When did we stop having one world champion

When money became the overriding issue...

 

The multiple titles have ruined boxing IMO.
I remember during the 50s and most of the 60s, the HW champion was the most prestigious sports figure in the US.
Now he is nothing because no one knows who he is.
A HW title fight was the premier event on the sports calender. Now it is nothing. No one cares.

 

I partly blame The Ring for the situation completely going to ****, for stopping awarding boxers The Ring title around 1990 - just when boxing more than ever needed clarity on who the true champion was - then messing it up even further when they spuriously brought their belt back in 2001.

The Lineal championship should be all that matters.

 

No, it should be a significant factor, but not 'all that matters'...

 

yes, but not in the manner that you are suggesting. now they are as prolific as a team of sled dogs broke loose and pulling their own sleds... a house, far, far too divided!

 

I mean before the WBA and WBC fracture there would be a NBA and NYSAC champ and guys wouldnt get recognition right away

 

Not to mention other American States recognizing 'World Champions', as well as at times Canada, IBU (Europe), Britain, British Empire and Australia...

 

well everyone complains
about 4 titles and for some correct reasons

but man the whole 1 champ
and you could only become champ
by beating the champ

thing was also fcuking bs

because the champ
could hide from you and duck you
and u would never become a champ
because he could not be stripped of his title...


tons of great great fighters got fcuked over because of this

one title is great
but if u duck people
u should be stripped of it,

the whole thing about beating the champ
is a joke

 

:deal

I love when people attack this issue with the same contempt that I have about it, applause, applause!

and they make it worse by suddenly marginalising fighters that THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN COULDN'T GET NEAR A Champ

then further stating that those 'champs' can beat so & so and then through time even 'lesser' champs can beat so & so... absolute Bull and a misrepresentation of Boxing and the GREAT fighters who never/couldn't get a title fight!

that's why I too say there are literally hundreds of GREAT fighters with not much between them, history records it!

Well Spoken Sir!

 

Didn't look at it that way, but that's true too.

 

Everyone is missing the main point. Back in the 60s and 70s everyone still knew who the champion was in every division. Everything still made sense. There was a WBA and WBC but there still was a great level of understanding who the true champion was. it was not until the handing of the hwt title to Ken Norton which IMO marked the turning point where the boxing commissions realized they could do anything they wanted, create their own world where THEY decide who is the champion. Once this started every commission...WBA, WBC, IBF followed suit. Each more or less had their own champions and many times each top 10 list would not contain any similarities with each other. They started making decisions that would make the most dollars for them not for the better of boxing. This led to the splintering of titles in the 80s and to this very day. I've been following boxing since the early 70s and I don't know who the true champions are in each division. The lay fan has no hope of understanding what's going on.

 

I remember when multiple...or at least dual champions started becoming the norm in the late 70's and felt sick about it. I knew then that Boxing was sliding down that slippery slope into mediocrity. Are there 2 world series champions. Or 2 super bowl champions? It's a joke. Boxing has become watered down. Sure it might allow an overlooked or often ducked talent a chance to win a title but it also allows a glorified club fighter to call himself "champion" as well and demeans the sport in many peoples eyes. It's all about money...as it is in all sports but at least the other major sports still recognise one championship team that everyone knows...and you don't have to shell out 45 big ones to watch them on pay per view. give me the old days dammit!

 

So always.