Thread: Fighters handed titles as gifts

Hi Everyone

I wanted to share my thoughts on this because I feel this is one thing that could ruin boxing in the future. We all know that the governing alphabet bodies are a joke when it comes to ranking fighters, but it makes me fairly angry that when someone becomes #1 contender and a champion vacates that they're 'given' the title rather than be made to fight for a vacant title. Twice this happened at Light-Welter when Ricky vacated titles and we were left with two men who got to call themselves a 'world' champion without actually winning the belt in Souleymane M'Baye & Lovemore N'Dou. Can you imagine if for their first fight if they'd signed a unification fight? Ths will ruin boxing if we have people of such limited ability being able to call themselves 'world' champions when

#1 they didn't win the belt
#2 they couldn't even defend it successfully (I'm not counting a draw as a defence)

Fighters should have to win the world title, it shouldn't be a gift.

Sorry to rant, but N'Dou's recent mouthing off about Hatton just made me think about this again.

I guess lEnnox Lewis was handed his first title in much the same way...But i suppose he's different as he went on to make his mark, but i do see what ur saying and i don't like it.

Wasn't Berrio given the IBF title that was stripped from Calzaghe

I agree with what your saying bzkfn it happens all to often. I always thought if a champion vacated his title that the #1 and #2 ranked fighters should face off for it. If one is not available move down the line in order. The guys work hard to earn their ranking why should they be cheated? I also think that when the champion does vacated the title everyone should be moved up one spot after the new champion is crowned.

I will have to say that if a ranked fighter has already signed to fight the champion but the champ backs out and vacates then they deserve the belt via forfit

If I am not mistaken Lennox Lewis was the mandatory for Bowe? I could be wrong though?

Yes and when Bowe was stripped they handed the Title to Lewis, if i remember correctly.

On reflection i do believe that Bowe was very intimidated by Lewis, more than anyone else. I think Bowe couldn't forget what happened at the Olympics, new that Lewis had improved even more in every aspect and would have had his number.
I feel thats why they never fought.

Lewis had just beaten Ruddock in an eliminater and as everyone knows Bowe refused to fight him.

N'dou was handed the IBF but had beaten Rabah around the same time Hatton won then chucked the belt - Rabah and N'dou were 1 and 2 so pretty pointless doing it all again.

At the end of the day, what a load of shit.

Chris byrd.

Originally Posted by hitmandonny

Yes and when Bowe was stripped they handed the Title to Lewis, if i remember correctly.

On reflection i do believe that Bowe was very intimidated by Lewis, more than anyone else. I think Bowe couldn't forget what happened at the Olympics, new that Lewis had improved even more in every aspect and would have had his number.
I feel thats why they never fought.

Bowe threw The WBC strap in the garbage on live TV "If He (lewis) wants the belt he can come get it"..........Chump move.Indeed He was Wary of Lewis big time.
He went on to make 2 defenses against such world "threats" in Jesse Furgusson and Washed out of Re-hab Michael Dokes
Technicley you can say "The Boggie Man" earned his Shot by beating out of shape Ray mercer(Bowe fight pending next) in the Infamous Bribe fight that went to court.

Originally Posted by Spicoli Surfs In 'Nawlins

Originally Posted by hitmandonny

Yes and when Bowe was stripped they handed the Title to Lewis, if i remember correctly.

On reflection i do believe that Bowe was very intimidated by Lewis, more than anyone else. I think Bowe couldn't forget what happened at the Olympics, new that Lewis had improved even more in every aspect and would have had his number.
I feel thats why they never fought.

Bowe threw The WBC strap in the garbage on live TV "If He (lewis) wants the belt he can come get it"..........Chump move.Indeed He was Wary of Lewis big time.
He went on to make 2 defenses against such world "threats" in Jesse Furgusson and Washed out of Re-hab Michael Dokes
Technicley you can say "The Boggie Man" earned his Shot by beating out of shape Ray mercer(Bowe fight pending next) in the Infamous Bribe fight that went to court.

here's my thoughts on that fight.
Lennox would have handed him a defeat which would have been so comprehensive that he wouldn't have gone on imo. I'm not talking about a KO, i'm alluding to a boxing lesson a one sided UD and Bowe's desperation becoming increasingly evident as the rounds passed by. Lennox would 1-2 him all night and could search for a stoppage with that great uppercut of his. Easy.

After Leon Spinks upset Muhammad Ali for the WBA/WBC title, the WBC stripped Spinks of their version of the belt and GAVE it to Ken Norton.

So when people say Ken Norton was a former heavyweight champ, that is what they are referring to.

