I ask this because the WBO wasnt considered a 'big' title, but it had some of the best HW fights of the 90's, how did they attract the contenders to fight each other if the title wasnt a big one, at one point, Evander Holyfield was signed to fight for the WBO title against Tommy Morrison, but he lost to Michael Bentt (He was an amazing amature) then the WBO put him in against another person Morrison was signed to fight Herbie Hide (fight fell apart because the promotor couldnt pay the fighters, guys like Bruno & Mercer were also on the bill.) To put one of 'there' guys back in charge of the belt. Here is a list of the WBO fights from its start up untill the end of 2000, I've highlighted the better fights, higher hyped ones, and the ones with good contenders going at it. 2000-10-14 Wladimir Klitschko - Chris Byrd 2000-04-01 Chris Byrd - Vitali Klitschko 1999-12-11 Vitali Klitschko - Obed Sullivan 1999-10-09 Vitali Klitschko - Ed Mahone 1999-06-26 Vitali Klitschko - Herbie Hide 1998-09-26 Herbie Hide - Willi Fischer 1998-04-18 Herbie Hide - Damon Reed 1997-06-28 Herbie Hide - Tony Tucker 1997-01-11 Henry Akinwande - Scott Welch 1996-11-09 Henry Akinwande - Alexander Zolkin 1996-06-29 Henry Akinwande - Jeremy Williams 1995-06-17 Riddick Bowe - Jorge Luis Gonzalez 1995-03-11 Riddick Bowe - Herbie Hide 1994-03-19 Herbie Hide - Michael Bentt 1993-10-29 Michael Bentt - Tommy Morrison 1993-08-30 Tommy Morrison - Tim Tomashek 1993-06-07 Tommy Morrison - George Foreman 1992-05-15 Michael Moorer - Bert Cooper 1991-10-18 Ray Mercer - Tommy Morrison 1991-01-11 Ray Mercer - Francesco Damiani 1989-12-16 Francesco Damiani - Daniel Eduardo 1989-05-06 Francesco Damiani - Johnny Du Plooy Chris Eubank didnt fight the big name contenders, but nearly every one of His defences of the WBO 160/168 titles, were very dangerous. So what I'm asking is in this world of 10 world champs per weight division, Does the title make the man or does the man make the title?
A matter of perspective. A title brings prestige, wealth and recognition. It opens the doors to everything a boxer needs to justify his career choice. From my point of view as a fan, all I want is the best to fight the best. I'm not bothered whether the best holds the wbo, wba, wbc, ibo, ibf, ring or lineal. Ideally the individual claimants will unify the individual claims but it doesn't always happen. For instance I think gamboa is the best featherweight in the world today. He unified the wba and ibf then subsequently had both stripped off him. He beat the guy who, if i remember rightly, went on to claim the wbc title. Some dispute gamboa's claim to the wba title but I dispute John's before him as I never thought he deserved the decision v marquez. For me personally the man makes the title but for many other's the converse is true.
The man makes the title, period. It is 1989, and Mike Tyson is the Heavyweight Champion of the World. In June of that year, Francesco Damiani beats Johnny Du Plooy. On the strength of this, some call Damiani World Champion...
This isn't exactly to do with the WBO title but its connected. When Sandy Saddler beat Flash Elorde in a hugely controversial cuts TKO Nat Fleischer claimed that Saddler had completely devalued the 130 pound title. I don't think its a coincidence that the junior lightweight was considered one of the least prestigious title in boxing until the revival in the late seventies and early eighies with the glorious era of Limon, Arguello, Chacon, Camacho, Chavez eg.
another example comes to mind, in 97 Holyfield had beaten Tyson and Moorer to unify the division, but a tiny minority of people were calling Briggs the champion based on his gift v Foreman.
History has often turned on a respected champion holding a given title. John L Sullivan did a lot to legitimise the gloved heavyweigh title for example.
Goes both ways.I think Muhammad Ali did a lot for the heavyweight title(As did Larry Holmes for the IBF version). Then again, I think the WBA belt somewhat enhanced Hilmer Kenty, and Davey Moore.
I think it can work both ways, often winning a title gives a fighter an impetus to improve. Conversely a respected champ, such as Larry Holmes for example ,can give a minor alphabet title credibility.