Was It Ever Possible To Win a Ring Magazine Belt Without Owning a Major Title?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Italian Stallion, Oct 24, 2020.


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  1. Italian Stallion

    Italian Stallion Active Member Full Member

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    Not sure if this was a possible circumstance past or present? If it was, any examples from boxing history of fighters who did?
     
    Italian Stallion, Oct 24, 2020
    Italian Stallion, Oct 24, 2020
    #1
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  2. Italian Stallion

    Italian Stallion Active Member Full Member

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    Italian Stallion, Oct 24, 2020
    Italian Stallion, Oct 24, 2020
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  3. Italian Stallion

    Italian Stallion Active Member Full Member

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    Italian Stallion, Oct 24, 2020
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  4. Bukkake

    Bukkake Boxing Addict Full Member

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    In cases where they don't recognize any of the 4 major titles, they declare the championship "vacant". Happens all the time.

    The "opposite" of this, where they recognize as their champion someone who doesn't hold any of the major titles... well, I won't bet my life on it, but I doubt, that has ever happened.


    Edit:
    When Ali (at first) lost his draft evasion case in 1967, the WBA immediately dropped him as their champion. The WBC, on the other hand, kept him as champ until March 3, 1969. But after the WBC withdrew recognition, The Ring still stuck by him, until he officially announced his retirement on February 3, 1970.

    So for a period of 11 months, The Ring actually listed him as their heavyweight champion - even though he held no other title.
     
    Last edited: Oct 25, 2020
    Bukkake, Oct 24, 2020
    Bukkake, Oct 24, 2020
    #4
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  5. Italian Stallion

    Italian Stallion Active Member Full Member

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    Thanks for researching and sharing, I appreciate it! Would you say that for that 11-month period when he held only The Ring belt, was Ali an official world champ still (as in did he get the same recognition as the other holders of the major belts like the WBA)?
     
    Italian Stallion, Oct 25, 2020
    Italian Stallion, Oct 25, 2020
    #5
  6. chatty

    chatty Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Pacquaio beat Hatton for one at 140 and hasnt held any recognised titles at that weight ever.

    Need to check but didnt he also beat Barrera for a Ring title with no other titles on the line as well?
     
    chatty, Oct 25, 2020
    chatty, Oct 25, 2020
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  7. Italian Stallion

    Italian Stallion Active Member Full Member

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    Actually yes! Their first meeting (Pacquiao-Barrera I) was only contested for the Ring belt! Do you believe that after leaving the ring victorious that night, Manny was seen just as much as a featherweight world champ (with only the Ring belt) as the guys who held the major belts in that division at the time?
     
    Italian Stallion, Oct 25, 2020
    Italian Stallion, Oct 25, 2020
    #7
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  8. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    I'm pretty sure Wilder could've won the Ring belt from Fury when Fury had no real belt.
     
    NoNeck, Oct 25, 2020
    NoNeck, Oct 25, 2020
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  9. chatty

    chatty Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I believe he would have been number one in the division at the time at both 130 and 140lbs.
     
    chatty, Oct 25, 2020
    chatty, Oct 25, 2020
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  10. Bukkake

    Bukkake Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Besides his Ring recognition, I don't think anyone considered him the real heavyweight champ during that period. Jimmy Ellis had won the 8-man tournament for the WBA crown in early1968, while Frazier had been the NYSAC champion, also since early '68. Even though Ellis had the backing of the WBA, and Frazier was "only" NYSAC champion, everybody already knew at the time, that Frazier was the best heavyweight in the world.
     
    Bukkake, Oct 25, 2020
    Bukkake, Oct 25, 2020
    #10
  11. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    The ring proclaimed Michael Spinks as their linear champion even though he had no sanctioning belts when he met Tyson. Of course he had legitimately beaten Holmes for the title years earlier.
    I think they might have had Shannon Briggs as their champion after beating Foreman as well but I stand to be corrected on that one
     
    mr. magoo, Oct 25, 2020
    mr. magoo, Oct 25, 2020
    #11
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  12. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Yeah Spinks.

    What about Morales, wasn't he Ring for a bit without holding a strap?
     
    McGrain, Oct 25, 2020
    McGrain, Oct 25, 2020
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  13. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Yes.

    If the Ring title is vacant, and the Ring #1 and #2 don't have a strap between them, then a fight between them would still produce a new Ring Champion.
     
    janitor, Oct 25, 2020
    janitor, Oct 25, 2020
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  14. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    You can bin that off Janitor, that's the old way. Now the number 2 can fight the number 5 and it can be for the RING title, which means about as much as the WBC title these days.

    But yeah, before Oscar bought it, what you say is true.
     
    McGrain, Oct 25, 2020
    McGrain, Oct 25, 2020
    #14
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  15. Drew101

    Drew101 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Paulie Ayala won the Ring belt at 122lbs after defeating Bones Adams in the rematch.
     
    Drew101, Oct 25, 2020
    Drew101, Oct 25, 2020
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