The pathetic WBO in yet another madness moment

[Wheelchair]

According to this article the WBO have stripped Martinez of his Middleweight title..........

 

Middleweight champion Sergio Martinez was feted in a ceremony at the WBO's Puerto Rican headquarters on May 11, when he was presented with his new title belt. Those good feelings did not last long.

 

Martinez, who took apart Kelly Pavlik to win a unanimous decision and the lineal championship on April 17, has been stripped of his WBO version of the 160-pound title.

 

In a letter Saturday to Martinez and his handlers, WBO president Francisco "Paco" Valcárcel informed him of the sanctioning organization's decision.

 

"I learned a while ago that these organizations don't give you a belt," Martinez said. "They loan it to you. When they elect to take it back, they take it back. I thank them for the opportunity to win it and to hold it, but there is nothing I can do about it if they want to take it back. They can match whoever they want below me (for the vacant belt), but in my view, that winner can't truly call himself a champion."

 

Lou DiBella, Martinez's outspoken promoter, wasn't as diplomatic as his fighter about the decision.

 

"My attitude is f--- 'em. F--- 'em. He is the people's champion at 160 pounds," DiBella said. "He is the lineal and only legitimate champion."

 

Martinez still holds the Ring magazine middleweight title and WBC belt at middleweight, as well as the WBC's version of the 154-pound junior middleweight title. He has not yet determined in which weight class he will fight.

 

However, the WBO said it would no longer wait for him to decide and cited its rule governing the situation: "A WBO champion who wins a non-WBO championship in a weight class that is different than the weight class in which he holds his WBO championship must decide within 10 days of the non-WBO championship which title in which weight class he will retain. No WBO champion may hold a non-WBO championship in a weight class that is different from the weight class of his WBO championship."

 

"We have so many bad decisions in the ring and now we have another bad one outside the ring," said Sampson Lewkowicz, Martinez's adviser. "I understand they have bylaws, but there must be an exception for an exceptional champion like Sergio 'Maravilla' Martinez."

 

The rule in section 15 of the WBO's bylaws is one for which there has typically been an exception made when a fighter asks for one in order to allow more time to decide which title he will keep.

 

"What's troubling is that they have a rule that gives them the right to make an exception, but here, for whatever reason, they elected to strip Sergio even though there is no contender who has been sitting there waiting and waiting for his chance," DiBella said. "A lot of the guys in their top 10 aren't even available to fight for the title. I don't know what their rush was.

 

"Look at their ratings and try to rationalize their behavior. All you can do is conclude that this is another ratings organization who doesn't give a s--- about boxing and shoots itself in the foot."

 

Lewkowicz said the WBC has not forced the issue yet. He added that Martinez's decision about which weight class title to keep will depend on his next opponent and HBO, which has backed Martinez's recent fights, although the network has not made his next fight a priority.

 

Martinez (45-2-2, 24 KOs), who is from Argentina and lives in California, has been mentioned as a possible opponent for Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the event that he does not fight Manny Pacquiao.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=5238745&campaign=rss&source=BOXINGHeadlines

[WelshDevilRob]

I wonder if anyone ever complied a league table of bad decisions by the different organisations - which one would come out on top?

 

Be a close run thing thats for sure.

[Wheelchair]

I have a feeling the WBO would come out worse. They are a bunch of ridiculous pile-ridden, brainless, self-serving urine stained scumbuckets.

[grapevine241]

one less fee to pay

[davemurphy]

Okay, I'll come to it's Defense (somewhat). The WBO's usually been the org that's been least likely to strip............which makes this one all the more confusing. As DiBella points out, there's nobody being kept on hold and exceptions have been almost commonplace when this has happened. There must be something in mind here, you know how these orgs are, they only follow their own rules when there's a reason, and usually make them up as they go.

[Skav]

All the more reason why it's a good idea for boxers to refuse paying their fees just to hold their straps for them.

 

It should be one belt per weight and that's it.

 

Not only would that clear up confusion as to who is what, it might even make boxers more hungry to achieve their ambition.

[iamasadlittleboy]

Okay, I'll come to it's Defense (somewhat). The WBO's usually been the org that's been least likely to strip............which makes this one all the more confusing. As DiBella points out, there's nobody being kept on hold and exceptions have been almost commonplace when this has happened. There must be something in mind here, you know how these orgs are, they only follow their own rules when there's a reason, and usually make them up as they go.

 

WBO have stripped something like 3 champions in their history which is good going, it's the WBA and their multiple belts that i dislike

[WelshDevilRob]

To the WBO's credit they will give any fighter a chance in their rankings even if they are dead. mlol/

[Wheelchair]

That was a very embarrassing episode for them!

