WBA moving towards stripping Joshua

WBA MOVING TOWARDS STRIPPING JOSHUA? Yesterday's retirement announcement by Wladimir Klitschko could trigger the splintering of the WBA and IBF heavyweight championships, which are currently both held by England's Anthony Joshua. Both the IBF and WBA were on board for the planned rematch between Joshua and Klitschko, but as soon as Klitschko bowed out, the WBA rushed to order Joshua to make his next defense against Cuba's Luis Ortiz. However, Joshua held the IBF title before he acquired the WBA version, and the IBF previously ordered Joshua to face the IBF mandatory challenger, Kubrat Pulev of Bulgaria. The IBF allowed Joshua to face Klitschko in their first match on the condition that the winner face Pulev. Clearly, Pulev is at the front of the line, so for the WBA to order Joshua vs. Ortiz, it shows the organization is intent on separating the major heavyweight titles. (The WBC title belongs to Deontay Wilder and the WBO is with Joseph Parker). Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn told the Daily Mail that Joshua would "almost certainly" fight Pulev next. That would put the ball in the WBA's court whether to sanction Joshua-Pulev or strip him and let Ortiz fight someone else for its belt. Fans would probably be a little more interested in Joshua vs. the undefeated Ortiz because Pulev already failed in a title bid vs. Klitschko, but Ortiz also has a reported history of cheating with pefromance enhancing drugs. --Scott Shaffer

Comments (20)

JakeTheBoxer

Joshua beat Wlad Klitchko. Wilder beat Stiverne. Who you beat, that`s what you are.

8y ago

Raggamuffin

Unfortunately, you are obsessing over nonsense. If you win a championship, you are a champion. That is how words work. That doesn't mean every championship is valuable. That doesn't mean every champion is worthy of adulation. Every individual can decide that for themselves. Wow! Lmao:pat::lol1::rofl:

8y ago

You are a lost cause. They are not champions. They are titlists. Crawford is a champion. Not unifying the titles is what's messing boxing up. And you call them champions. Unfortunately, you are obsessing over nonsense. If you win a championship, you are a champion. That is how words work. That doesn't mean every championship is valuable. That doesn't mean every champion is worthy of adulation. Every individual can decide that for themselves.

8y ago

Raggamuffin

We are well aware what the definition of champion is. You are the one trying to invent your own definitions of words. Yes of course Wilder is a champion. He's the WBC heavyweight world champion. We believe that is a valuable championship, you may disagree. Yes of course Parker is a champion. He's the WBO heavyweight world champion. We believe that is a far less valuable championship than the one Wilder holds. You may disagree. But we do not, and you do not, get to lie about who is and is not a champion. Parker is a champion. His championship may be worthless. If so, so be it. You are a lost cause. They are not champions. They are titlists. Crawford is a champion. Not unifying the titles is what's messing boxing up. And you call them champions.

8y ago

BrometheusBob

This is the problem with many boxing fans. They refuse to accept reality. We've offered nothing but truth and fact, yet this gentleman cries "troll." The sanctioning bodies exist because the promoters want them to. Four titles exist because the promoters want them to. If the promoters wanted there to be one title, there'd be one title. This does not fit what Mr. Pandas prefers, so rather than accept reality, he cries "troll." Very sad. Best of luck Mr. Pandas. :lol1: :lol1: This alt has potential

8y ago

Still D- trolling. This is a poor attempt you are making here sir with your alt account. Really disappointing. I bet you had much bigger goals with this troll alt account. Good luck at turning the tide & upping your troll game in the future. Just keep working at it my friend. Everyone is capable of success with hardwork & dedication. This is the problem with many boxing fans. They refuse to accept reality. We've offered nothing but truth and fact, yet this gentleman cries "troll." The sanctioning bodies exist because the promoters want them to. Four titles exist because the promoters want them to. If the promoters wanted there to be one title, there'd be one title. This does not fit what Mr. Pandas prefers, so rather than accept reality, he cries "troll." Very sad. Best of luck Mr. Pandas.

8y ago

You find a non-corrupt group of people that'll work together to make a World Boxing Championship. If it's so easy, why don't you do it? If you claim you're not corrupt, create a championship tomorrow. And then when the biggest promoters in the world, who prefer the corruption, continue to hire the sanctioning bodies and ignore your championship, what will you do? Not so easy after all is it?

8y ago

Stephankotyk

Anthony Joshua is pathetic! trying to impress the world by collecting trinkets but this could all be resolved by fighting for the only title that matters ( No you idiots I know you thought I was going to say the WBC ) the 'Lineal' title vs. the 'Bronze-Bomber' Wilder -- thats really the only thing that matters ; the #1. ( Deontay ) vs. the #2. ( Joshua ) but history will only remember Joshua as a Brit Hype-job paper champion, hiding behind his mandatories like his fellow Brit quitter Kell Brook who got battered and humiliated in his own home country forced to bend the knee before the American Errol Spence jr. Eddie Hearn is shamelessly busy doing damage control with the media even going as far as doing his best parody of Deontay to draw attention away from the quacking Joshua is doing in the background -- his gullible nincompoop supporters eating it up, lining up to see this imposter sell out Arena's like that other fraud David Haye and the other joker Tony Bellend of the UK. Disgraceful. Just wonder how number 1 is Wilder? event boxrec has him lower than Joshua.

