i wish boxing was like it used to be

[Thread Stealer]

Boxing's had alphabet soup to some extent for a long time, but it wasn't to the ridiculous extent that it's become in the last couple decades or so.

[aussieboxer2320]

hmm i didnt know that......but anyway thanks to the guys who actually contributed what they think instead of that annoying ricky guy, also, does anyone think all these crazy titles will ever stop? like the IBF IBO WBO WBC WBA WBF etc............and the ring magazine belt ffs what the hell is up with that its a magazine ffs and also the other things like intercontinental this and the regional that.....i just think until we go back to havin one champion, boxing will never be truly great again

[Thread Stealer]

hmm i didnt know that......but anyway thanks to the guys who actually contributed what they think instead of that annoying ricky guy, also, does anyone think all these crazy titles will ever stop? like the IBF IBO WBO WBC WBA WBF etc............and the ring magazine belt ffs what the hell is up with that its a magazine ffs and also the other things like intercontinental this and the regional that.....i just think until we go back to havin one champion, boxing will never be truly great again

The Ring has had their titles and rankings since the 1920s. The regional titles have existed for a long time, as they ideally are supposed to lead to title shots on a larger level.

The NBA became the WBA, and the WBC was created in the early 60s (I think) to try to give fighters not from the states (mainly Mexican) fighters more recognition.

The IBF came around in the early 80s or so and made their name when they annointed Larry Holmes the champ. Holmes was recognized as the legit HW champ and held the WBC belt, but was stripped for not facing the WBC's #1 contender Greg Page. He fought Marvis Frazier, apparently for twice the payday. The IBF was looking for recognition and annointed Holmes the champ. The WBO came around in the mid or late 80s.

I don't even care to bother about learning the history of the IBC, IBA, WBU, WBF.

Boxing still is "truly great".

[warp1432]

De La Hoya and Frank Warren basically put the WBO on the map.

Kinda like how Wlad and Tarver are putting the IBO on the map....

[Scott9945]

is it just me or do all of you wish boxing could go back to having one title per weight category and back to having 15 round fights. i also wish it had weigh ins on the same day of the fight so there woud be none of that cutting weight than balooning back up etc.....the only thing i wouldnt change is the weight categories we have now (ie: super this and junior that etc) as i think that makes it better for guys who are right on either limit of the weight division, so they can fight guys their size instead of guys 6 kg heavier or lighter. but yeah the alphabet title thing pisses me off the most, its nothing to be champion nowadays, and then they have the interim champs and super champs.......its just ridiculous. im obviously way too young to have been around for the good old days but from what i have read in mags seen in vids and heard from older relatives it was just so much better back then and all these dumb changes are whats killing the sport

I don't know when exactly "the good old days" started and ended, but I've followed boxing for a long time and the good old days weren't as great as you think. Deserving contenders would get shut of a title shot for years. I could name other things, but like I said I'm not sure about what period you are referring to.

[aussieboxer2320]

im thinking 40's-80's

also thanks to thread stealer for that info, i didnt know some of those things.

i know there have been regional titles around for ages, like the european title commonwealth title national titles etc.....but my main point is that i think boxing should just have one world wide sanctioning body, (as well as national ones)merge the others i dunno and then just have continental titles like european south american afirca etc...and then national titles and commonwealth titles, i mean im sick of things like the WBU inter continental.....and those sort of things

[deanrw]

Being a fairly old man (well for this place anyway ), I cannot say i miss the 15 rounders. 12 is a much safer benchmark. Fighters are more prone to serious injury or worse the more tired they get. 12 rounds is a change that I have no issue with.

As for the alphabet soup, well that is a given, but just as bad as the alphabet soup is the promoter corruption, as that has stopped more good fights from happening as anything else.

[aussieboxer2320]

hmm good points all round. yeah maybe 12 rounders are a bit safer

[Sealhound]

I think having 4 major titles is a better thing although there are downsides. Obviosuly they encourage back door bums that just fight in their back yard for years with some title (Cough Calzaghe, cough most german fighters). Also, when a good fighter comes around, it's good to follow them, watching them try to unify the division. In addition it gives more fighters more exposure and something to fight for if there are several belts. Although I will admit it has its downsides I quite like the 4 belt set up. As for 15 rounds - no way, 12 is great.

[deanrw]

On that note, many people say The Ring belt is the only belt that matters. If that came to fruition, think of 5-10 years down the road.

You would have a belt controlled by a single promoter. That spells the worst type of corruption right there. Fighters outside the De La Hoya umbrella would never even get ranked or a title shot.

The Ring belt lost all its luster in my eyes when Oscar bought it. That was a bad step for the sport.