Does Golovkin need Cotto’s WBC middleweight belt?

By Boxing News - 03/04/2015 - Comments

1-10By Gerardo Granados: A couple of day ago a friend asked if I knew the meaning of lineal champion, I think he couldn’t sense my sarcasm when I asked him if he could list the “current 17 division lineal champs”. The reader must know it is really hard or almost impossible to know which are the names on lineage of the eight original lineal champions until today.

If you add the extra weights and try to name a lineage on the new weight divisions until today you´ll get confused trying to figure out how an interim belt holder was promoted to the full regular champion status without fighting for the belt or when was the regular promoted to super champion.

When Nicholas The Axe Walters unified his regular WBA feather belt against the super WBA feather belt owned by Nonito Donaire did that make him the “lineal” or true WBA feather champion? After all Nonito defeated Simpiwe Vetyeka who defeated Chris John.

Do the readers know the name of the current featherweight “lineal” champion or at least do you care knowing the name? The man who beat the man.

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Its true that Donaire lost, but The Filipino Flash got the respect from fight fans by fighting Walters instead of hand pick a tailor made opponent in order to look good but did winning the WBA feather unification brought prestige to Walters? I think Walters got praise from fight fans for his performance against a solid fighter and not many fight fans cared that much about the name of the boxing organization that sanctioned the bout.

Cotto stated on an interview to elnuevodia “No organization owns my career; so I will do my part and what I want to do”. Undoubtedly Cotto has earned the right to look for what is best for him but if he really has no intention to fight Golovkin that might leave to a couple of fight fans a feeling of disappointment because in the past he has never avoided a good fight.

Golovkin is the WBA – IBO middleweight Champion of the World, but would it make a difference to the reader if GGG owned a different strap? Gennady has earned the respect of fight fans due his fan friendly fighting style, always taking the risks when he tries to finish off his opponents; but I doubt that to own a certain organization belt will bring him that much of prestige instead of his impeccable record against top opposition.

Many times the casual boxing fans can’t tell the difference between winning a vacant belt against an opponent who has never been ranked in the division, a Ring Magazine Award Belt, an organization International belt, a minor IBO belt, or a major organization interim – regular – super belt. All a casual fight fan look for is a good fight that brings excitement and entertainment and don’t care about boxing politics.

Hardcore boxing fans are much more demanding and know the difference between a genuine World Champion and a Manufactured Championship Belt. But they will also enjoy a competitive thrilling fight and can tell when a mismatch is about to take place. Also fight fans are aware of the meaning of the ducks and cherries when those items are related to a prizefighter.

Golovkin has been avoided for a while and a couple of belt holders must be waiting on him to slow down; what bigger compliment can a World Champion get when fellow division belt holders call him out but refuse to sign the contract or when solid champions simply don’t want any part of him.

I think the legit middleweight Champion of the World Gennady “GGG” Golovkin all need to do is to keep dominating contenders and the big names will be forced to fight him or be tagged as mere belt holders. It is up to us the fight fans to tell who the real division World Champion is and no boxing organization strap can guarantee a prizefighter to be considered to be the best.

But what about the reader, do you think Golovkin need Cotto´s belt?



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