Quote Originally Posted by ArawakWarria
If that is the case, then Joe Calzhaghe isn't a champion either, even after almost 20 defenses against just about every top SuMwt in the world.  If it is so useless, then why did so many people travel to him to try to get it?  It was the only belt he had until he beat Lacy...

If that is the case, then Fernando Montiel is not a champion either.

If that is the case, then Cotto was never champion at 140...

Nor is Shannon Briggs, or were Lamon Brewster, Vitali nor Wladimir Klitschko when they won it.

There was a time when there was only one belt.  then two... now there are four, and in my opinion moving up to five (IBA).  This belt was not in high regard in the 80's and 90's, but is now rated among the top journalists in the world and sought by all of the fighters throughtout the weights.

I got no problem not calling Calzaghe a champion.  As well as Briggs and the rest.  I don't think highly of the WBC, WBA or the IBF at all.  But when it was just them 3 boxing was doing alright.  Boxing was actually on free TV on a regular basis.  And boxing still got some love from the mainstream.  You had 3 champions but they would unified every so often.  Champion versus champion actually meant something.  When the WBO came in it fucked every thing up.  Not only did it open the door for the sorry ass IBA, WBU, WBB, IBO and the other garbage.  It started making up it's own rules, like the 3 knock down rule.  It also let big stars like Hamed avoid there mandatories.  The WBO is fuckin garbage.  And I don't consider there belt holders champions.  How can you take an organization that actually moved a fighter up in it rankings weeks after he passed away seriously?