Bernie Davis Says Fighters Will Move Away From Traditional Titles

Bernie Davis Says Sanctioning Belts Are Becoming Obsolete

Bernie Davis says sanctioning-body belts are losing their hold over elite fighters. Terence Crawford’s coach argues major fights now carry more weight than official titles.

Davis said the growing resistance stems from sanctioning fees and what fighters see as limited value in maintaining official recognition when major fights already establish championship standing.

“The belt is gonna be obsolete when you ain’t treating them right,” Davis said to MillCity Boxing. “Especially the WBC. The WBC gonna be obsolete pretty soon. The way they treating people not going to last.”

His comments came while discussing the sanctioning dispute involving Shakur Stevenson, which highlighted the growing friction between elite fighters and sanctioning bodies over fees and recognition. Davis questioned why fighters should continue paying large sanctioning fees when their standing is already established through major fights and championship performances.

“Why would I pay you to hold your belt when it’s sitting right on my living room table?” Davis said. “I can see it right now. I’m paying $120,000 for the words. The title. That phrase. That’s what I’m paying for.”

That view reflects a growing shift among elite fighters, particularly those who have already secured championship recognition across multiple divisions. Once a fighter reaches that level, Davis believes the belt itself becomes secondary to the fighter’s name and proven standing in the sport.

“At the end of the day, it boils down to the fighters,” Davis said. “If the fighter can realize in certain instances the championship belt don’t mean nothing, you know, like Shakur right now, he’s still the champion of the world no matter what.”

Davis also pointed to differences between sanctioning bodies, suggesting some organizations maintain better working relationships with fighters, while others risk alienating them through financial demands and administrative decisions.

“The WBO treat you good,” Davis said. “Sanctioning fees don’t seem to be as high. Just the integrity.”

That independence currently applies to only a small group of elite fighters who are earning purses large enough to operate outside the sanctioning system. Most fighters still rely on championship belts to build their careers and increase their earning power.

Major fights are now driven by broadcasters, promoters, and star fighters, reducing the influence that sanctioning bodies once held over championship recognition. When elite fighters compete for lineal recognition, Ring titles, or commercially significant fights, official sanctioning recognition becomes optional rather than essential.

Davis figures that pattern keeps rolling once fighters start understanding their own value at the negotiating table and in the ring.

“If you already got the belts and you already proved yourself, you don’t need all the titles,” Davis said.

His view reflects a changing sport, where the authority of sanctioning bodies depends increasingly on fighter participation rather than the other way around.