Middleweight Question.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 13 Nov 2003, 18:38

I'll post this on the current scene because its a world issue, but may involve Howard Eastman.

As we know William Joppy is taking on Bernard Hopkins in an unification bout. This is the first time the WBA champion is taking on the WBA Super Champion. Anybody know what happens to the belt should Hopkins win, will Joppy lose the belt? does Hopkins gain both belts but then have to vacate? Will Joppy (who for obvious reasons isn't ranked #1 or #2 with the organisation, being the champion) be involved in the vacant WBA title mix.

Any ideas what's going to happen, this is the first time the WBA are testing the Supertitle status even though Joppy has been champion for more than two years (he's supposed to have faced Hopkins before that according to the WBA).

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 13 Nov 2003, 19:36

Found out an amazing fact about this Supertitle. Apparently you can be the WBA superchamp without every winning the WBA belt ! If you win two of the other four belts e.g. IBF and WBC then the WBA is perfectly happy to call you superchamp for a small sanctioning fee, even though you never fought for there belt.

Also, what about Tarver is he still the WBA Superchampion even though he has no belt of his own now??

Eric the Viking · Post by **Eric the Viking** » 13 Nov 2003, 20:20

For the benefit of any insular anglophile readers ;), Stu and I have a discussion of this issue on the current scene forum, where he also posted his initial query:

http://www.boxrec.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=12626