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I've seen as early as Whittaker, claims of the "world" champion. That was an Englishman from Figg's school vs some rando leftover from the Venetian pugni whose name is lost to time. No, it isn't Tito, Tito's from a game similar in design to Title Bout. I'll tell you straight up if you're gonna find it, it'll be in medieval Italian not English and is a bit of a holy grail among researchers. Shout to Willow, that dude might track it.
Quite a long while later it would come up again as being basically just US + England. Like as in not even the whole island let alone archipelago.
I have seen some claims of Cribb being the first example of that. TBH, never heard of Moly getting the same but it would shock me.
Heenan/Sayers kinda co-champ deal.
Really starts to pick up with Mace and Allen.
Then we find ourselves in the Sully era and by then the idea of a world champion is firm. Let's say 1888.
1891 the NSC forms, starts naming champions
1906-1908 Tommy Burns produces the first attempt at a world tour.
1909 the NSC formalizes weight divisions
We recognize the NSC weight divisions, but not their champions.
The next year the IBU forms, continues the formal weight divisions, names their own champions
We recognize the divisions but not the champions
1913-1926 Jack Johnson goes on a world tour, to avoid US law. Drops the title in 1915 in Cuba.
That same year ABA comes and goes to be replaced by the NYSAC and NBA in by 1920 and 21
That same year a purely sports entertainment promotional magazine enters publication; Ring, paid for by a boxing promoter, written by a plagiarist conman. It would cover pro wrestling as if that's a real sport as well.
Also in 1922 NYSAC begins ratings fighters. Prior a body would call a mando but there were not formal ratings
1923 the NBA rates fighters
We do not recognize these ratings but recognize their weight divisions and champions
1924 Ring Magazine produces their ratings, which we recognize.
1928 Gene Tunney retires leaving a hole in the HW division and an opening for those we ignore to take American titles.
By 1929 The exclusivity of the NSC's membership had limited boxing growth too much for the British to properly combat the growing American bodies and Europe's IBU. The men who were the NSC become the BBBoC and make championship fights open to the public. Specifically to dispute those we recognize as undisputed. Rather than arguing on the world level they would look to raise BE titles above world titles.
During this same time period, late 20s and early 30s, the ******* are infiltrating ********ic institutions to force them by numbers to vote for *******s. The IBU is being transformed into a ******* ratings board. The champions we've been ignoring force their way into American ratings boards.
1930 Max becomes the champion, NBA, NYSAC, and IBU recognized. One could say the entire history leading up to this event is nothing but disputes. Here we have the three remaining global powers agreeing on one champion. For the first time in history. The NSC/BBBoC ducked out of the global power struggle and left the ******* IBU to combat the US bodies, and, they won. Their guy beat our guy fair and square, best I can tell. You know, despite Dempsey being "undisputed"
The world champion status would go back and forth between the US and European powers:
30-32=Euro
32-33=US
33-34=Euro
Then American boxing really takes over. 34-38 all US. But that's only because when the IBU tries to put up Paulino as the challenger the NBA/NYSAC block them and put up Braddock. 1935 Godfrey wins the IBU world title no one recognizes
Despite Joe Louis owning that world title for quite a while longer than 1938 one has to pause for 1938. Because it was in 1938 the bodies made their first attempt at a formal world body. Now, I ask you, if the NYSAC or NBA or NYSAC+NBA or even the NYSAC+NBA+IBU actually equaled a world title why would the NYSAC.NBA, IBU, BBBoC, plus members from Canada and Australia meet in Rome to negotiate who the world champions are?
Goes as follows:
Flyweight: Benny Lynch
Bantam-weight: Slxto Escobar
Feather-weight: Henry Armstrong
Light-weight: Lou Ambers
Welter-weight: Barney Ross
Middle-weight: Freddie Stcele
Light Heavyweight: John Henry Lewis
Heavy-weight: Joe Louis​
I think it is super fair to say if the bodies had to come together to agree on who the champions are then there was plenty of dispute. You know, outside of America and England who is busy buying Ring magazine and believing what it has to say on the subject.
This pushes the BBBoC into, sometimes, crowning world champions. As a member of the WC they feel they have the authority to dispute the IBU, NBA, and/or NYSAC.
The World Commission is short lived, 1939 WW2 were declared.
1942, the Associazione Pugilistica Professionistica Europea (APPE) was formally established, replacing the IBU. The lira was adopted as the official currency for bout and congress fees. Vittorio Mussolini, eldest son of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, was declared the APPE's first President. The first official meeting of the APPE's steering committee was held June 7, who recognized the following European champions: Urbinati (fly), Bondavalli (bantam and feather), Botta (light), vacant (welter), Besselmann (middle), Musina (light-heavy), and Max Schmeling (heavy).
We do not recognize these divisions or the champions. What I mean is the IBU, BBBoC, NBA, and NYSAC all agreed on weights. The APPE changed them, kept the names. Not one recognizes the APPE weight divisions or champions as legit except the APPE, then or now.
