Why wouldn't HBO call the WBC by their name?

[Fox McCloud]

They kept referring to it as the sanctioning body in charge of this fight.

They seriously didn't say WBC once tonight. Kind of odd, I must say.

I can't imagine they would get in more trouble for this than they could have gotten into for throwing the WBC belt away when they were diming on all sanctioning bodies a few years ago.

[MentalExecution]

They dont like to refer to anything by their name except HBO, and when a fighter is a Ring magazine champion, they refer to them as the 'linear' champion

[Mr. Ryan]

I commend HBO for refusing to recognize the WBC or any other bogus belts on the air. We know who the champions are, we don't need people discouraged because they can't figure out the belt confusion.

Also, props to HBO for correcting Steward. Peter is a "titlist", not a heavyweight champion. There is only one heavyweight champion, it's the only man who beat him.

[Fox McCloud]

They dont like to refer to anything by their name except HBO, and when a fighter is a Ring magazine champion, they refer to them as the 'linear' champion

That's completely untrue. I have heard them refer to The Ring champion numerous times. Maybe not tonight, but when Casamayor fought Santa Cruz, they definately called him The Ring champion.

[Silencers]

I think HBO only likes to recognize the Ring champion, you rarely hear them mention any sanctioning body by name.

[petepunter]

HBO put alot of advertising $$ into Ring magazine adverts. so thats the main reason they prop them up a bit more over the major sanctioning bodies

[Fox McCloud]

HBO put alot of advertising $$ into Ring magazine adverts. so thats the main reason they prop them up a bit more over the major sanctioning bodies

Even so... it's not like it's a question of whether they mention The Ring's name more than sanctioning organizations. They literally went of their way tonight to make sure they didn't mention the WBC by name.

[neils7147933]

Even so... it's not like it's a question of whether they mention The Ring's name more than sanctioning organizations. They literally went of their way tonight to make sure they didn't mention the WBC by name.

As long as the promoters or higher ups at the network don't want them overplaying the significance of the belt at stake, I think it's best not to snowball the casual fan and act like something much besides a business transaction is being carried to the ring in debacles like last night. Last night's fight wasn't for the championship of anything, even though once Peter got a (semi) clean stoppage the HBO guys all gave him on-air virtual bj's til they went off the air...

I remember when FSN hyped their live telecast of James Toney-Rydell Booker for the IBA and WBC Continental Americas belts the "Best Damn World Championship Ever"

Not mentioning the alphabet at all may be their way of condemning all the ridiculous politics surrounding fighter rankings