Deon Potgieter : Boxing
WBA , WBC, IBF, WBO, WBU, IBA, WBF and so forth. Looking at all the different world title sanctioning bodies, things are getting pretty confusing for fight fans. Terry Pettifer, Golden Gloves publicist, coined the phrase: “It’s the alphabet soup of world boxing” and indeed that’s what it seems to be.
In the first 70 years of boxing there was one world champion and there were eight weight divisions. Now there are 17 weight divisions and around 13 world title sanctioning bodies. It started with the World Boxing Association (WBA). Then came the World Boxing Council (WBC) in the Sixties and the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) in the Eighties.
In the modern game the first three titles mentioned are regarded as the so-called “respected” world titles while the other 10 still have to prove their worth. Nevertheless, the WBO, which is the most respected of the “lesser” titles, does in fact boast the likes of Naseem Hamed, regarded as the best featherweight in the division.
The rest of the titles have little meaning outside South Africa and Europe. Although some of their champions are recognised internationally, it is more often the man that makes the title, rather than the title making the man. Former world heavyweight contender Kallie Knoetze said, “A true world champion is a boxer who can get the man in the street to come to a venue and pay to see him fight. Those are the real world champions, the guys who can draw the crowds!”
South Africa currently boasts 13 world champions, but only one of those champions holds a “respected” world title, namely Zolani Petello, the IBF mini-flyweight champion. (Vuyani Bungu gave up his IBF junior featherweight title last week, as he will now be campaigning as a featherweight.) Does this mean that South Africa is a country filled with second-rate world champions?
“Not so,” says Bert Blewett, editor of Boxing World magazine. “Not all our world champions may justify the label of world champion, but in the early days boxing was always ruled by the Americans and for a fighter to get a world title fight he had to sell his soul. Now our fighters have the opportunities to be recognised internationally.”
He adds: “With more big names fighting for the `lesser respected’ titles they will grow in credibility. For example, Junior Jones will be fighting for an International Boxing Organisation title in April. Having him as a champion will elevate the standing of the organisation.”
“Baby” Jake Matlala, the current International Boxing Association junior flyweight champion says: “It’s a good thing having all these titles, because it gives our fighters the opportunity to make more money and to be able to make a living in their chosen sport.”
Although purists dislike having more than one world champion, modern boxing can be likened to all other spectator sports.
Just as each international tennis, cricket or golf title has value, so too does each boxing world title. In determining just who is the best overall, well that’s as it’s always been, up to the spectator.