Tweet
I decided to research the WBOs rules myself instead of waiting for them to stop dragging their feet. And the rules state clear as day that non hw champs must defend their title every 9 months & not only that but if they don't & fight Bums instead during those 9 months,they are supposed to be stripped even if they agree to fight a mando next,so long as the mando fight isn't immediate. So Crawford has now gone 1.5 yrs since defending his title vs a wbo mando,& has to either face Ortiz or if he claims theres a network dispute he must face Porter instead or Spence. The part thats rediculous is that the WBO leaves an opening for their fighters to duck mandos
by claiming theres a network dispute & therefore can't fight them.(but in those circumstances they have to fight the next highest rated fighter or another champ if WBO agrees to it.(& With Arum the WBO does his bidding which is why they forced AJ v Pulev for Bob to benefit)
I for the 1st time in ages though have genuine hope that Crawford will be forced to stop holding that belt hostage & either fight Ortiz,Porter or Spence next.
as for josesito lopez & his ilk of never has beens that have been being tossed around, thankfully there is zero chance thats next as hes unranked by wbo,& theres nobody ranked close enough to Ortiz & Porter that Bob can have designated mando instead. Also because Bud faced unranked Brook he could get stripped if doesn't defend belt v Ortiz soon enough.
The WBO used to be thought of like the IBO & I think they should still be thought of like the IBO,they are the only org which has rules that say WBO fighters aren't required to submit to yr round random vada testing.(they claim due to cost but its because they cater to 2ndary part time bumslayer champions who don't want vada)
Do you believe Ortiz/Porter/Spence must be next unless WBO wants to be a laughing stock?(bigger)
Section 5. DEFENSE OF THE TITLE (a) Each WBO World Champion except in the Heavyweight Division shall defend his title at intervals not greater than nine (9) months counti ng from the date of the acquisition thereof or from the last compulsory defense, as the case may be, in a twelve (12) round fight, against the Mandatory Challenger, as determined by the Championship Committee according to these Regulations, unless an excep tion is made pursuant to these Regulations. For reasons unique to the Heavyweight Division, the WBO World Champion in the Heavyweight Division shall defend his title at intervals not greater than twelve (12) months counting from the date of the acquisition thereof or from the last compulsory defense as the case may be in a twelve (12) round fight, against the Mandatory Challenger, as determined by the Championship Committee according to these Regulations, unless an exception is made pursuant to these Regula tions. (b) In the interim period, the World Champion may defend the title against any contender classified within the fifteen (15) best by the World Boxing Organization, always with the approval of the World Championships Committee. (c) The WBO World Champion ship Committee may, in its discretion, vacate a Champion’s title (including the Heavyweight Division) regardless of cause or fault if the Champion fails to defend his title within a nine (9) month period. This decision will be final unless appealed to the Grievance Committee within ten (10) days of Notification to the Champion as provided for in these Rules. A Champion so stripped of his Title shall be classified using the WBO rating criteria, and he shall be classified in his division or in such other wei ght division as the Classifications Committee for good cause determines, provided that he has complied with the WBO and ABC rating criteria. (d) No WBO Champion may hold WBO titles in more than one Weight Division. If a WBO Champion wins a WBO Championship in a higher or lower division, the WBO Champion shall have Ten (10) Days to determine which Weight Division the WBO Champion will retain. The other Weight Division will be declared vacant. (e) In any circumstance in which a Mandatory Defense does not occur within the designated time period, the World Championship Committee may order an Interim Championship between contenders determined by the World Championship Committee.
SECTION 6. CHALLENGER (a) The Mandatory Challenger may be selected and determined by the World Championship Committee according to the current list of the bestclassified boxers, promulgated by the WBO Classification Committee. The World Cham pionship Committee shall for good cause designate the date on which the determination of the Mandatory Challenger shall be determined. For the purpose of designating the Mandatory Challenger, the current list of the Classifications is that which corresp onds to the month for which the designation of the Mandatory Challenger is to be made that the World Champion is obliged to defend his Title against the Mandatory Challenger, or any other date in which the World Championship Committee may determine, for ju st cause. (b) (c) (d) When a Champion must make a mandatory defense, the Mandatory Challenger shall be the highest classified available boxer who, in the judgment of the World Championship Committee, best satisfies the following criteria: (1) Has a record acceptable to the World Championship Committee, and who, because of accomplishment and achievement, is recognized by the World Championship Committee as a class boxer; and (2) Complies with the WBO and Association of Boxing Commissions Criteria for the Ratings of Prof essional Boxers; and (3) In the event that the Champion has a contract with a major television network (HBO, SHOWTIME, ZDF, Sky or other similar broadcast company), is an acceptable challenger to the Champion’s television network. A classified boxer may r equest recognition as Mandatory Challenger in writing to the WBO on a form which contain substantially the provisions of the Application for Designation as Mandatory Contender contained on the WBO web site. Alternatively, the Committee may designate a Man datory Challenger based on the above criteria. In either event, the Mandatory Challenger must agree to be subject to and to abide by the Regulations and to be bound to participate in and comply with the results of a purse bid. The World Championship Commit tee may deny a request for recognition based on any of the above referred criteria or because the Champion has an approved unification bout, or an approved unification tournament is scheduled, or if the Champion is contesting the Championship with a WBO Su per Champion or a WBO Champion, or for other good cause. If a fighter is classified higher than the Mandatory Challenger, and is not designated the Mandatory Challenger because of criteria three (3), or for other good cause, the Championship Committee has the authority to order an eliminatory bout between the higher classified boxer or boxers provided that at least one of the elimination bout contestants is considered an acceptable challenger to the Champion’s broadcast
company. The winner of the elimin Challenger. (e) The designation of a Mandatory Challenger creates an obligation on behalf of the Champion to defend against the designated Mandatory Challenger as a condition to the Champion’s retention of the title. This obligation may be subject to modification or extension by the Championship Committee for good cause, such as (but not limited to) participation by the Champion in a unification bout or a unification tournament on such terms and conditions as the Championship Committee approves. The designation of Mandatory Challenger does not create rights in the Challenger, and may be subject to such conditions, modification, or extension as the Championship Committee determines. (f) That a Champion has signed a contract for the defense of his championship, even against a Mandatory Challenger approved and designated by the Committee, shall not of itself constitute compliance with these Regulations, unless the Championship defense actually takes place wit hin the stipulated time period.
Comment