Reclaiming the sport - my ideas

[MartinM.]

I think it's been a slow process, but overtime it's seems like the boxing media, boxing fans and the fighters themselves have been putting less of an emphasis on who has the title. Years ago i knew who pretty much had what belt, now i have no idea, and i could care less.

We all know who the good or great fighters are, we dont need a leather belt to tell us. Or mandatory defenses, sanctioning fees etc

[ColWallace]

Your plan contains too much wishful thinking of fighters throwing away something they worked so hard for (A title).

That's very true and the achilles heel in the plan. It's okay for a Mayweather to snub a belt or two or three, but what about a guy like, say, Katsidis, who has in interim title which is effectively his foot in the door to a big fight against Marquez (or Diaz), and also a useful bargaining tool until that happens....

I guess it all comes down to which fighters want legitimacy and which fighters want to pretend they are something they're not. That's why I advocate a break-away group of elite fighters and also the involvement of Hall of Famers. It's about recognition from peers and also legitimacy in the eyes of the fans and the public at large. I.e. a body chaired by Ray Leonard with a board of George Foreman, Roberto Duran, Ray Mancini and a couple of others organising the rankings and sanctioning fights is a gonna have a far more prestigious championship belt than anything Jose Sulaiman and his ilk can manufacture.