1944 the APPE is dismantled. The BBBoC and FFB (French) reform the IBU. Joe's the undisputed champion now without any need to ignore the existence of a dispute. Despite the clarity of Max's run and the belts during that time there was actually plenty of dispute during Joe's we ignore. By 1944 those disputes are ended. These dispute should matter because like it or not the *******s did control a lot of Europe and they do represent a sizeable population in boxing we simply ignore.
Joe Louis retires in 1949 and guess what happens next? ****ing right!
NBA crowns Ezzard. The BBBoC and IBU crown Lee Savold. The NYSAC withholds
Ezzard takes the returned Louis out in 1950, all titles on Charles, no issues. No disputes to be ignored.
Walcott - Ali would see little in way of disputes outside of cold war politics and the commies refusing ********ic sports while the republics refuse commie people. During this period the IBU and BBBoC quietly accept their regionalism and give way to the NYSAC and NBA
NBA to WBA in 62
NYSAC + IBU + BBBoC = WBC in 63
Seem like a great place to call going world level but if the NBA wasn't world level by their own admission why should we recognize the world status of those champions? Doesn't matter, that cold war **** was foreshadowing.
Everything fine, more or less, in the context of global boxing. disputes during this time have more to do with WBA and WBC champions with Ring commentary on the situation as the two world powers fight for superiority. Everyone always recognized and recognizes them as world powers.
Until the 80s when the IBF split from the WBA for not being US-centric enough. The American lead WBA got out voted by some Mexicans. True story, the Americans threw a fit, launched the IBF, and bought Holmes. Seems to allude to internal conflict within the WBA prior to the split specifically over the representation of the regional members.
One doesn't have to wait long for that to be confirmed by the WBO, who again splits from the WBA. Ironically and rather unfortunately for those running the WBA, the IBF split because it wasn't US-centered enough for their liking while the WBO split because it was too US-focused.
Cold War ends, capitalism won that **** hard, and the WBO flexes on expanding boxing into the ignored regions of Europe and Asia.
By the mid-2000s the dispute between global bodies is over and all continents are now represented in boxing on both a regional and global level. Fair to say if the WBO wasn't at least partially correct in the WBA being too focused on the west they would have failed. Lucky for them dudes like K2 and Usyk turned out to be truth. It's also fair to say that truth alludes to a time when systemic xenophobia in boxing prevented commies from boxing.
Recap it:
1728
1810
1860
1870
1888
1906
1913
1920
1930
1938
1950
1962
1983
2007
Wonder when boxing will go global again? Is it even a possibility anymore? I'd bet after the 50s I'd've thought it's done now then the 60s happened, and I bet if I was young in the 60s I wouldn't have seen the 80s coming with new world bodies ... tf even is that?
Quite a long while later it would come up again as being basically just US + England. Like as in not even the whole island let alone archipelago.
I have seen some claims of Cribb being the first example of that. TBH, never heard of Moly getting the same but it would shock me.
Heenan/Sayers kinda co-champ deal.
Really starts to pick up with Mace and Allen.
Then we find ourselves in the Sully era and by then the idea of a world champion is firm. Let's say 1888.
1891 the NSC forms, starts naming champions
1906-1908 Tommy Burns produces the first attempt at a world tour.
1909 the NSC formalizes weight divisions
We recognize the NSC weight divisions, but not their champions.
The next year the IBU forms, continues the formal weight divisions, names their own champions
We recognize the divisions but not the champions
1913-1926 Jack Johnson goes on a world tour, to avoid US law. Drops the title in 1915 in Cuba.
That same year ABA comes and goes to be replaced by the NYSAC and NBA in by 1920 and 21
That same year a purely sports entertainment promotional magazine enters publication; Ring, paid for by a boxing promoter, written by a plagiarist conman. It would cover pro wrestling as if that's a real sport as well.
Also in 1922 NYSAC begins ratings fighters. Prior a body would call a mando but there were not formal ratings
1923 the NBA rates fighters
We do not recognize these ratings but recognize their weight divisions and champions
1924 Ring Magazine produces their ratings, which we recognize.
1928 Gene Tunney retires leaving a hole in the HW division and an opening for those we ignore to take American titles.
By 1929 The exclusivity of the NSC's membership had limited boxing growth too much for the British to properly combat the growing American bodies and Europe's IBU. The men who were the NSC become the BBBoC and make championship fights open to the public. Specifically to dispute those we recognize as undisputed. Rather than arguing on the world level they would look to raise BE titles above world titles.
During this same time period, late 20s and early 30s, the ******* are infiltrating ********ic institutions to force them by numbers to vote for *******s. The IBU is being transformed into a ******* ratings board. The champions we've been ignoring force their way into American ratings boards.