At this point who cares? we did have the Ring. Then they are sold to The Ring who ranks ODLH as #15 best in all the wieght division. At this point I want every fight to be for a belt, why not.

Originally Posted by hitmandonny

Wasn't Berrio given the IBF title that was stripped from Calzaghe

Calzaghe refused to defend against his mandatory Robert Stieglitz, who had won an eliminator against Berrio. After Calzaghe was stripped Stieglitz and Berrio squared off again for the vacant belt (Berrio had since won an 'Eliminator for the #2 spot' against Yusuf Mack). This time with Berrio as the winner.

So Berrio did win the belt in the ring. Although you could argue that beating Robert Stieglitz hardly warrants a world title... But then you would be questioning quite many of today's champs.

Judah was given his first title on a silver platter. The true champion at the time Terron Millett was stripped of his title due to injury. Judah than fought the unworthy Jan Bergman for the vacant title.

Originally Posted by Spicoli Surfs In 'Nawlins

Originally Posted by hitmandonny

Yes and when Bowe was stripped they handed the Title to Lewis, if i remember correctly.

On reflection i do believe that Bowe was very intimidated by Lewis, more than anyone else. I think Bowe couldn't forget what happened at the Olympics, new that Lewis had improved even more in every aspect and would have had his number.
I feel thats why they never fought.

Bowe threw The WBC strap in the garbage on live TV "If He (lewis) wants the belt he can come get it"..........Chump move.Indeed He was Wary of Lewis big time.
He went on to make 2 defenses against such world "threats" in Jesse Furgusson and Washed out of Re-hab Michael Dokes
Technicley you can say "The Boggie Man" earned his Shot by beating out of shape Ray mercer(Bowe fight pending next) in the Infamous Bribe fight that went to court.

Spot on Spicoli and if we want to get more technical the ever colorful Rock Newman was the person who advised Bowe to throw it in the trash.
If memory serves me right while Newman thought out his GREAT plan Bowe was stuffing his face eating whatever the fuck got in his way.
So to say Lennox was given the belt needs some clarification. (Not saying you Spicoli)
He won an Eliminator bout the Champion declined thus making him the champ he went on to successfully defend the title and more then that became Undisputed champ.

Some of my favorite "gifted" fighters:
Zab Judah - After Baldomir beat the then IBF & WBC champ. since the IBF didn't get their cut from Baldomir they decided to give the IBF title back to Zab. Go figure?

Lou Del Valle & William Guthrie - Both fighters wound up with belts after the stupid ass IBF & WBA stripped 'The Tiger' from his titles. Politics at it's finest....

Originally Posted by CutMeMick

Originally Posted by Spicoli Surfs In 'Nawlins

Originally Posted by hitmandonny

Yes and when Bowe was stripped they handed the Title to Lewis, if i remember correctly.

On reflection i do believe that Bowe was very intimidated by Lewis, more than anyone else. I think Bowe couldn't forget what happened at the Olympics, new that Lewis had improved even more in every aspect and would have had his number.
I feel thats why they never fought.

Bowe threw The WBC strap in the garbage on live TV "If He (lewis) wants the belt he can come get it"..........Chump move.Indeed He was Wary of Lewis big time.
He went on to make 2 defenses against such world "threats" in Jesse Furgusson and Washed out of Re-hab Michael Dokes
Technicley you can say "The Boggie Man" earned his Shot by beating out of shape Ray mercer(Bowe fight pending next) in the Infamous Bribe fight that went to court.

Spot on Spicoli and if we want to get more technical the ever colorful Rock Newman was the person who advised Bowe to throw it in the trash.
If memory serves me right while Newman thought out his GREAT plan Bowe was stuffing his face eating whatever the F*** got in his way.
So to say Lennox was given the belt needs some clarification. (Not saying you Spicoli)
He won an Eliminator bout the Champion declined thus making him the champ he went on to successfully defend the title and more then that became Undisputed champ.

Some of my favorite "gifted" fighters:
Zab Judah - After Baldomir beat the then IBF & WBC champ. since the IBF didn't get their cut from Baldomir they decided to give the IBF title back to Zab. Go figure?

Lou Del Valle & William Guthrie - Both fighters wound up with belts after the stupid a** IBF & WBA stripped 'The Tiger' from his titles. Politics at it's finest....

Lets just say Dariusz was .........avoided? R.J
For a minute Im trying to place Jirov Vs. these two...Del valle/Guthrie. Vassily top body crusher!
Have no doubt...Lewis gets much respect.He did indeed Earn It!
And Rock Neuman was an aszhole along the lines of Ruiz's crazy yelling "trainer"
Norm stone or some crap. I am Fubar!