Boxing has been in the process of becoming more of a sport of participation than of excellence. Imagine a world were every team makes the playoffs. Hordes of medals are awarded in solo team sports where once only three were given out. As the line fades between champion and also ran, the masses become confused. A marketing strategy based on a shell game can only last so long before people become fed up and leave. This is the state of boxing and why belts must be eliminated for the sport to flourish once again.
Partly It Is the Crowds Fault
Money came rushing in whenever there was a fighter that would have a gaudy record. It created the temptation to foster careers so that an average boxer whom was marketable could go close to twenty fights without meeting someone of even good talent. Tomato can sports became dull. Plus anytime someone accrued four losses or so, they were usually relegated to the sports heap. Organizers made this assumption but it has been proved wrong. Look at UFC. Some of their higher profile bouts contain matches with one person having nearly a .500 record. Dana White had more street credit in his 22-6 athletes than boxers who wore title belts.
To the Very Top
Even now, boxing can not help itself. Their dominant fighters at the heavyweight level are brothers. They have vowed to never fight one another. Admirable and they do not need the money. So to break the stalemate, give them both belts by whatever acronym organization we can dream up. There have been pictures floating about where they stand together with six belts. The math across the industry makes it even more mind boggling.
- Too Many Weight Divisions (17)
- How many unique people could wear a belt if all the organizations gave one out each. This number exceeds 100 in a sport with 17 divisions.
When a sport raises its ranking on a literal corpse not once but twice then regulation is a must. If there is any central power left in boxing then they must eliminate the chaff. Darrin Morris had died on 10/17/2000 and yet in the ranking periods after this went all the way up to fifth in the rankings. At least UFC features live fighters with less “managed” careers. Get rid of 60 percent of the belts and we will be able to make more money on wagering because it will be an improved and more honest sport.
