Deserving fighters and the many belts

By Boxing News - 09/20/2014 - Comments

By Robert “Big Moe” Elmore: Some boxing fans are not happy with the many belts that have filled boxing as of late. They say it takes away from the sport for two reasons. One, they claim it’s just another way for the alphabet soup to align their pockets with more money. And two, it takes away from knowing who is the true champion of a certain division.

Try telling this to those fighters who may never get a chance to fight for the big four; WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO. They will gladly pay that sanctioning fee for that smaller belt. These fighters are often told “you don’t deserve a shot at the title”. Every fighter deserves a shot at the title and a chance to have that mega pay day. Yes, I understand that some hit that lotto and get that mega fight despite their resume and ranking. It is unfair that someone who is the number one contender in their particular weight class get passed over for someone is ranked fifth because has a huge fan base. It happens. But telling someone they don’t deserve something is something I will never support.

There are no differences between a known and unknown fighter in preparation of a fight. The unknown sacrifices family time, goes to the gym, eats correctly and ultimately put their lives on their lives on the line once they step in the ring. So winning that IBO or IBA title means the world to that guy who might not see HBO or Showtime. Fighting on EPSN is his HBO. I believe when the ring announcer says “the champion of the world”, world sticks out. It gives them a major confidence boost and I’m sure they will defend that title with all their heart.

In 1989, Evander Holyfield beat Michael Dokes for the WBC Silver Continental title. I don’t think Holyfield was complaining about the name of the title because he defended it four times. Fortunately for Holyfield he was able to get a shot at the heavyweight title on several occasions. But even if Holyfield never got another title shot, he had already collected the big three at cruiserweight. Others don’t get what Holyfield got. Sometimes their biggest fight is fighting the man who just fought the man. Meanwhile, most will become sparing partners, gate keepers, and journeymen. The WBC, WBA and the WBO have expanded their belts. Again it’s not a bad thing to me.

The fact that the spin off belt is a part of the WBC, WBA, WBO is of no mind to that fighter who desire the “real” belt be it interim, regular, or super. Some fighters put all their eggs in that “big fight” basket and are often let down like Jarrod Fletcher (who was told he did nothing to earn a shot at middleweight Gennady Golovkin). If I were a fighter and never got a shot at a major title, but won a series of smaller ones, I would be okay with that. I say that because I knew I gave it all I had every time I stepped in the ring. And if the person that came behind me got a chance at a major title, I would be fine with that. I just paved the way for someone to get a shot. But big or small, everyone deserves to be champion.



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