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I was recently asked to speak at
a University dinner outlining
the current status of boxing
worldwide, but with particular
reference to the role played by
the new and improved World
Boxing Federation. The most
important question posed to me
was where has the legitimacy of
boxing titles gone? An
insightful question and one I
thoroughly enjoyed giving an
answer.
The fact is that boxing indeed
has way too many
titles. However, unlike some of
the other organizations, the
World Boxing Federation usually
does not like to compare itself
with others, rather to look at
ourselves, always reflect and to
concentrate on delivering the
highest standards possible and
to make our titles meaningful.
es, there are other
organizations dreaming up titles
beyond belief, titles where the
term “Youth” is the norm and yet
fighters in their forties seem
to be contesting these titles
designed for youngsters. Silver
titles, super titles, interim
titles, gold titles, blue
titles, Emeritus titles, diamond
belts, Pan-something titles -
the list is endless but also
meaningless once the credibilty
is no more.
So my answer to the question
firstly was initiated by a
responding question. Why
shouldn't the WBF do all these
crazy titles, forget our
credibility and rather put a few
dollars in our account? The
answer was very simple - we
don't care about what our
opposition sanctioning bodies
do, rather we strive for
credibility, honesty, integrity
and transparency. We want the
paying boxing public to
scrutinize the WBF and see what
it is that we do. They will see
that we are a principled
sanctioning body which hopes to
build rather than to destroy. We
want the public to buy in to
what we do, what our objectives
are, and to walk away from our
title fights with great
enjoyment and satisfaction.
We at the WBF offer three main
titles - our world title for top
world class contenders, our
Intercontinental title for top
fighters just outside the term
'world class' (although
ironically most of our
Intercontinental champions are
just that), and our
International title for good
prospects in order to put them
on a direction towards higher
titles. And yes - we do have
some regional titles to groom
local up and coming fighters
usually with records around 10
and 1 or close thereto. Four is
more than enough for us.
And we have turned down many
requests for titles we consider
an insult to the fans. A decade
or so ago, some writers proposed
that boxing will come to the
point that one day there are
more titles on offer than
fighters who can win them! At
that time, most people laughed
about this statement, but we
have now indeed reached this
point and it’s time common sense
should kick in. Principles and
values first, Dollars in the
bank later!
Good luck to some of the other
sanctioning bodies who
compromise their integrity and
credbility by staging ridiculous
titles. We at the WBF are
certainly not prepared to, not
now or ever, give up on our
morals, our values and our
principals. You, the paying
boxing supporter, be the judge.
Until next time, keep boxing.
Howard Goldberg
PRESIDENT: World Boxing
Federation
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