Question Regarding Limond vs Barrett

The WBU is the most popular piece of ****. It is a piece of **** that is destroying British boxing. Why are quality fighters like Jennings, Lockett etc fighting for the piece of **** when they should be mixing it up in good domestic scraps for titles that mean something and give them a genuine legacy.

The WBU is a genuine piece of ****. These trinkets anger me.

 

I couldn't give a **** either way, I can recognize a fight between any two given boxers for what it it is, domestic level, Euro level etc..... If the promoters want to advertise is as being for a WBU title to put some more bums on seats then I don't really have a problem with that.

 

I think there are a few things.

1) The WBU is the most high profile of the bogus titles.

2) The WBU has and continues to be advertised to Boxing Fans and the public as a legitimate world title.

3) For a period of around 5 years the WBU was used, by the most unpopular British Promoter Frank Warren, as a way of having title fights without the risk of fighting decent opponents that proper governing bodies provide through mandatory challangers and rankings.

4) The majority of these fights should have been for the British Title, a belt that is held in very high regard by all British Boxing fans.

5) It has allowed fighters to bypass the tradition British/Commonwealth-European route to a world title.

6) Because of certain Warren fighters not being British or European champions it allowed them to avoid dangerous fights that fans would want to see. Hatton vs Witter being the prime example.

7) I cannot think of many times that another "3rd tier belt" that has been used in a televised main event. The WBF fight between Harrison and Francis is the only one I can think off.

Here is a list off all WBU title fights. Page 1 and 2 are the beginning and end of the Frank Warren years. You can pick out 30 fights that should of been for British titles.

[url]http://www.boxrec.com/title_search.php?title=WBU&division=ALL&SUBMIT=Go[/url]

 

Oh and just to point out................I did not start this thread LOL.


I think one belt that seems to have creeped into the "big 4" under the radar is the IBO. Most of there champions are recognised as the number 1 in the division, but, the belt was generally either handed to them or the vacant title has been put on the line in a fight without a belt. Its very clever of them but in truth the belt has no value and there are no mandatorys.

It will be interesting to see if Sky put Matthew Hatton vs ??? as a Friday Fight Night maine event to see the reaction.

 

The IBO are doing what the IBF did when they started up. The 3 most respected world champs at the time were Curry, Hagler and Holmes so the IBF made them their champions when the organization started up, voila!!! a short cut to a little credibility!!

 

You should have a problem with it. Those bums that are put on the seats are misguided. Those bums end up not knowing what is what and get bored of the sport.

Its like Ernie said, there is 1 world but you got to follow 10 world champs. Bollocks.

 

Please don't try tell me what I should or shouldn't have a problem with. IMHO theres a lot of fake concern doing the rounds about the "casual" fans getting conned, most of them are either aware that the WBU is very much a lesser title or they just go to the boxing for a night out and are quite happliy ignorant of the fact.

 

I don't want to tell a fighter how to make a living and if it does genuinely bring in more money then I won't hold it against them for making more money. But does it really make a fight more financially attractive, I don't think so all it does is add on extra costs in sanctioning body fees. I don't understand why fighters and promoters can't make fight a 12x3 or a 10x3 nowadays without a title on the line I don't see why having a bogus title would bring in make a fight more creditible.
Why couldn't the Limond-Barrrett fight be a British Title Eliminator? If Willy wants a shot at big fights surely that would prevent him from being ducked. I would definately fancy him to win a vacant title if Murray or Thaxton didn't face him and surely that would bring in more money and bring him a whole load more credibility.

 

Any promoter will tell you that even having a bogus title on the line will sell more tickets. Whether that covers the cost of sanctioning fees. I get the feeling that a WBU title fight fee and a double cheeseburger at MacDonalds are around the same price.

 

I know thats what they say but I think it is utter crap. Let's be honest the people who will be watching fights involving the likes of Limond, Jennings, Lockett etc. are going to be their local fans (friends, family) and I seriously doubt that people will see the WBU is on the line and think f**k me I have to see this.

My point the Limond-Barrett fight could have been a British Title Eliminator or a Commonwealth Eliminator and I am sure that the 600 that we're their on Friday would still have been there and I doubt that now he has one the belt that will have won him 10,000 new fans.
And surely if the fight had been a title elimantor he would have either got a shot at Murray or McAllister and if they ducked him then maybe the BBBofC would have stripped them and put Willie up for a chance to fight for the vacant title and I would fancy Willie against the likes of Lawton, Buckland etc. Also by having that belt surely that would get him a onto Sky, ITV etc. which would bring in more money and provided he succesfully defended the belt which I think he could he could that would get him into even bigger fights and bring in more money.

 

It's very strange. At least with the WBO and IBO there seem to be a few people who regard them as legitimate titles. There doesn't seem to be anyone who sees the WBU that way. Apart from Willie Limmond, Ricky Hatton and obviously the king of the Mickey Mouse titles, Frank Warren.

 

Limmond seems to think he can fill Partick Thistles ground (5000) with a WBU title fight.

[url]http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/8074938.stm[/url]

Listen to this sound clip when Limmond is annouced as the new WBU World Champion how mental his fans are going.

It 100% helps sell tickets. Why else would a promoter do it???

Also Barret vs Limmond should not of been valid as a British Title eliminator as Barret is a Super Featherweight.