Need Explanation of Historical Titles

[Profgregz]

Hey, guys,

I would really appreciate some help. So I am making a Spreadsheet on Excel of many of the best boxers of all time and their achievements so as to have a convenient of comparing them. Anyway, I'm trying to document when fighters hold certain titles, but I ran into some confusing elements relating to past titles.

Timeline of my confusion:

- From the 1920's to 1963, I understand the NBA and NYSAC title were the two major titles.

- It says here (http ://boxrec. com/list_bouts.php?human_id=9019&cat=boxer) and here (http ://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/List_of_middleweight_boxing_champions) that Harry Greb was a "World Middleweight Champion" from 1923 to 1926.

- I assumed that meant he held both NYSAC and NBA titles, but according to this (http ://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/List_of_undisputed_boxing_champions #Middleweight), Greb was never undisputed champion, which according to the same link means he never held both titles.

- Since I saw from the "list of middleweight boxing champions" list that only the options NBA and World exist, I assumed now that maybe Greb only held the NYSAC title.

- But according to this (http ://boxrec. com/title_search.php?title=NYSAC&division= Middleweight&SUBMIT=Go), he was never a NYSAC champion.

- And according to this (http ://boxrec. com/title_search.php?title=NBA&division= Middleweight&SUBMIT=Go), he was also never an NBA champion.

So what exactly was Greb's "World Middleweight Title"? And what exactly do I need to know to understand boxing titles prior to the current regime of WBO, WBA, IBF, WBC?

Thanks, guys.

P.S., will I get banned for posting legitimate boxing links? Thanks, again.

[joeandthebums]

- From the 1920's to 1963, I understand the NBA and NYSAC title were the two major titles.

The NYSAC merged in 1957 into the WBC and the NBA rebranded itself the WBA in 1963 - so yes time wise in the right area.

- It says here (http ://boxrec. com/list_bouts.php?human_id=9019&cat=boxer) and here (http ://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/List_of_middleweight_boxing_champions) that Harry Greb was a "World Middleweight Champion" from 1923 to 1926.

- I assumed that meant he held both NYSAC and NBA titles, but according to this (http ://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/List_of_undisputed_boxing_champions #Middleweight), Greb was never undisputed champion, which according to the same link means he never held both titles.

- Since I saw from the "list of middleweight boxing champions" list that only the options NBA and World exist, I assumed now that maybe Greb only held the NYSAC title.

- But according to this (http ://boxrec. com/title_search.php?title=NYSAC&division= Middleweight&SUBMIT=Go), he was never a NYSAC champion.

- And according to this (http ://boxrec. com/title_search.php?title=NBA&division= Middleweight&SUBMIT=Go), he was also never an NBA champion.

So what exactly was Greb's "World Middleweight Title"?

Greb became World Champion after beating then holder Johnny Wilson in August 1923, he lost the title to Tiger Flowers in August 1926.

Those lists do seem to be lacking if they are an indication of which title contests were given by recognition by both organizations.

I can't explain why they have listed some contests are not others, perhaps somebody else may be more knowledgeable on the matter.

And what exactly do I need to know to understand boxing titles prior to the current regime of WBO, WBA, IBF, WBC?

New York was boxing and the NYSAC was the leading authority in the sport. If the NYSAC deemed a boxer a champion, the only other organization with international sway, the BBBofC agreed. (The IBU in Europe would occasionally disagree but they disappeared with WWII.)

The NBA was formed in essence to disagree and be a different voice to that of the NYSAC. It obviously grew given time but no international organization aligned itself with them.

When the EBU was formed in 1948 they allied themselves with the NYSAC and the BBBofC.

That structure started to end because of the explosion of boxing on television. Boxers did not need to confine themselves to New York to earn the best money and garner maximum exposure. Anywhere would suffice.