8y ago

D- trolling. There is NO NEED for the WBO, the WBC, the WBA & the IBF. Boxing needs a true world title that has no abc's in front of it. The abc's need to be put outta business. We find it sad that you label indisputable fact as "trolling." Whether there is a need or not for sanctioning bodies doesn't change the fact that the WBC, WBA and IBF tried to get the WBO to join them in creating an undisputed world champion in all 17 divisions. That is not trolling. That is fact. You say boxing needs a "true" world title without a governing body, but how do you propose for such a scenario to occur? Who is going to get the promoters in 162 countries to cooperate? What stops those promoters from just creating other titles? Who is going to force fighters to face each other? It just doesn't make any sense. The sanctioning bodies exist as a mediator between promoters. Promoters utilize them because television networks demand that they do. In the end, sanctioning bodies don't really have any power. They only have the power that the promoters and television networks voluntarily give them.

8y ago

Joshua isn't going to get stripped... he'll fight Pulev in October/November to keep his IBF belt and then fight Ortiz in February to keep the WBA. Very doubtful the WBA strip him. If he files an exception with the WBA and puts in writing that he'll face Ortiz within 120 days of the Pulev fight, the WBA would probably rule in his favor. But if he's not willing to face Ortiz by the end of February, he's at serious risk of being stripped.

8y ago

There is no World Champion title anymore. There need be only 1 belt. Not multiple belts. We agree with you. The WBC WBA IBF wanted to create an undisputed champion in every division, but the WBO refused to participate. Without the WBO on board, the WBC WBA IBF would be taking a huge risk by creating a WBC WBA IBF champion in every division, potentially giving away market share to the WBO. Bob Arum and Frank Warren did not want the WBO to cooperate with the proposal, so it was killed dead. There's been no discussion of anything similar since because it was already so difficult to get the WBC WBA IBF to all agree that when the WBO rejected the proposal, everything fell apart.

8y ago

Deus

Joshua isn't going to get stripped... he'll fight Pulev in October/November to keep his IBF belt and then fight Ortiz in February to keep the WBA. Very doubtful the WBA strip him.

8y ago

Bobby_Deez

F*** the WBA then :lol1: Nice avatar,bro. McConor lookin like a poindexter

8y ago

BrometheusBob

F*** the WBA then

8y ago

Can we all just agree to say f#ck all these abc groups? They keep f#cking up this sport. Stop recognizing the new ones, just recognize the old ones, and things become far less complicated.

8y ago

You have forgotten the meaning of what a champion is and how he becomes one. Todays politics have shaped and shifted your thinking. Is Wilder a champion? Is Parker a champion? We are well aware what the definition of champion is. You are the one trying to invent your own definitions of words. Yes of course Wilder is a champion. He's the WBC heavyweight world champion. We believe that is a valuable championship, you may disagree. Yes of course Parker is a champion. He's the WBO heavyweight world champion. We believe that is a far less valuable championship than the one Wilder holds. You may disagree. But we do not, and you do not, get to lie about who is and is not a champion. Parker is a champion. His championship may be worthless. If so, so be it.

8y ago

betmen

Well Anthony Joshua got his wish. He didn't want the WBA title so now he is relinquishing it. He didn't want to challenge the guy who's undefeated, can punch and is built like a tank in Luis Ortiz. He is showing real cowardice by taking the path to least resistance in this matter, by challenging Pulev; Who has been recently knocked out previously before against Wladimir Klitschko. In my opinion, Anthony Joshua is the most overrated Heavyweight in the division. He has no defense, chin or stamina. He got exposed by a 41 year old fighter who couldn't finish him due to time. :lol1: NSB never fail to make me laugh. in klitschko fight joshua prove he is nothing like you said. he survive the k.d and onslaught after it was prove joshua have good chin and his resurgence in the late rounds are prove he got great stamina for super heavy weight.

8y ago

oscar9992

Man stop trolling..Povetkin was so shook he tried to cheat. NOBODY in boxing is shook by Pops Ortiz..he just went the distance with a guy Wilder blasted in ONE round.:bottle: AJ has not ONE but TWO of Wilder's leftovers on his resume. I have YET to hear Joshua say Wilder's name. During post fight interviews...he dare not whisper the name Wilder.:boxing: Dude, AJ has only 19 fights but already has a better resume than Bronze Bum Wilder who has already 38 fights but hasn't beat any top 10 HW other than Stiverne... & guess he couldn't KO him.

8y ago

JewishReptile

it was always gonna happen these sanctioning bodies are purely in the money making business so want their mando a year so they can collect the sanctioning fees Joshua will be defending the WBA super title versus Pulev if he keeps it, he's still paying his three percent. I think their is another motive here, have Ortiz collect the WBA with it being vacant and unifying versus Wilder the victor having two baubles to bring to the table versus Joshua, they all want a piece of the British ppv revenue, Ortiz must be fearing he's gonna be overlooked for Parker by Joshua after the Pulev defence.

8y ago

oscar9992

Gonna be funny when the uber driver smashing wilder gets knocked out by Joshua All of his idiot squad will vanish Exactly, Wilder already has fought 38 times in his Pro career, but only descent Top 10 HW he fought was Stiverne & he couldn't stop him.

8y ago