The ratings system is a joke!!

[boozeboxer]

With having recent correspondence with boxing governing bodies such as the WBC, WBA, IBF etc it seems that in order to get your fighter ranked it depends on the number of wins he has rather than the quality of the opponent. When questioning how Dean Francis has been ranked in the top 10 of the WBO Light Heavyweight rankings, since his loss to Matthew Barney in 2003 he has won his next 7 fights but all of which have been against poor opponents a 19-76-6, 18-23-1, 9-1, 20-24-1, 13-6, 13-7-1 and a 5-2, all on small domestic shows, the last one being for the Commonwealth belt against a guy who had lost his eliminator (Michael Gbenga). Note that he now fights for the Super Middleweight belt with a record of 5-3 and losing his last two fights. I was advised to just keep the fighter busy and the quality of the opponent is not really of concern. Does that mean you can fight a drunk from a bar every week for a year and come in with a 52-0 record with 52 knockouts and be ranked number 1 with the governing bodies?

It seems it's who you know and not what you do in the ring that makes the difference. These guys are ruining the sport, not only does a new world title belt pop up every week, the ranking are a joke. Got an e-mail from the WBPF the other day with their rankings and a list of their world champions.... sorry WHO!

Something has to be done before our great sport turns into a JOKE!!

You act like this is a recent occurrence.

[jmbtandy]

With having recent correspondence with boxing governing bodies such as the WBC, WBA, IBF etc it seems that in order to get your fighter ranked it depends on the number of wins he has rather than the quality of the opponent. When questioning how Dean Francis has been ranked in the top 10 of the WBO Light Heavyweight rankings, since his loss to Matthew Barney in 2003 he has won his next 7 fights but all of which have been against poor opponents a 19-76-6, 18-23-1, 9-1, 20-24-1, 13-6, 13-7-1 and a 5-2, all on small domestic shows, the last one being for the Commonwealth belt against a guy who had lost his eliminator (Michael Gbenga). Note that he now fights for the Super Middleweight belt with a record of 5-3 and losing his last two fights. I was advised to just keep the fighter busy and the quality of the opponent is not really of concern. Does that mean you can fight a drunk from a bar every week for a year and come in with a 52-0 record with 52 knockouts and be ranked number 1 with the governing bodies?

It seems it's who you know and not what you do in the ring that makes the difference. These guys are ruining the sport, not only does a new world title belt pop up every week, the ranking are a joke. Got an e-mail from the WBPF the other day with their rankings and a list of their world champions.... sorry WHO!

Something has to be done before our great sport turns into a JOKE!!

You act like this is a recent occurrence.

It is getting worse!

[Deanrw]

I find the Super Middleweight division particularly bad for this and it has been this way for quite a while. Take a look at Anthony Mundine's last few opponents to get an idea. Kessler's next opponent and many previous ones. Even Joe basically had a picnic in there for years and never had to face championship caliber opposition.

I remember a couple years ago when everyone was saying how great the Super Middleweight division was. I was really thrown back by it as it was basically two good fighters, beating on guys who had no business even fighting for a world belt.

The talent is so watered down in the sport and it is not getting any better.

The Jr. Middle, Middleweight and Heavyweight divisions are now thinned out and has joined the super middles in the doldrums. Welterweights are still ok, but for how long?

Basically anything above welterweight is is in dire straits right now. The talent pool is soooo thinned out. I guess it can be attributed to the decline in popularity of the sport. Less people entering the sport directly translates to less of a gene pool of talent.