[Wallet]

By Gabriel F. Cordero

An important source has indicated to Fightnews.com that there's a possibility that by mid-year the WBA may eliminate interim world titles that currently lead to mandatory or compulsory fights with the regular world champion. Apparently WBA Executive Vice President Gilberto Jesus Mendoza is working on the situation and is looking to phase out WBA interim world champions by 2014.

Previously the interim champion designation was used only when the acting champion was out of action due to injuries.

In recent years, the WBA crowned interim champions in countries like: Panama, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Peru among others. Currently the WBA has 36 reigning world champions in the 17 divisions in boxing.

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/wba...&utm_campaign=wba-to-eliminate-interim-titles

 

[allenko1]

sounds like something right...

 

[1971791]

I read an article on this on Golpe A Golpe/ESPN Deportes, apparently one of the reasons for handing out interim titles so frequently in the first place was in order to increase the popularity of boxing in countries in which it had a low profile. This makes no sense to me, like giving prizes to everyone at Sports Day.

Honestly, having four sanctioning bodies could manageable, but there's a shitload that needs to be done to make it that; this is only the first step.

 

[Wallet]

I read an article on this on Golpe A Golpe/ESPN Deportes, apparently one of the reasons for handing out interim titles so frequently in the first place was in order to increase the popularity of boxing in countries in which it had a low profile. This makes no sense to me, like giving prizes to everyone at Sports Day.

:lol:

Yeah, that was pretty obvious with Magee's strap. He fought a Costan Rican in Costa Rica when the WBA's annual convention was there.

 

[Felix]

If true, it's a step in the right direction. Now we just need the WBC to stop giving free belts to anyone with a Mexican passport, and get rid of the silver/emeritus titles. Ironically the WBO and the IBF are starting to look the more prestigious of the big four, due to their lack of runners-up belts. Who'd have thought it?

 

[sim_reiss]

I always looked at their interim titles as glorified no 1 contender belts. The Super/Regular titles annoy the f**k out of me far more.

 

[Wallet]

I always looked at their interim titles as glorified no 1 contender belts. The Super/Regular titles annoy the f**k out of me far more.

Yeah.

Scott Quigg isn't going around telling anyone he's a world champion, but Mikkel Kessler is.

 

[Felix]

Yeah.

Scott Quigg isn't going around telling anyone he's a world champion, but Mikkel Kessler is.

If I'm not mistaken, doesn't Robert Guerrero refer to himself as something stupid like a 'six time, three weight world champion'? Despite of course, not being close to that.

 

[Wallet]

If I'm not mistaken, doesn't Robert Guerrero refer to himself as something stupid like a 'six time, three weight world champion'? Despite of course, not being close to that.

Yeah, that just makes me laugh.

In reality he isn't even a single weight world champion.

 

[GazOC]

If I'm not mistaken, doesn't Robert Guerrero refer to himself as something stupid like a 'six time, three weight world champion'? Despite of course, not being close to that.

Jesus!! Thats embarassing.

 

[Felix]

Or that could be Katsidis. There's definitely one guy like it.

 

[Roe]

Yeah I think they do claim something stupid like that with Guerrero. It's all a load of bollocks, when when there's only one "champion" at a sanctioning body it's usually just someone like Cleverly

 

[adamcanavan]

interim belts should be exactly that and should only exist when a champion is injured/ill or forced to vacate. then the interim should fight the next available highest ranked contender for the title, good step by the wba for once

 

[Chatty]

Nice one - its still shit how many belts there is but at least its a move in the right direction. I now expect them to start dishing out the super championship even more so they can have more champs with the regular strap.