Time to can the Commonwealth?

[magnus]

At this time, what's the point of the Commonwealth title? It's generally fought for between Brits now - when was the last time a truly decent Canadian or Aussie fought for it?

Not only that, but the contestants are of lower quality that you would expect to see in a British title fight. Look at last night, four vacant title bouts (all Brits, obvs). Of those I wouldn't expect to see Wilson-Bent, Ham, McCord or Sutherland get a voluntary shot at the Lonsdale.

I know it was once a valid title, with a rich history, but today it seems about as relevant as an IBF "European" belt.

[tony1234]

Just another bauble where usually it is unknown Africans shipped over for a prospect to beat up, always nice when one of these 'opponents' turns out to be a lot better than they though

[magnus]

Thing is Tony, there's not even many "teak tough" Ghanians coming over anymore.

South Africa produces loads of decent fighters at the lower weights, very few of whom get involved in Commonwealth title fights.

It is literally a bauble now, like most other belts.

[KiwiRider]

How bloody dare you!

Your right though, its 90% poms vs poms.
It used to be a way for fighters from smaller commonwealth countries to get on the big stage in the UK.
Don't know what went amiss with that.
Heck, I was horrified to see Joe Joyce fighting Carlos Takem for the Commonwealth HW title!!
Sure Takem was born in Cameroon, but lives in America and is a dirty Frenchie by nationality (and reeks of garlic, so I imagine)
So yeah, it has been derailed and the belt looks like some gay pride reward for taking a fleet of sailors up the jacksie intil the seamen dribbles out yer nostrils.

[magnus]

The costs of coming over here with a team, only to get bummed on the scorecards, is probably a factor.

[maverick23]

You used to get a top 15 ranking with at least one governing body if you were commonwealth champ I think. Perhaps that’s not the case any more and those rankings go to the intercontinental intergalactical East Asian European champs that most of the bodies seem to have.

[handsofstone]

The Commonwealth just needs to up it's game, good to see them pick up 3 new champs yesterday

[mickey1975]

Duff used to bring people in from all over the commonwealth and he would use a lot of American journeymen.

[steve689]

Thing is Tony, there's not even many "teak tough" Ghanians coming over anymore.

100%, was saying this recently. The era of the Accra hardman is long gone. Most of the Africans who come over are absolutely useless now.

[Dioufy]

Duff used to bring people in from all over the commonwealth and he would use a lot of American journeymen.

Aren’t American ‘journeymen’ like 20-3 or 12-2 at worst?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Commonwealth Games 2026 has been CANCELLED!

[maverick23]

Commonwealth Games 2026 has been CANCELLED!

Not quite.

The current host is no longer committing to it. Will be interesting to see if they can find somewhere else. Will have to be somewhere that already has all the facilities ready to go.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Commonwealth Games 2026 has been CANCELLED!

Not quite.

The current host is no longer committing to it. Will be interesting to see if they can find somewhere else. Will have to be somewhere that already has all the facilities ready to go.

Was it Victoria?

You reckon they get a new host? You’d think there’s plenty of time.

[gregregegg]

Its a really nice belt for Australians and kiwis i think. We dont have a brittish, or a euro. and aus title is probably even bellow your guys english title.... so for us commonwealth is a great little belt as an alternate for those shitty, "pan sub saharan oriental global coastal low altitude boxing organisation belts"....

There is a problem that its not inticing enough to get legit prospects to risk there 0 against each other, but i stll like it.

[Deserter]

Commonwealth Games 2026 has been CANCELLED!

Not quite.

The current host is no longer committing to it. Will be interesting to see if they can find somewhere else. Will have to be somewhere that already has all the facilities ready to go.

Was it Victoria?

You reckon they get a new host? You’d think there’s plenty of time.

yep, it was. probably will manage to get a new host, but you have to think the writing is on the wall regarding its long-term future. The concept of the Commonwealth itself feels increasingly outdated, with lots of negative connotations in modern society, so hard to envisage anything bar it gradually fading away.

[MasterG]

It had a bit of significance back in the day but like most domestic level titles it's lost by other meaningless titles now.

[banjo]

Thing is Tony, there's not even many "teak tough" Ghanians coming over anymore.

South Africa produces loads of decent fighters at the lower weights, very few of whom get involved in Commonwealth title fights.

It is literally a bauble now, like most other belts.

The old Adam Smith favourite, like he assumed every Ghanaian was hard as f*ck since they were from the same country as Azumah Nelson.

[jameswilson]

You used to get a top 15 ranking with at least one governing body if you were commonwealth champ I think. Perhaps that’s not the case any more and those rankings go to the intercontinental intergalactical East Asian European champs that most of the bodies seem to have.

It’s got to the point fighters and promoters look for. A guy to win the Commonwealth before they win the British. I’m sure it used to be more a case that British champs would stay active by looking to get the commonwealth as well which then gave them British defences ordered but also the ability to look for a South African or Canadian as a test or a ranking fight. Froch used it well but ended up winning commonwealth first when he was intending to win British first (Dodson pulled out and he fought Charles Adamu.) He then had a really good fight vs a Canadian chap and that was the start of the Froch relentless pressure to stop fighters style.

[bripez]

I am sure that FW bought the organisation?

From there on he used it for his own purposes not for the good of boxing

[Teddy's Toupee]

Ghanians

From Ghania?

[Coco]

Hopefully not, but it's all about the pound note

[gp.]

Are there actually any boxers left who don't hold some version of a world title?

[wrighty]

Its a really nice belt for Australians and kiwis i think. We dont have a brittish, or a euro. and aus title is probably even bellow your guys english title.... so for us commonwealth is a great little belt as an alternate for those shitty, "pan sub saharan oriental global coastal low altitude boxing organisation belts"....

There is a problem that its not inticing enough to get legit prospects to risk there 0 against each other, but i stll like it.

The CBC's marketing is woeful! There are some really good aussie fighters out there and some tough kiwis. No reason the fights couldnt be ordered.

[Greg Houston]

The CBC have now introduced a secondary title called the Commonwealth Silver. Apparently this in place of eliminator contests and the holder of it would be entitled to a final eliminator for the main title.

[maverick23]

The CBC have now introduced a secondary title called the Commonwealth Silver. Apparently this in place of eliminator contests and the holder of it would be entitled to a final eliminator for the main title.

Stupid really. All it does it devalue the main belt.

They would be better off making sure the belts are far more active.