz. Lewis refused to fight Ruiz and the WBA stripped him of their title. Again, by the rules.

From BBC News on 9-6-02: "Lennox Lewis has given up his International Boxing Federation title because he has no interest in a mandatory defence against number one contender Chris Byrd." Instead of suffering through another embarassing strip, Lewis decided to surrender the title as opposed to fighting Byrd.

So you be the Judge!!

[jockpunk]

There are all sorts of problems with the sanctioning bodies, but allowing unifications to take priority over mandatories is not one of them. Who gives a shiit about povetkin?

[dalcumly]

It's all very sad.Its now 50 years , yes half a century, since the world had 8 world champions and everyone knew their names. Sadly those days are gone for ever.
Money now is King, the fame and glory I don't believe, comes into it.
At the very elite level the television companies control boxing in that they will not pay big money for non title fights unless a superstar is involved. Therefore a title fight must be arranged.
The current situation around Wilder and Martin is now becoming clear. The American TV companies lost control of the heavyweight title when the Klitschkos took over. The IBF immediately saw an opportunity to get that control back by forcing Fury to vacate, allowing them to sanction the Martin farce. Within weeks we have Wilder vacating and a Martin fight being organised. The IBF and the American TV networks can now claim that their fight will be for the 'undisputed' title. We all know that Wilder drew out from fighting Povetkin because there was a good chance he'd lose, and the WBC belt would be back in Europe.
Fury can't fight in America because half his team wouldn't be allowed visas.
So we are now entering a period of disruption in the heavyweight division. America will see a few years of hopeless challengers to Wilder , while his team and the IBF earn huge sums fighting in Las Vegas and beyond. Good business. Meanwhile the REAL champ, Fury, will fight over here against suitable opponents, and be ignored as far as possible by HBO and others.

[jockpunk]

Wilder is vacating? News to me. All I have seen is speculation that he will unify with Martin before making his mandatory. Personally, I would love it if he did that and then unified all of the belts with Fury late next year. Would suck for povetkin (although it doesn't seem like he even cares) but good for boxing as a whole.

While I wish the IBF didn't make Fury vacate, they were actually following their own rules. I think they should sort of get credit for that.

[sucracristo]

once again, this fight would have happened already if povetkin didn't ask the
wbc to delay it and wilder has said as recently as a few days ago that he
is fighting povetkin next. we have several threads with this gay premise
that wilder is somehow trying to duck povetkin. povetkin is going to get his
ass kicked, then people on here are going to be claiming wilder fought
another bum.

[Undefeated49-0]

once again, this fight would have happened already if povetkin didn't ask the
wbc to delay it and wilder has said as recently as a few days ago that he
is fighting povetkin next. we have several threads with this gay premise
that wilder is somehow trying to duck povetkin. povetkin is going to get his
ass kicked, then people on here are going to be claiming wilder fought
another bum.

Good research and I'm sure you're more than right about what people will be saying.

[dempseyfire]

The WBC should be forcing Deontay Wilder to fight Alexander Povetkin next, but they will not. The pampered Wilder wants to unify with Charles Martin, and make Povetkin wait many more months.

The WBC should have made Alvarez fight Golovkin, but they never will.

You act as if this is something that is new in boxing, Lewis dumped his belt in the trash so he wouldn't have to face Chris Byrd. Numerous fighters has done this, Wilder vacated the belt and is no longer the Champ so he can't be forced to fight anyone. Now it should be a tournament of the top 5 fighters in the WBC (excluding Wilder since he's vacating it) to determine who will be its' champ.

Wilder appears to be collecting accolades (I'm not making excuses for him), so IMHO I believe he just wants to be able to say he was a two time champion ASSuming he beats Martin.

I agree that he should be made to fight Povetkin but seeing that he won't have the belt then there's no need for it.

Wilder vacated the belt?

[funso banjo baby]

the wbc can do what they like as long as idiots fill stadiums or pay subscription fees

its been going on for decades now.

the supposed fans are the ones who hurt the sport

bovine

as far as wilder is concerned....he is not the champion at all

Fury is

so it matters not who fights who for these fictional world crowns

[Undefeated49-0]

Wilder vacated the belt?

I haven't seen that he has but it has been suggested or suspected that he may to avoid Povetkin although I tend to look at it as though he'll be looking to try and unify the titles if he beats Martin.

Until i see concrete proof that he has then I'm running with my own personal ASSumption.

