completely agree...except for the bit about Wlad. How could you consider Wlad being the undisputed champ as long as he doesn't square off and win against Vitali? I realize this will never happen but he really isn't THE heavyweight champion as long Vitali is still around and still winning.
OK... its like this. The short answer is, its open for debate. Each of the sanctioning bodies have pros/cons. The long answer is... Historically, the Lineal Championship was regarded as the "real championship". To become you the Lineal Champion you have to beat the current champion in the ring or... he has to retire/die and the #2 and #3 fighters face each other. The idea is that you "beat the man who beat the man". Once sanctioning bodies came into the picture to "organize" things, they began to provide rankings and a belt... for a fee. Don't be mistaken, you and I could pool our money together and start a sanctioning body tomorrow if we wanted. Their opinions are usually influenced by their own best interest and they are scam artists. Regarding the sanctioning bodies.. My opinion is they rank like this: The Ring (not really a sanctioning body, more on that in a min) IBF - One champion per division, decent rankings. WBC - Lots of bull**** titles, sometimes their rankings don't suck. WBO - Essentially a meaningless title. WBA - Bull**** rankings, gifting titles, complete horse****. A little history of them... WBA - the oldest, founded in 1921 as the National Boxing Association, changed names to WBA in 1962. Today they are known for bull**** rankings, weak champions, multiple champions in each weight class, putting together backroom deals with Don King and a basic lack of any credibility. They were the only game in town until... WBC - founded in Mexico in 1963. The WBC established many of today's safety measures in boxing, such as the standing eight-count, a limit of 12 rounds instead of 15, and additional weight classes (which a lot of people think unnecessary). Today the WBC is known for having a plethora of bull**** belts like "Diamond Champion", "Silver Champion" and more regional titles than anyone can remember. The WBC, while making **** tonnes of money on sanctioning fees...is actually hurting the sport by devaluing winning a title by putting so many out there. IBF - Originated in September 1976 as the United States Boxing Association (USBA) when American members of the WBA withdrew in order to legitimize boxing in the United States with "unbiased" ratings. In April 1983, the organization established an international division that was known as the United States Boxing Association-International (USBA-I). In May 1984 it was renamed IBF. They were investigated in WBO - was founded in 1988. When a WBO champion has reached "preeminent status" the WBO designate him as a "Super Champion". The WBO championships are not universally recognized. Some media sites do not include the WBO in their list of champions. This is a title that most don't have an opinion on. Their rankings usually suck. The Ring - a boxing & wrestling magazine (at the time), was founded in 1922. The Ring has its own version of lineal championshipand began awarding in 1922, the first going to Jack Dempsey. They stopped giving belts to the world champions in the 1990s but began again in 2002. In 2007 The Ring was bought by Golden Boy Promotions and its often said the rankings favor GBP fighters & agendas. A fighter pays no sanctioning fees to defend or fight for the title at stake, contrary to practices of the sanctioning bodies. In 2002, The Ring created a lineal championship system that is "intended to reward fighters who, by satisfying rigid criteria, can justify a claim as the true and only world champion in a given weight class". The policy was updated in 2012 and there are now three ways that a boxer can win The Ring's title: Defeat the reigning champion, Win a box-off between The Ring's #2 & #3 rated contenders. If the top contenders choose not to fight one another and either of them fights No. 3, No. 4 or No. 5, the winner may be awarded THE RING belt. There are now also six ways that a boxer can lose The Ring's title: Lose a fight, move weight classes, inactive for 18 mos, does not fight a top 5 contender for 2 yrs, retires/dies.
aesthetically speaking I think the IBF belt looks best..then WBA..WBC..and the WBO and IBO belts just look atrocious This content is protected This content is protected
Interesting post. Remember the WBOhuh) ranked the dead guy? Got that book "Boxing Confidential" which covers the IBF investigation on my Amazon wish list.Have you read it?
you aint the champ till you got the ring belt. allthough out of all the sanctioning bodies i like the ibf the most no interim, super, or diamond crap just one champ and there title is the nicest looking
The ring is a magazine title that has ratings that I think often suits itself. Im guessing based on the opinions of the writers maybe. I dont take it too seriously. Its the fighter not the belt
WBA Super, WBC, IBF, in no order. WBO is the fourth world title as importance. WBA Regular is not really a world title.
IBF is clearly the best out there. Imho, over the years WBO has surpassed both WBC and especially WBA in its legitimacy as a ranking body.
Fluctuates in the end I don't even take notice. There can't be upto 4 champs and division vs division show no clear leader so i wouldnt get too sucked into giving an org credit over another. if you refer to the classic idea of a champ boxing is ****ed. P4p ranking or lineal status > than the big 4
Good history lessons for all the fans. I still have trouble recognizing the WBO belt as legit to this day (ranking the dead guy for monts did not help in that regards). Growing up I always thought the WBC was the oldest belt and thought the green belt was the most important one to have. Today, the trinkets mean ****! it is the fighters who make the sport. if I had to pick this second I would Go: 1) Ring 2) IBF 3) WBO 4) WBC 5) WBA 99) all the other BS trinkets out there Historically: 1) Ring 2) WBC 3) WBA 7) IBF 20)WBO
The Media and fans seem to like The Ring Magizane best Boxers seem to like the WBC best. The WBA has the longest history. I have always thought that the IBF is the least shitty.