Bradley not stripped from title but has the very new title of "champion in recess"

[Kev]

Bilbo will be in here a minute to tell us how great this and the WBC are for the sport of boxing, and yeah they are non-profit b/c the alphabets are what is keeping boxers from indentured servitude.

Actually this is standard procedure in all combat sports when a champion is inactive.

When Brock Lesnar in the UFC got ill Shane Carwin fought Frank Mir for the Interim Heavyweight belt and was presented with it in the cage after his win. Then Brock came in with his belt and they had a stare down. Standard practice, all according to the rules and regulations.

The point is that the title should always remain current, active and being fought for. If a champion can't or won't fight the belt goes up for grabs and in many cases the champion gets a belt and special status to ensure he's first in line to fight for it again. It's entirely normal.

If it wasnt someone could become champ and just defend it once a year or less. The WBC speculate 3 defences a year which is reasonable. Manchester United can't win the FA cup and then hold onto it the following season by not taking part. You can't keep a Grand Slam by not defending it in tennis either.

You people just rant and rave about nothing.

[Nameless]

Bilbo will be in here a minute to tell us how great this and the WBC are for the sport of boxing, and yeah they are non-profit b/c the alphabets are what is keeping boxers from indentured servitude.

Actually this is standard procedure in all combat sports when a champion is inactive.

When Brock Lesnar in the UFC got ill Shane Carwin fought Frank Mir for the Interim Heavyweight belt and was presented with it in the cage after his win. Then Brock came in with his belt and they had a stare down. Standard practice, all according to the rules and regulations.

The point is that the title is always active and being fought for. If a champion can't or won't fight the belt goes up for grabs and in many cases the champion gets a belt to ensure he's first in line to fight for it again. It's entirely normal.

LEsnar got "strip" because he would be away for the ring for medical reasons and for a VERY long time. Actually, he was supposed to be out for even longer than he really was, bless his good doctors. They even thought that his career had good chances to be off forever, hence why they ha to relinquish his belt to somebody else. Bradley, it's alll another case. Bradley boxed 7 months ago, which is hardly inactive in the world of boxing where people fight most of the time 2, let along 3 times per 12 months period. The only reason Sulaiman is doing it is to get one more fight, maybe 2 more times where he can sanction somebody to get cash off him.
Emeritus champion, Diamond belt champion, Super champion and now champion in recess, where does this nonsense stops? I am still waiting for the super diamond's champion belt where you have to beat the guy who has the wba, wbo, ibf and then beat the guy who is super champion in order to get it. for very friendly fees, of course.

[Kev]

Bilbo will be in here a minute to tell us how great this and the WBC are for the sport of boxing, and yeah they are non-profit b/c the alphabets are what is keeping boxers from indentured servitude.

Actually this is standard procedure in all combat sports when a champion is inactive.

When Brock Lesnar in the UFC got ill Shane Carwin fought Frank Mir for the Interim Heavyweight belt and was presented with it in the cage after his win. Then Brock came in with his belt and they had a stare down. Standard practice, all according to the rules and regulations.

The point is that the title is always active and being fought for. If a champion can't or won't fight the belt goes up for grabs and in many cases the champion gets a belt to ensure he's first in line to fight for it again. It's entirely normal.

LEsnar got "strip" because he would be away for the ring for medical reasons and for a VERY long time. Actually, he was supposed to be out for even longer than he really was, bless his good doctors. They even thought that his career had good chances to be off forever, hence why they ha to relinquish his belt to somebody else. Bradley, it's alll another case. Bradley boxed 7 months ago, which is hardly inactive in the world of boxing where people fight most of the time 2, let along 3 times per 12 months period. The only reason Sulaiman is doing it is to get one more fight, maybe 2 more times where he can sanction somebody to get cash off him.
Emeritus champion, Diamond belt champion, Super champion and now champion in recess, where does this nonsense stops? I am still waiting for the super diamond's champion belt where you have to beat the guy who has the wba, wbo, ibf and then beat the guy who is super champion in order to get it. for very friendly fees, of course.

They are a sanctioning body, they sanction world title fights. That's what the organisation exists to do. If a fighter can't or won't fight it goes on without them. If Tiger Woods gets injured and can't defend a major they don't postpone it until he's better, it goes on without him.

Of course Sulaiman wants a title fight to generate cash, they are a business and their business is world title fights. As I said, it's entirely normal, standard procedure in all combat sports.

If it wasn't some fighters would hardly ever defend their titles. It's only been seven months but he has no fight planned so won't be fighting at least until October, maybe the end of the year. In the meantime they want to hold the second title fight of the year in that weight class, according to their standard terms and conditions.

Bradley is being looked after though, he gets a temporary recess status and will be be first in line to fight the winner.

In the meantime, whilst he's doing nothing and therefor providing nothing for the fans the WBC are giving us an excellent matchup between Eric Morales and Mathhyse. Personally I'm pumped for this fight, going to be a barnburner. Well done WBC.

[p4pking]

Meh, don't really disagree with Bilbo on this, especially if the accounts of Bradley basically pricing himself out of a Khan fight are true. Its trendy to rag on the alphabet gangs of course and often with good reason, but inactive champions certainly hurt the sport more. I like Bradley enough but he doesn`t have superstar ability and basically needs to fight more often if he wants to preserve the things he does have going for him.

[Kev]

Meh, don't really disagree with Bilbo on this, especially if the accounts of Bradley basically pricing himself out of a Khan fight are true. Its trendy to rag on the alphabet gangs of course and often with good reason, but inactive champions certainly hurt the sport more. I like Bradley enough but he doesn`t have superstar ability and basically needs to fight more often if he wants to preserve the things he does have going for him.

I don't understand what people are whining about half the time mate, they are never happy. No opponent is good enough, no belt is credible enough blah blah.

We have two options.

1)Bradley keeps the title, takes the year off and there is no WBC title fight this summer/autumn.

2) As he refused to defend his belt the WBC move on and match two of the most exciting fighters in the division in what will likely be a great slugfest. Then Bradley is given the right as 'champion in recess' to fight the winner and get his belt back.

So we get a nice title fight between two exciting stars, the WBC make some money, and Bradley gets to win his belt back when he decides to fight again.

Sounds like simple common sense to me.

[p4pking]

Yea good point. Im sure Bradley himself didnt object to this, but leave it to everyone else to scream about it. Long as he doesnt seem to want to fight Khan or anyone else why not wait it out for a much easier payday. I figure people just dont really think about the way it will actually affect the involved fighters. Bradley knows he`ll never be a huge star and so his next couple of paydays will likely dictate the rest of his life financially, why the hell wouldnt he want a chance to win back his title from an ancient Morales or a crude puncher instead of putting all his chips in against Khan who is going to be around for a while.

[VictorCharlie]

I don't care if they strip him. Its the comical recess bit that is absurd.