I saw an interesting response in one of the articles: Good questions right there. Can anybody give the response and explain how the title works (eg when do you get it and for how long)?
Obviously you get the emeritus title after the powers that be at the WBC have their way with you and bust all over you. Then you get an infinate amount of chances to wear the belt. Duhhhhh
This Champion Emeritus does seem like crap...but its not like the WBC just came up with it. They gave it to Vitali a long time ago and to change the rules now would also be unfair.
Did the powers that be get some of their juices on you? :yep But seriously, that title is a joke. If LL wanted to come back, would he get that title also?
what did he do to get that privilaged title bestowed on him and the perks that go with it.. He beat .. ??? sorry lost to Lewis, beat Sanders... defended against Danny Williams, then he ........ ermmmm.. yes i get it pulled out of the Rahman fight , and he is suddenly an all time great... What a legendary champ.. LOL...
My thoughts too. It seems it is very easy to get an emeritus title (just pick up a vacant title, make one successful bum-defense and retire because of an injury). If other fighters would get that standard treatment (eg the scenario described for Sam Peter in the first post)....we'd have a division full with emeritus champs. Imagine the chaos.
Linear Champs - Emeritus Champs - and any other Champ - right now is Bull****. With all these belts floating around - everyone is a champ. There's a Champion for everything now. **** - we can make our own belt and charge fees for the ESB Belt. Even the Ring Belt is a little tanted now - if Casamayor is still the Ring Champ after that last figh. This is when you start wishing for one Belt to solve this problem. When this happens - we'll start getting the best against the best on a regular basis.
if your "emeritus champion" does this mean that if your a bit skint by the time your........... say 73, can you come out of retierment and face the raining wbc heavyweight champion and get a huge payday???
They also gave the status to Lennox Lewis. Which was either a) a mark of respect or b) a banker, just in case Vitali made it through training camp and they wanted to make a rematch without having to justify to any mandatories etc. I think b) is the most likely. And yes, to whoever said it, Lewis could IN THEORY at 73 years of age decide he wants to call in his marker and have a shot at the title. I don't know what happens if you call in your emeritus status, and lose. Or - if you call in your status, get a title shot, win - then try and defend it, but lose? The status is bull****. Simply because if you didn't like the look of your mandatory as champ, just retire. Then wait for a champ you think you can beat, and unretire, and call in your shot. Rinse and repeat. Maybe Vitali's already worked that out????
