Talk:Champion in Recess
If a title holder is declared "Champion in Recess", it is often assumed that he has been stripped of his title even though the term "Champion in Recess" suggests that he still holds a title. As there is no evidence of a special "recess title", he's likely to still have the same title he held before. What seems to have changed is the status in which the title is held. The formerly "active" champion is in recess while the "active" status has become vacant. Once the active spot is occupied by a new champion, two champions hold the same title at the same time, one of them as the "champion in recess", the other one as the "active champion."
This interpretation is backed by a statement from the WBC president with regard to Timothy Bradley's WBC light welterweight title: "However, the WBC did not "strip" Bradley. We declared him still "champion in recess" so that he will have the doors of the WBC opened for when he is able to return, while we declared the active championship vacant with the new champion to fight Bradley when he returns to boxing."
The WBA heavyweight title, for instance, was simultaneously held by a champion in recess and an active champion for a period of time in 2008/09 as has been discussed here.
Champions in Recess in the WBA:
Champions in Recess in the WBC:
--Emaster 00:19, 3 February 2012 (CST)