[Rob3_142]

I think Wilder is far from vacating the belt, and if anything would do a unification with Martin. Also I'm pretty sure that Wilder did say his next fight would be against Povetkin, and providing he came through that there would be the potential for a WBC/IBF unification fight later in the year, which then would pave the way for a unification of all 4 belts (not including the WBA - what is even going on there?) between the winner of Fury and Klitchko.

I think the biggest problem with the Povetkin fight is where it would be. If they can't agree terms, it'll come down to a purse bid, and with Povetkin being backed by a wealthy benefactor, it'd result in a fight in Russia, which Wilder refused to do. If it came down to that, I'm not entirely sure what would happen, answers on a postcard.

[Freedom2013]

Wilder vacated the belt?

No, he won't have to.

The despicable WBC will allow him to make Povetkin wait more long months while he fights Martin.

[asdfjkl]

Lewis dumped his belt in the trash so he wouldn't have to face Chris Byrd.

really? lennox lewis ducked the monster
chris byrd?

I never called Byrd a Monster but he did beat the Monster Klitschko and this did happen:


1. The WBA sanctions a fight between Lewis and Michael Grant, but after a court ruling brought forth evidence that the oft-maligned sanctioning body had broken its own rules, they refused to sanction the fight. Instead, by the rules, the WBA told Lewis that he would have to fight their mandatory #1 challenger John Ruiz. Lewis refused to fight Ruiz and the WBA stripped him of their title. Again, by the rules.

From BBC News on 9-6-02: "Lennox Lewis has given up his International Boxing Federation title because he has no interest in a mandatory defence against number one contender Chris Byrd." Instead of suffering through another embarassing strip, Lewis decided to surrender the title as opposed to fighting Byrd.

So you be the Judge!!

He rather fought Mike Tyson, that's all and Chris Byrd isn't top of the top, just watch his fight against Klitschko and you know enough

[Undefeated49-0]

He rather fought Mike Tyson, that's all and Chris Byrd isn't top of the top, just watch his fight against Klitschko and you know enough

Mike wasn't even in his radar during that time, if I'm not mistaken I believe Mike was in prison at that time, and I recall Byrd stopped one those Klitschko brothers.

No excuses for Lennox, I like him but he flat out ducked Byrd.

[Lancenix]

Lewis dumped his belt in the trash so he wouldn't have to face Chris Byrd.

really? lennox lewis ducked the monster
chris byrd?

Yeah that is what I was thinking. LOL

[Lancenix]

He rather fought Mike Tyson, that's all and Chris Byrd isn't top of the top, just watch his fight against Klitschko and you know enough

Mike wasn't even in his radar during that time, if I'm not mistaken I believe Mike was in prison at that time, and I recall Byrd stopped one those Klitschko brothers.

No excuses for Lennox, I like him but he flat out ducked Byrd.

Ducked Byrd. LOL

[Lancenix]

I think Wilder is far from vacating the belt, and if anything would do a unification with Martin. Also I'm pretty sure that Wilder did say his next fight would be against Povetkin, and providing he came through that there would be the potential for a WBC/IBF unification fight later in the year, which then would pave the way for a unification of all 4 belts (not including the WBA - what is even going on there?) between the winner of Fury and Klitchko.

I think the biggest problem with the Povetkin fight is where it would be. If they can't agree terms, it'll come down to a purse bid, and with Povetkin being backed by a wealthy benefactor, it'd result in a fight in Russia, which Wilder refused to do. If it came down to that, I'm not entirely sure what would happen, answers on a postcard.

Is that your excuse for Wilder being yet another North American coward that he is? It is an epidemic in boxing which most could have never foreseen that would ever happen but it is alive and well in 2016. Canadians, Americans and Mexicans avoiding the top Europeans at all costs. Hoping they will just go away somehow or just fight each other. It is most surprising from the tough inner city Americans who say they are not scared of anyone except when it comes to getting in the ring that is.

[Undefeated49-0]

Ducked Byrd. LOL

http://www.rte.ie/sport/boxing/2002/0421/163634-boxing/

Maybe this was before you started watching boxing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMk1notdy_g

My bad from earlier, Tyson was on the radar for LL but we all know that Mike wasn't what he once was by then and Byrd was still fresh.

[Lancenix]

Ducked Byrd. LOL

http://www.rte.ie/sport/boxing/2002/0421/163634-boxing/

Maybe this was before you started watching boxing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMk1notdy_g

My bad from earlier, Tyson was on the radar for LL but we all know that Mike wasn't what he once was by then and Byrd was still fresh.

Byrd is a a joke he needed a gift decision to get by Fres Oquendo for goodness sake. Maybe that was before YOU watched boxing. Byrd is a joke it would have been a waste of time. That is why LL did not fight him.