Ali Trophy Or Alphabet Belt

The problem is the Ali trophy suffers from the same downfall as the belts; it/they are only as prestigious as the fighters you beat for them. Now in some cases (Cruiserweight) this isn't a problem because the line up contains numerous top level operators as well as a belt from all sanctioning bodies (albeit the WBA regular, not super) so whomever wins that will undoubtedly be THE guy at 200lbs. But the Super Middleweight version on the other hand is damn shallow and only has one proper belt holder. Let's say for arguments sake that Groves wins it, can we say for certain that wins over Cox, Eubank and Smith make him a better title holder than Zurdo, Benavidez or DeGale? No, because we'd have to compare those wins to the wins that Zurdo, Bena and DeGale have gotten as well which involves a large degree of subjectivity, and it will only get more complicated if non-participant champions decide to unify outside of the tournament. This isn't a critique of the WBSS by the way, I've thoroughly enjoyed the tournaments thus far and I am looking forward to what they can do at other weight classes, I'm just pointing out that the competition is only as good as the fighters that are willing to fight in it. Just like the belts, the trophy isn't worth anything by itself.

Even the TBRB/The Ring systems have flaws because they put a lot of weight on lineage, often with very little consistency. This means guys like Adonis can feast on the carcass of Fonfara and still be champion despite Ward beating Kovalev twice for three quarters of the championship pie, or Tyson Fury still being listed as Champion despite being inactive for two years and retiring God knows how many times.

The only way we're ever gonna get close to the days of Universal Championship recognition is if the sanctioning bodies, TBRB, and the WBSS organisers start co-operating in ways that we haven't really seen so far in the modern era (which is damning). I'm talking about actions like the sanctioning bodies agreeing upon mandatory challengers so unified champions don't constantly have to vacate a portion of their title claim, or (injury/fitness permitting) mandating that their champions participate in the WBSS tournaments so undisputed champions are a regular thing and not a once in a decade occurrence. Unfortunately in this age of endless PPV fights and $$$ driven motives I can't really see these compromises being made.

 

Who have Gilberto, Degale and especially Benavidez beaten to put them in as the king?

WBSS 168 winner will be hands down the King, WBSS winner will be p4p

 

AliTrophy is the most prestigious title any fighter can win in the sport.

AliTrophy is the future

AliTrophy is a king maker

 

At the moment, nobody really. DeGale probably has the best resume of the bunch with Dirrell and Bute but remember; there's still 7 months and two rounds of the tourney left to hash out. Why don't you wait and see who the other champions beat in those 7 months before you go jumping to conclusions about who will be #1 in the division come May?

Play devil's advocate with me for a minute will you: if Bena and Zurdo decide to unify in April/May, the winner would have just as strong a claim (if not stronger) to the crown as the Ali trophy holder, correct? Or what if the winner of Eubank/Groves gets injured and the organisers have to draft in Vincent Feigenbutz (first reserve after Nielson lost to Ryder) for the final against Smith? Would Smith's title run of Skoglund, Braehmer/Brant and Feigunbutz really make him the #1 at 168? Of course it ****ing wouldn't.

Like I said; the trophy by itself, just like the belts, is meaningless. Your claim to #1 rests entirely on who you beat to mount that claim. There's every chance that in 7 months time Bena or Zurdo (probably not DeGale due to his injury) will have a resume that can match the winner of the WBSS. So when three of the belts are scattered outside of the tournament, you immediately saying the winner will automatically be top dog in the division is incredibly myopic. Especially when you're making this claim 7 months before the tournament is even due to finish.

 

That's the truth of the matter right there

 

Benavidez is just a prospect that got a gift against Gavril. Getting a win over him isn't anything special.

If you don't enter the tournament you are suspect. Gilberto is suspect he obviously doesn't have the confidence to be the king of the division

 

Bute and Dirrell aren't better than Groves resume Degale and Chudinov

 

Funny how you didn’t mention the Cruiser WBSS winner Lol I’ll bump this thread after Usyk wins it and see what certain turds thoughts are of the trophy then.

 

Usyk has Gassiev problems, Gassiev is going to seek and destroy his ass and yes Gassiev will be P4P too.

 

And don't forget about controversial outcomes either. Or non controversial but still having the weaker party win the fight, like barely surviving after their opponent opened up too late and taking home a close decision. DQ's for hitting when down or after the bell. Freak injuries sustained during the fight while clearly winning... all of that is possible here. So many scenarios in which the tournament's best isn't even the eventual winner.

All in all, there are many reasons why the winner of this tournament is by no means sure to be the consensus #1 SMW. Certainly with this lineup.

 

What I like about 2016/2017 is that the Alphabet titles have become fully recognized as nothing more than a stepping stone to being a unified champion. If you're not a title holder you're nothing, and even if you have a title then you're not much until you unify.

 

If groves wins this especially via eubank and smith then there is no doubt he is the man at SMW ... especially as he already has a win over degale (close fight in which they've both improved but a win is still a win)

 

It's a trophy tough...

Belts are much cooler IMO. One belt would be nice though.

 

I never liked the idea of belts, certainly not as tacky and clumsy as they are.
The idea was fun when it started in the old age, but nowadays it looks kinda ridiculous and very hard to handle when having more than one.