1930 Max becomes the champion, NBA, NYSAC, and IBU recognized. One could say the entire history leading up to this event is nothing but disputes. Here we have the three remaining global powers agreeing on one champion. For the first time in history. The NSC/BBBoC ducked out of the global power struggle and left the ******* IBU to combat the US bodies, and, they won. Their guy beat our guy fair and square, best I can tell. You know, despite Dempsey being "undisputed"
The world champion status would go back and forth between the US and European powers:
30-32=Euro
32-33=US
33-34=Euro
Then American boxing really takes over. 34-38 all US. But that's only because when the IBU tries to put up Paulino as the challenger the NBA/NYSAC block them and put up Braddock. 1935 Godfrey wins the IBU world title no one recognizes
Despite Joe Louis owning that world title for quite a while longer than 1938 one has to pause for 1938. Because it was in 1938 the bodies made their first attempt at a formal world body. Now, I ask you, if the NYSAC or NBA or NYSAC+NBA or even the NYSAC+NBA+IBU actually equaled a world title why would the NYSAC.NBA, IBU, BBBoC, plus members from Canada and Australia meet in Rome to negotiate who the world champions are?
Goes as follows:
Flyweight: Benny Lynch
Bantam-weight: Slxto Escobar
Feather-weight: Henry Armstrong
Light-weight: Lou Ambers
Welter-weight: Barney Ross
Middle-weight: Freddie Stcele
Light Heavyweight: John Henry Lewis
Heavy-weight: Joe Louis​
I think it is super fair to say if the bodies had to come together to agree on who the champions are then there was plenty of dispute. You know, outside of America and England who is busy buying Ring magazine and believing what it has to say on the subject.
This pushes the BBBoC into, sometimes, crowning world champions. As a member of the WC they feel they have the authority to dispute the IBU, NBA, and/or NYSAC.
The World Commission is short lived, 1939 WW2 were declared.
1942, the Associazione Pugilistica Professionistica Europea (APPE) was formally established, replacing the IBU. The lira was adopted as the official currency for bout and congress fees. Vittorio Mussolini, eldest son of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, was declared the APPE's first President. The first official meeting of the APPE's steering committee was held June 7, who recognized the following European champions: Urbinati (fly), Bondavalli (bantam and feather), Botta (light), vacant (welter), Besselmann (middle), Musina (light-heavy), and Max Schmeling (heavy).
We do not recognize these divisions or the champions. What I mean is the IBU, BBBoC, NBA, and NYSAC all agreed on weights. The APPE changed them, kept the names. Not one recognizes the APPE weight divisions or champions as legit except the APPE, then or now.
1944 the APPE is dismantled. The BBBoC and FFB (French) reform the IBU. Joe's the undisputed champion now without any need to ignore the existence of a dispute. Despite the clarity of Max's run and the belts during that time there was actually plenty of dispute during Joe's we ignore. By 1944 those disputes are ended. These dispute should matter because like it or not the *******s did control a lot of Europe and they do represent a sizeable population in boxing we simply ignore.
Joe Louis retires in 1949 and guess what happens next? ****ing right!
NBA crowns Ezzard. The BBBoC and IBU crown Lee Savold. The NYSAC withholds
Ezzard takes the returned Louis out in 1950, all titles on Charles, no issues. No disputes to be ignored.
Walcott - Ali would see little in way of disputes outside of cold war politics and the commies refusing ********ic sports while the republics refuse commie people. During this period the IBU and BBBoC quietly accept their regionalism and give way to the NYSAC and NBA
NBA to WBA in 62
NYSAC + IBU + BBBoC = WBC in 63
Seem like a great place to call going world level but if the NBA wasn't world level by their own admission why should we recognize the world status of those champions? Doesn't matter, that cold war **** was foreshadowing.
Everything fine, more or less, in the context of global boxing. disputes during this time have more to do with WBA and WBC champions with Ring commentary on the situation as the two world powers fight for superiority. Everyone always recognized and recognizes them as world powers.
Until the 80s when the IBF split from the WBA for not being US-centric enough. The American lead WBA got out voted by some Mexicans. True story, the Americans threw a fit, launched the IBF, and bought Holmes. Seems to allude to internal conflict within the WBA prior to the split specifically over the representation of the regional members.
One doesn't have to wait long for that to be confirmed by the WBO, who again splits from the WBA. Ironically and rather unfortunately for those running the WBA, the IBF split because it wasn't US-centered enough for their liking while the WBO split because it was too US-focused.
Cold War ends, capitalism won that **** hard, and the WBO flexes on expanding boxing into the ignored regions of Europe and Asia.
By the mid-2000s the dispute between global bodies is over and all continents are now represented in boxing on both a regional and global level. Fair to say if the WBO wasn't at least partially correct in the WBA being too focused on the west they would have failed. Lucky for them dudes like K2 and Usyk turned out to be truth. It's also fair to say that truth alludes to a time when systemic xenophobia in boxing prevented commies from boxing.
Recap it:
1728
1810
1860
1870
1888
1906
1913
1920
1930
1938
1950
1962
1983
2007
Wonder when boxing will go global again? Is it even a possibility anymore? I'd bet after the 50s I'd've thought it's done now then the 60s happened, and I bet if I was young in the 60s I wouldn't have seen the 80s coming with new world bodies ... tf even is that?
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