What's the deal with the IBO?

[Combat Talk Radio]

Minimumweight through Lightweight - belt's never defended, three guys sat on it for multiple years, everyone else relinquished it or was stripped of it.

Super Lightweight - somewhat defended, somewhat not

Welterweight - three guys sat on it for multiple years without fighting, everyone else relinquished it or was stripped of it. Formella seems to still have it but they don't even show Welterweight on the site anymore.

Super Welterweight - might as well call it the Erislandy Lara belt because he's basically the only one who's actively fought for it and defended it

Middleweight - might as well call it the GGG belt because he's the only one who's actively fought for and defended it.

Super Middleweight - Passed around like a drunk hooker (strip/relinquish)

Light Heavyweight - Mostly actively defended but nobody can seem to hang onto it for very long

Cruiserweight - Passed around like a drunk hooker (strip/relinquish) then sat at the same guy for 3 years with active defenses

Heavyweight - used to be passed around, then Clinchko actively defended it for years, now it's actively defended since Fury vacated it


I know the IBHOF doesn't recognize the IBO. The question is why certain divisions actively defend it and others don't. Seems like Heavyweight cares about it more than any other.

[famicommander]

It's been unified with one of the big four belts for a long time at heavyweight so that's why it seems to have more relevance there.

I like the IBO's rankings better than the other alphabet soup organizations but since their belt isn't a major title they often can't get the best fighters to agree to fight for their belt. So even though their rankings are good, we end up with #12 vs #25 for a vacant belt anyway.

[SimpleTouchee]

IBO second tier belt, it's a shame boxing websites calling fighters "IBO king" like that's not a world title it don't matter how many times Klitschko,Lennox Lewis, AJ held that title it's not a world title it's causing confusion among boxing media treating it like it's a world title. The IBO should be a title a prospect holds like the USBA for example if Jaron Ennis won the vacant IBO against Jesse Vargas.

[youbeight]

It’s a 2nd rate belt. Don’t really care much for it. Just another prop to get some $$$ outta fighters. If it were to replace The WBO or WBA I’d be on board.

[Kezzer]

They don’t place mandatories in the same way as other belts , simple as that.

[_Rexy_]

They don’t charge a sanctioning fee at heavyweight. They view it as good promotion when Joshua holds it with his real belts

[Larry the boss]

this is like asking whats up with the IBA or the WBF..None are legit titles so who gives a damn?

[Combat Talk Radio]

this is like asking whats up with the IBA or the WBF..None are legit titles so who gives a damn?

Difference is neither of those are held by anyone on TV.

Plus IBO has a very rich history with solid fighters holding it.

[YoungManRumble]

They don’t charge a sanctioning fee at heavyweight. They view it as good promotion when Joshua holds it with his real belts

Is that really true? Never heard that before. Promotionally it makes sense but to me it's similar to rich celebrities who get given free stuff that they could easily afford. Not very fair to the little guys.

It almost seems like a tradition for people to drop the IBO before a title defense due to not wanting to pay up.

[Earl-Hickey]

People say its not a legit belt but honestly to me it's not any worse than any of the so called "big four"

In fact I don't recall the IBO being involved in any of the corrupt **** the other ones are always embroiled in so maybe it's actually the best one, who knows.