WBC
There’s good things that have been done in the four-belt era of the “sweet science”. But there’s also a lot more that have left its loyal followers scratching and shaking their heads. Usually when there’s a slight glimmer of hope for creative solutions, the sport shoots itself in the foot. But for the first time since the 70’s and 80’s fighters are grabbing the bull by the horns. Except one. And that’s why heavyweight boxing is still a mess.
With purses bigger now than ever before, most fighters tend to only fight once, maybe twice a year. At least if fighters claimed they were concerned about future CTE you could cut them some slack. With the resurgence of fighters putting their money where their mouths are, fans are excited. But with the boom of the crossover fight, it’s put a monkey wrench into many fans and fighters hopes alike.
Let’s not forget MUHAMMAD ALI and ANTONIO INOKI danced. But this is the time that the heavyweights should be looking for one name, one face also. On the surface Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou does have something intriguing. But boxing business needs to come first. Thanks in part to WBC President Mauricio SulaimAn it’s become a bigger circus than it needed to be.
“The Gypsy King” has teased retirement for a while. It’s always been a business ploy, which is his prerogative. However, had Sulaiman here put his foot down instead of waffling, he could have been looked at as a man with a recently growing spine. This fight not an exhibition, but Fury’s strap is not on the line. In that case; thank god for small favors. Imagine the uproar from boxers and fans if Ngannou clips Fury and won a belt in his first ever boxing match.
Heavyweight Boxing Is A Mess With An Easy Fix
For selfish reasons the alphabet organizations rather not have unified undisputed champions. That’s something boxers, and fans like to think about. Fury played games with Oleksandr Usyk and every other possible opponent. For him Ngannou makes sense from a size, weight, and experience factor. But as a champion, he does have a responsibility to the sport he says he loves. To defend or vacate.
The big boy division has three, and possibly still a fourth big fight lined up. Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte 2, which should go the same way as their first-fight. If Joe Joyce can keep his head off the centerline, dart in and out, he may be able to avenge his loss to Zhilei Zhang. And although Daniel Dubois is tough as they come, it’s hard to imagine him outworking Usyk. And by no means is Deontay Wilder and Andy Ruiz completely dead and buried yet.
A no rematch, round-robin, single elimination tournament can be done for a new WBC champion before a full unifying fight. And there’s only one way boxers and fans get what they clamour for. It’s to show the powers that be, who truly has the power. It’s up to the fans to draw a line in the sand and stand firm. Demand after this circus of a crossover happens, Fury take on a consensus Top-3 challenger with a blind purse. And if the WBC chooses not to do something like this, they will no longer buy the WBC product.
Granted asking fans to not watch or purchase merchandise is a tall ask. However, things in this world get done only under critical mass from the public.
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