Why champion don't always fight the number one of ranking ?

[izabelisk]

Hello,

Boxe is very weird. I don't understand why boxe champions are allowed to fight a challenger that are not ranked number 1.
In my opinion, normally when a champion wants to defend his title, then he HAVE TO face the number one contender of the ranking. For example, the WBC champion must face the number one of the WBC ranking of his category.
To my point of view, ONLY IF the number one is not available, the the champion must face the number TWO and anybody else. if the number one and the number two contenders are not available, then the champion must face the number THREEE and so on.
Of course the champion and the challenger have to negociate for a date and a location that is the least constraining for both.

But in reality, champion can fight anyone of the top 15 and often they don't fight the number one and even the number two contenders. Usually, promoters have a lot of power and that's very weird that they have too influence to choose you will fight for the world title.
Moreother, they inform the challenger at the last minute. (Sometime less than one month before the fight).

I have a concrete case. Anthony Joshua (heavyweight IBF champion).
His first defense (June 2016) was against the number 9 (according to IBF ranking of may 2016).
Why was it allowed to avoid to fight the number one contender Joseph Parker ?
Normally he must face Joseph Parker and deal with his team to find a location and a date and only if Parker don't want (in this case he can lost his number 1 position) or can't fight (for example medical issue), then he must face Kubrat Pulev (number 2 IBF) and then Haye, ect
Instead he was allowed to fight a less dangerous fighter, Dominic Brazeale (number 9 IBF).
That was the same for his second defense in december when he faces Molina (number 8 IBF) when fighter with better ranking like Luis Ortiz (number 6 IBF was available).

I took the Joshua's case beacause it's more or less representative, but that's the same for the majority of the world champion regardless the boxing federation and I think that in boxe promoters have too influence and that's not good. Imagine that in NBA, Tennis or Football promoters choose how a championship or a tournament must be scheduled and who will face who.

For me, more constraining rules must be created and applied as explained above (champion can only fight the number one of the ranting and deal with his team to choose a date and a location for the fight and then contact the number 2 of the ranting only if the number one has a medical problem or don't want to face the champion).

What do you think about that boxe fans ?

[RScarf1]

There is usually a mandatory title defense that a champion has to make within 12 months. There can be also be a voluntary defense within the same 12 months and usually this opponent should also be chosen from an organization's top 15 contenders in that weight class. The ratings by the organizations, in my opinion, are not better than computerized ratings. They can rate someone No. 1 who is not a world-class boxer.

[Tangerine]

In an ideal world this is what we all want but with the Organisations introduction of ranking titles like the
International,Intercontinental,Silver,Youth and Continental regional titles then often these belt holders will take precedence over a legitimately ranked fighter and it stinks.

A prime example to keep an eye on will be the final eliminator for Jeff Horn.I think Lucas Mattyhsse is ranked 2nd and Bradley Skeete ranked 3rd.These are the two fighters who should face off now for the final eliminator but I wouldnt be suprised if the winner of tonights fight between Gary Corcoran and Larry Ekundayo for the aforementioned Intercontinental title gets made as an eliminator next depending on the ranking they get from tonight...

[asdfjkl]

It's probably origionally done because the one lives in America and the other lives in Europe and the travel wasn't worth it a 100 years ago.
Nowadays people are injured, have mental meltdowns, brake their own bones, get caught for doping, get wrongfully banned for doping, twice, want more money, don't want to fight outside of their hometown, thinks the opponent doesn't deserve a shot, want to decide what boxing gloves, need a tune up, want a different weightclass, and so on and on and on.

[Syntax Error]

Hello,

Boxe is very weird. I don't understand why boxe champions are allowed to fight a challenger that are not ranked number 1.
In my opinion, normally when a champion wants to defend his title, then he HAVE TO face the number one contender of the ranking. For example, the WBC champion must face the number one of the WBC ranking of his category.
To my point of view, ONLY IF the number one is not available, the the champion must face the number TWO and anybody else. if the number one and the number two contenders are not available, then the champion must face the number THREEE and so on.
Of course the champion and the challenger have to negociate for a date and a location that is the least constraining for both.

But in reality, champion can fight anyone of the top 15 and often they don't fight the number one and even the number two contenders. Usually, promoters have a lot of power and that's very weird that they have too influence to choose you will fight for the world title.
Moreother, they inform the challenger at the last minute. (Sometime less than one month before the fight).

