Usyk WBO Super Champion @ Heavyweight

[danundisputed]

Dear Boxingfans,

On the latest WBO Heavyweight Rankings of March 2020 I've discovered that Usyk is listed as Super Champion.
As I know he was promoted from regular to super in 2018 as a Cruiserweight. He's now a heavyweight ranked no 1
which allows him his super status to face the current champion Joshua.
The main question is: Is Usyk currently the WBO Super Champion @ Heavyweight or not?
Answers are very welcome, thanks!

[Ruthless-RKO]

I thought they call you a WBO super champion after you’ve unified with other belts? Usyk doesn’t even hold a single belt at HW yet. Some crap like that.

I know he was given the super status at CW, which meant if he moved up/down, he would get a crack at the WBO belt.

[Paci]

The WBO drops in value just like the rest of them orgs.

[Enlightened-One]

Oleksandr Usyk was elevated by the WBO as their ‘Super Champion’ on the 31st July 2018, which included the added benefit of him automatically becoming the mandatory challenger in the heavyweight division.

The WBO ‘Super Champion’ status is awarded to fighters when they’re regarded as the true “king” of their division, it’s not a linearship belt that is won, defended and lost inside the ring like other titles.

[Syntax Error]

Let me get this straight, the WBO HW super champion is a man who has postponed more fights at the weight due to injury than he has partaken in and the one fight he has had at the weight was against a refuse collector?

[Enlightened-One]

Let me get this straight, the WBO HW super champion is a man who has postponed more fights at the weight due to injury than he has partaken in and the one fight he has had at the weight was against a refuse collector?

Perhaps the WBO believes Usyk is merely "super" rather than being their "super heavyweight" champion. I don't really know or care.

To be honest, I hate the fact our sport even has so many rancid belts in the first place.

[Blodhemn]

Probably just left the SC tag from CW to explain the #1 mandatory slot. Not much to bother about.

[margaret thatcher]

Nah, we need something to be outraged about during this lull

[danundisputed]

So to get it straight.
Is Usyk WBO Super Champion @ Heavyweight or not, or is he just the mandatory for a title shot at Joshua?

[ewenhay]

Let's face it, he should be neither. Alphabet organisations are bigger joke figures every year that passes.

As good a cruiserweight champion as he was, he's done nothing yet at heavyweight. He's had one fight at the weight in 18 months since he moved up and it's almost 2 years since he fought anyone with a pulse.

[snake33]

Usyk shouldn't be Heavyweight champ of anything till he beats a champ.
So far he's barely fought anybody with a pulse.

[Blodhemn]

In a perfect world I'd like Usyk to beat a top 5 opponent first but how many HWs actually earn a title shot? Few. Most are like Pulev and hang around forever as to not risk that payday. Screw it. Since when did this sport not make up rules as it goes?

[Onetimeonly]

So to get it straight.
Is Usyk WBO Super Champion @ Heavyweight or not, or is he just the mandatory for a title shot at Joshua?

I'd venture he's mandatory and this is their way of not stripping the cash cow for satisfying the ibf first, who would.

[candyslim]

I don't take any notice at all of the secondary belts (WBA regular FFS ) but I've really no problem with Usyk's mandatory status based on his achievements at cruiser. Sure I'd like to see him establish himself properly in the heavyweight division, as I'm sure he would himself, but Usyk is a legitimate fighter and I would not question whether his injuries are genuine.

To expand on OTO's comment, any sanctioning body stripping Joshua would be putting the upholding of their rules ahead of making money, and they aren't about to do that, certainly none of them that have a first initial of 'W'. The IBF are the only ones that might have the integrity / stupidity, call it what you like, but I doubt it. The WBO choosing Usyk gives them a reasonable excuse to get in line behind the IBF without fingers being pointed at them for not relieving AJ of his title.

[danundisputed]

Ok, so the Super Champ status at Crusierweight makes him the mandatory challenger at the WBO Heavyweight title, right?
So he's not the WBO Super Champion @ Heavyweight he gets a titleshot at the WBO Heavyweight crown!

[candyslim]

I have no idea what a WBO super champion is nor do I care. Just another meaningless trinket for the purposes of extracting more money in sanctioning fees, no doubt. Now mandatory challenger I know what that means it means you'll get your title shot as and when it's convenient for the sanctioning body.

I don't know how I've been a boxing fan for so long without becoming cynical