do you care what belt a guy has?

[SeanBrennan]

Have they ever Sean?

Hi mate - great to hear from you. The answer is probably never ever buddy, I know that.

Sean, did you get that book The Sweet Science?

Hi Giancarlo, the AJ Liebling one? I did mate.

[Giancarlo]

Hi mate - great to hear from you. The answer is probably never ever buddy, I know that.

Sean, did you get that book The Sweet Science?

Hi Giancarlo, the AJ Liebling one? I did mate.

Let me know what you think of it when you've had a chance to read it.

[banjo]

Not really, it's about who you fight, there's probably guys who were the best in the world but never got to fight for a title.

[dookus]

lineal or GTFO

[SeanBrennan]

Sean, did you get that book The Sweet Science?

Hi Giancarlo, the AJ Liebling one? I did mate.

Let me know what you think of it when you've had a chance to read it.

thank you, and will do mate.

[Flump]

Not nearly as much as I used to. Certainly any title outside the main 4 is to be immediately dismissed, then as for the others, depends more on the fighter, who they beat and the context. Of course it means a lot to the fighter, but I mean AJ v Dubois for example, is basically a consolation prize contested by the still active Usyk's leftovers, so the IBF title in this instance is, from a sporting perspective, worthless.

Same as the WBO in the late 80's and 90's, it seemed like a title that was created for British fighters who weren't good enough to win a real title (though some like Benn and Calzaghe were able to crossover). And the WBA with their multiple titles have devalued their own organisation to the point of outright ridicule all for the sake of extra sanctioning fees.

It looks to me like Turki is similarly unimpressed, I can only see their power diminishing for as long as the Saudis remain interested, and it's totally their own fault.

[Delta Jay]

Thing is, you’re asking a load of boxing fans here Maggie. I’d be interested to know how much a casual fan would know. Anyway, they’re all shite and here’s why:



WBC - “The Green Belt” is supposedly the most prestigious, often according to fighters. You never heard a boxer say “Now I have the IBF, and that’s the best one, I’m #1 in the div.” But they make up new belts and even one-offs like the Aztec’s. Diamond? Silver? WHY?

WBA - The OG world boxing sanctioning body. Destroyed all credibility with multiple titlists at the same time, occasionally having weird rules in-fight, having the most bonkers rankings in a crowded field.

IBF - You used to be undisputed with two and this broke that. Generally have decent champs and often the #1 in a div. Those mandatories and quick-fast strippings are insane. Look at Kell Brook’s mandos or how quick Usyk was stripped.

WBO - When did they gain the respect? Lennox was undisputed with 3, by the mid 00s you needed it to be undisputed? They’re generally good with mandos and rankings tho, and I kinda dig that immediate title shot when a champ moves up. Saves us wasting time with a crap fight to grow into the weight.

IBO - just as daft as the rest yet is somehow gaining credibility. We can not allow that! Golovkin, Joshua etc. Anthony Cacacce said that was the belt that made him and refused to bin it after winning the IBF, recently.

WBU/WBF/IBU - Ah come on now

[margaret thatcher]

the ibf red eagle belt is the coolest looking id have to say, id be the one wanting that more than the others

of course theyd strip me within the hour for not defending against the same guy i beat in the final title eliminator and then again in the vacant title fight

[margaret thatcher]

tbh, the wbo may have the least shennigans

very few interim or secondary titles like the wba
no 3 year without title defense or 'speciality' event belts like the wbc
no rapid fire strippings for not fighting a guy who already challenged for the belt 5 times like the ibf

all hail the wbo

jk

[Delta Jay]

tbh, the wbo may have the least shennigans

very few interim or secondary titles like the wba
no 3 year without title defense or 'speciality' event belts like the wbc
no rapid fire strippings for not fighting a guy who already challenged for the belt 5 times like the ibf

all hail the wbo

jk

“Least shenanigans” is a good way to put it sure.

[NazNaci1]

No. All organisations are dubious, at best and downright corrupt (WBC, particularly), at worst.

The symbolic 'lineal' title is probably, for me, most worthy and infinitely more prestigious than any alphabet soup.

Having said that, the best fighting the best always trumps any of the above.

[Lenny Cravats]

Care? I don't even know who has what.

I used to, but gave up on that years ago.

[boxing_rob]

The WBO certainly have their moments. They seemed determined to not have Kazuto Ioka be their champion and just kept ordering mandos way more often than they did for any other fighter (I think Tanaka, Rodriguez jr and Nietes were all mandatories, then they ordered Nakatani after the first Franco fight and he gave it up). I'd love to know the story behind that, no other WBO champ in recent years has had a schedule like that.

Given that all the orgs do such daft things, I'd pick WBC and WBA purely for historical reasons, the same belt as 'insert your favourite historical fighter here'. It's a shame that they get away with more blatant favouritism and corruption than the newer orgs basically because they can lean on that history. Of course if I'm the boxer, I'm taking whatever belt my promoter can get an opportunity for me. Only those at the very very top have the luxury of being able to pick and choose.

[stujones]

I think it is important for the history, cannot really hide that - as much as I (and we would all love) a one champion status. I think sometimes having unification fights adds to the appeal a bit. Usyk vs Fury for all the titles would have felt better than Fury taking on his mandatory in Usyk.

Out of the "big four" it doesn't really matter for me, as long as it is is the "big four". That's why sometimes the "how" someone has won the title can leave a bad taste - because ultimately I will still consider them a world champion (even if I think there are 7-8 guys in the division who I think can beat them).

I don't think anyone has an issue labelling Ken Norton as a world champion, not sure if the same can be applied to fighters like Brian Magee and Daniel Dubios - but that's why it does leave a bad taste, because for me I have to call them a world champion.

When we go through interim and regular champions - that's when it gets a bit grey, but I still hold these in more regard than I would a WBU or IBO world title.

For example - Derry Matthews interim belt is more prestigious than Hatton's WBU one.

[forcefraser]

I've never judged people by the belts they wear. I'm all about inclusion these days.

No belt is a no no however. Shows a distinct lack of standards and a sloppy mind

[Delta Jay]

I've never judged people by the belts they wear. I'm all about inclusion these days.

No belt is a no no however. Shows a distinct lack of standards and a sloppy mind

Are you an ex-doorman?

[Delta Jay]

And right on queue, the WBC does something very silly.

“ the WBC has paved the way for him to come out of retirement and go straight into a welterweight world championship contest”

https://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/1 ... o-sulaiman

I wonder what their reasoning is here

[Giancarlo]

And right on queue, the WBC does something very silly.

“ the WBC has paved the way for him to come out of retirement and go straight into a welterweight world championship contest”

https://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/1 ... o-sulaiman

I wonder what their reasoning is here

Well, crooked Mauricio Suleiman said "I do like the idea very much. I think Manny Pacquiao can beat any fighter or can be competitive with any fighter today,".

What he was really thinking was "I don't care if he gets bashed senseless. We still get our sanctioning fee."