Dmitry Chudinov vs. Chris Eubank Jr.

This is happening, on the Fury vs. Hammer card as the co-main event on BoxNation.


This is Chudinov's fourth straight interim WBA middleweight title bout.


Eubank Jr. is coming off a competitive loss to Billy Joe Saunders for the British, Commonwealth, and European titles.

 

Still are.

Interim - Ortiz
Regular - Chagaev
Super - Klitschko


I suppose we should count our blessings they didn't expand to four when Povetkin lost his bid for the Super, by concocting a spin-off "interim regular" title for Chagaev or calling Povetkin "regular emeritus" or such foolishness.

Granted, the more sensible thing would've been to have Povetkin remain the "regular" champ (since he never lost his championship in the ring; it wasn't at stake vs. Klitschko - because why on earth would the WBA ever want to unify two separate branches of income??) and just avoid the whole 'Chagaev vs. Oquendo being for a version of a world title' charade in the first place...but our lot is never to be choosers.

 

Don't know about that, he did manage to spook the durable BJS a bit and Chudinov hasn't much defense to speak of.

That said, Eubank's defense is, despite his flashiness, nearly as bad, and Chudinov hits a deal harder.

 

They've no opponents in common, even though Eubank has fought his fair share of continental Europeans and Chudinov a few Brit journeymen. (taking a ref's decision over Maxwell but drawing with Mendy on another)

 

Pretty much every division is splintered into at least two if not three, right?

CW:

Lebedev (WBA World Champion)

Kalenga (interim WBA Champion)

There hasn't been a "Super Champion", thankfully, since David Haye in 2008.


LHW:

Kovalev (WBA Super Champion)

Brähmer (WBA World Champion)

No current interim champ.


SMW:

Froch (WBA Super Champion)

No current "regular" World Champ.

Chudinov (interim WBA Champion - Kashtanov was stripped after 1yr inactivity and had previously reigned alongside "regular" champion Mikkel Kessler and "Super" champs Ward and then Froch)


LMW:

Mayweather (WBA Super Champion)

Lara (WBA World Champion, as of Lara vs. Smith, upgraded from interim champion)


WW:

Mayweather (WBA Super Champion)

Maidana? (WBA World Champion) **

Thurman (interim WBA Champion)


LWW:

Garcia (WBA Super Champion)

Vargas (WBA World Champion)

Benavidez (interim WBA Champion)


LW:

Richar Abril (WBA World Champion)

Darleys Perez (interim WBA Champion)

There hasn't been a Super champion since Marquez in 2010.


SFW:

Uchiyama (WBA World Champion)

Vásquez (interim WBA Champion - although he lost it on the scales last week; though he will surely be given a do-over with his next bout certain to be for the "interim WBA Championship")


There hasn't been a Super champion since Freitas in 2003.



There, we had to go all the way down to 130lbs to find a division that had one and just one WBA champion 'of the world' - and only because Vásquez lost his interim belt on the scales last week!! atsch


In all nine divisions above, two or more champs.



** I'm not sure if Maidana still has the "regular" belt, having tried and failed to capture Mayweather's "Super". Given the Klitschko/Povetkin/Chagaev situation my guess is no. Like Povetkin, Maidana never lost the regular version (last contest: Maidana vs. Broner, a year ago) in the ring. :think

 

...but as we delve further...


FW:

Walters (WBA Super Champion - elevated as of Walters vs. Donaire - previously it was Donaire with the Super, Walters Regular, Cuellar interim)

Cuellar (interim WBA Champion)


SBW:

Rigondeaux (WBA Super Champion)

Quigg (WBA World Champion)

Escandon (interim WBA Champion)


BW:

Payano (WBA Super Champion)

McDonnell (WBA World Champion)

Parejo (interim WBA Champion)



:-(

 

I don't see how Ward can be Super Champ, being as Froch defended the Super Championship twice against Groves...