By Rick Reeno
Two weeks ago in Cancun, Mexico, an unusual occurrence took place. Representatives from three competing sanctioning organizations, the WBC, IBF and WBA, held a meeting to discuss some of the major subjects affecting the sport of boxing - including incompetent officiating and the ongoing problem with fighters using performance enhancing drugs. Additionally, the sanctioning organizations reached some form of an agreement to work together as a unit on various matters, such as title unifications.
After the news was published on BoxingScene.com, I received more than a few phone calls with a single question - "why was the WBO left out?" The conspiracy theories began. Were they invited? Did the WBO pull a no-show? All of those questions were going around.
BoxingScene spoke with WBO president Francisco "Paco" Valcarcel to get the answer. To clear up the first half of the rumors, Paco's organization was invited to attend. Obviously they didn't, but the reasons for doing so were more than strong enough to skip out.
"They invited me to be there. I talked to Larry Hazzard [of the IBF] and Marian [Muhammad, of the IBF]. They wanted me to be there but I was on some very important activities for the WBO in Colombia, with the kids in Colombia. We donated some things to the schools. We gave to about 300 kids there. We went to Panama. We donated boxing equipment to the kids in Panama. Those things I consider much more important than a meeting with three sanctioning organizations," Paco said.
During that Cancun meeting of the minds, the sanctioning bodies tossed around several ideas. One of those ideas was the creation of a "super heavyweight" division. The idea of splitting the heavyweight division in half is ridiculous. We've seen smaller heavyweights like Evander Holyfield dominate the big men for years. David Haye, not the biggest heavyweight in the world, beat the seven-foot giant Nikolai Valuev for the WBA title.
With the exception of the Klitschko brothers, most of the oversized heavyweights are uncoordinated and lack that certain kind of substance that creates a world class fighter. Most of the oversized heavyweights simply survive on their size - until they meet an opponent who can actually fight. The heavyweight division has enough trouble trying to create recognizable names. The last thing we need in the sport of boxing is to take a division where we have witnessed some signs of life in the last twelve months, and break it in half - which likely creates two dead divisions. I'm not alone. Paco is 100% against a super heavyweight division.
"I don't agree with the super heavyweight division. You will have a cruiserweight and heavyweight division that means nothing. There is no activity. Everyone will watch the big guys. If you have a 240-pound heavyweight, he can beat one of the big guys. David [Haye] beat the giant. Chambers beat Dimitrenko. Holyfield almost beat Valuev but he didn't get the decision. If you are 40-pounds or 20-pounds less, it doesn't make a difference. I don't agree with the super heavyweight division. We don't need to create more divisions," Paco said.