I have a concrete case. Anthony Joshua (heavyweight IBF champion).
His first defense (June 2016) was against the number 9 (according to IBF ranking of may 2016).
Why was it allowed to avoid to fight the number one contender Joseph Parker ?
Normally he must face Joseph Parker and deal with his team to find a location and a date and only if Parker don't want (in this case he can lost his number 1 position) or can't fight (for example medical issue), then he must face Kubrat Pulev (number 2 IBF) and then Haye, ect
Instead he was allowed to fight a less dangerous fighter, Dominic Brazeale (number 9 IBF).
That was the same for his second defense in december when he faces Molina (number 8 IBF) when fighter with better ranking like Luis Ortiz (number 6 IBF was available).

I took the Joshua's case beacause it's more or less representative, but that's the same for the majority of the world champion regardless the boxing federation and I think that in boxe promoters have too influence and that's not good. Imagine that in NBA, Tennis or Football promoters choose how a championship or a tournament must be scheduled and who will face who.

For me, more constraining rules must be created and applied as explained above (champion can only fight the number one of the ranting and deal with his team to choose a date and a location for the fight and then contact the number 2 of the ranting only if the number one has a medical problem or don't want to face the champion).

What do you think about that boxe fans ?

The problem with your notion is that it is sensible.

Asking boxing organisations to do something sensible is like asking Theresa May to be 'strong & stable': it isn't going to happen anytime soon.

[Horse]

I don't have a problem with voluntary defences.

[Ricky_]

I don't have a problem with voluntary defences either, but there should be a line drawn somewhere. Guys like Mormeck shouldn't have been anywhere near a world title fight vs Wlad for instance. That was the first that came to mind, there's probably all sorts of bogus "voluntary" defences vs unworthy opponents put on by promoters solely to milk a cash cow. Brooks IBF defence vs Gavin was another unacceptable example that comes to mind.

[Mexi-Box]

Too many rankings, and too many people making horrible rankings, looking at you gilgamesh.

[SteveO]

The problem with your notion is that it is sensible.

Asking boxing organisations to do something sensible is like asking Theresa May to be 'strong & stable': it isn't going to happen anytime soon.

Made me laugh
It is hard to argue with Izabelisk's post. Ideally that would be the case.

[Tarkus]

That would work if there was a single body and single ranking with all fighters on it. But right now ABC rankings are all but useless. Based on those we would hardly ever get a decent fight. Just have a look at WBC HW rankings. Stiverne is No1 and it dont even include Joshua and Parker.

You must have mandatory defense against No1 once in a year and voluntaries in between. If all sanctioning bodies enforced once a year mandatory vigorously that would already be better.

[asdfjkl]

I'd also have to say with that, that all the lower rankers simply don't have the balls to fight each other.
Many guys who made it to a top spot simply right once a year or so just to keep their spot and preferebly against the highest rank guy, so if they lose they don't lose places, or against someone they can't lose against.

Guys like Malik Scott, Charles Martin, or Stiverne can stay at the top for years, while I bet there are many guys who aren't even a rank 100 who can easely beat such guys.

[Lackeos]

Sanctioning bodies get a percentage, not a flat fee, for the world champs they sanction. The more money the champ makes, the more money the sanctioning body makes. A champ who has a long line of title victories is usually going to be a bigger draw than if the title changes hands a bunch and the champ never has a lot of name recognition for casual audiences. Also, there is always the risk that a champ will drop a belt if the sanctioning body doesn't cave to his demands, and often the demands come in the form of asking for weaker mandatory defenses and more time between defenses without getting stripped. Sanctioning bodies don't want fighters dropping their belt, because that just sends the message that a belt is not needed to indicate which boxer is really the best.

[Kalan]

Why was it allowed to avoid to fight the number one contender Joseph Parker? Normally he must face Joseph Parker and deal with his team to find a location and a date and only if Parker don't want (in this case he can lost his number 1 position) or can't fight (for example medical issue), then he must face Kubrat Pulev (number 2 IBF) and then Haye

First of all you're full of gas.

Joshua wanted to fight Joseph Parker very badly.. Parker isn't ready and doesn't want to get stretched out cold.. Kubrat Pulev doesn't want Joshua either. He doesn't want to get flattened again like he did by Klitschko -- and Kubrat barely beat Chisora.. Plus, Pulev is an old man. Haye is an old man and obviously in a descending career. All of Joshua's fights have been interesting, even if they were complete mismatches. The Klitschko fight was competitive and AJ needs more opponents who can give fans a big drama show. Guys who can give him rounds and competitive fights so he can grow as a boxer.

The guy Joshua is avoiding is Luis Ortiz -- because he's a very skilled and slick boxing southpaw and an extremely dangerous puncher. However, he's 38 years old. So the time will come in the next 2 or 3 years for Joshua to fight him. That fight will happen, as surely as Patterson fought Sonny Liston after a few years.