No When the interim titles first spawned it was to have a place holder for a champion who was injured or had a health issue. I dont think interim champions are necessary but in the original spirit I think they had more weight Now they are basically just an over glorified number 1 contender for sanctioning fees Its still a worthy accomplishment but it's not a world title. Its basically the WBC International Title
Bud won the WBA belt at 154. Boxrec doesn't recognize them, and that's why you can't see the title on the site.
Bud IS a 5 division champion. There was a major title and an interim title on the line when Bud beat Madrimov.
Are 'interim' world titles world titles? Yes, they clearly are. They are another form of alphabet world title. You get given the exact same belt as a fully-fledged world champ. The sanctioning body can award a world title, a super world title or an interim world title. The WBA used to award all three. The other sanctioning bodies award at least two. They're all alphabet world titles of one form or another. What people are essentially saying on this thread is that not all alphabet world titles are created equal. But they're all still alphabet world titles.
It shouldn't even count when a fighter is handed it.. a belt becomes vacant make the top 2 fight for it
Robert Guerrero He himself claims to be a 4 division champion. But at 135 and 147 he only won interim titles, never being elevated to full champion.
The major title Rumsfeld is referring to is the WBA super welterweight world title, which was at stake along with the interim WBO title.
The Wikipedia wording is poor/wrong, that´s why you are confused here Madrimov was the WBA champion going into the fight, he won the vacant WBA title in his previous fight, and he was the only WBA champion at the time.
Good old Lester Ellis was a self proclaimed 6 time World Champion. IBF Junior Lightweight, back in the very early years of that orgaisation . He lost it in his second defence then he went on the WBF and IBO roadshow.