[ironjab]

Belts gather dust-PBF

[Wheelchair]

You will often hear boxing fans talking about how “belts don’t matter.”

 

Most logical people would say…well why not? A fair question, and the WBO (World Boxing Organization) recently gave me a chance to respond to this issue and also to go on a little bit of rant, an opportunity I now take with relish.

 

The World Boxing Organization has stripped Sergio Martinez of his middleweight title. If your boxing IQ is on point, you might just be saying “Didn’t he just fight and beat the lineal middleweight champion of the world?” The answer of course, is yes he did. Convincingly.

 

Not enough for the WBO.

 

The problem is Martinez holds belts at 154 AND 160. Yet without providing a mandatory, the WBO has decided to strip Martinez because he has not decided if his next fight will be at 154 or 160. Also, they are super peeved that he holds the WBC belt at 154. Sounds a bit like high school drama, but lets give the WBO a chance to explain (an excerpt from section 15 of the WBO’s bylaws):

 

“A WBO champion who wins a non-WBO championship in a weight class that is different than the weight class in which he holds his WBO championship must decide within 10 days of the non-WBO championship which title in which weight class he will retain. No WBO champion may hold a non-WBO championship in a weight class that is different from the weight class of his WBO championship.”

 

Excuse me?

 

Here I must note that the WBO never pinpointed a particular opponent. They never said, fight (insert name here) or we are going to strip you of the belt. Martinez is weighing his options to determine who his next HBO fight will be and the WBO just decided to strip him.

 

It is tough to point out when this happened. When sanctioning bodies started to convince themselves that they are more important than the fighters who hold their belts. There were elements of it in the late 80′s and 90′s, but the four principal boxing organizations (WBO, WBC, WBA, IBF) have never lacked the respect and appreciation of boxers and boxing fans in the way they do right now.

 

Do you want to know the most messed up part about this whole situation?

 

The WBO let Kelly Pavlik hold onto his belt for 10 months without a defence. No sanctions, no extra fee’s, not threatening letters. Martinez fought in mid-April and has been searching high and low for a fight (asked for a Paul Williams rematch but Goosen said he wasn’t interested, would have re matched Pavlik but Kelly denied and is moving up in weight). The WBO can’t even get it together enough to offer a mandatory (mostly because the middleweight division is dead) so they just strip Martinez for no reason a month and a half after his last fight.

 

Something needs to change and hopefully it will.

 

 

http://www.boxingfancast.com/wbo/wbo-disgraces-boxing-self?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+BoxingFancast+(Boxing+FanCast)

[brooklynbrawler]

The main problem is, that young emerging boxers seem to be getting a hold of more titles nowadays, and it's far easier to sell a boxing match if it's for a "world title", sad though it may be.

Every boxer needs the organisations to establish themselves, and then they can do without them, when they should be looking to clear up.

4 main boxing bodies just doesn't make sense, particularly when their rankings and actions like these smell of corruption or just plain stupidity/lack of common sense, particularly when they don't even use the same set of rules ffs...

[davemurphy]

I know I'm swimming against the stream here, but the rule is 10 days and the gave him six weeks. I KNOW that he's weighing his options, but two divisions of contenders shouldn't have to wait to see which way Martinez is going to go. As Wheelchair says, they're not used to stripping anybody, and even in this case it's simply because Martinez holds both. I've never liked the Henry Armstrong Rule anyway, if he can defend at both 154 and 160 in a timely manner, I think he should be allowed to hold both for as long as he wants, but that's just me and NONE of the orgs allow that. So even though I agree Chair that there's no manditory in place and there was no rush to do this, I'm cutting the WBO some slack that I wouldn't the WBA.

[brooklynbrawler]

I know I'm swimming against the stream here, but the rule is 10 days and the gave him six weeks. I KNOW that he's weighing his options, but two divisions of contenders shouldn't have to wait to see which way Martinez is going to go. As Wheelchair says, they're not used to stripping anybody, and even in this case it's simply because Martinez holds both. I've never liked the Henry Armstrong Rule anyway, if he can defend at both 154 and 160 in a timely manner, I think he should be allowed to hold both for as long as he wants, but that's just me and NONE of the orgs allow that. So even though I agree Chair that there's no manditory in place and there was no rush to do this, I'm cutting the WBO some slack that I wouldn't the WBA.

 

If he can comfortably make weight in both divisions, then what's to stop him defending all 3 titles if he wants?

You're lucky if the organisations force a mandatory fight in much less than 12 months for some fighters, and he is more than capable of fulfilling his obligations to all of them.

He has won them all fair and square in the ring, so I'd rather see him lose them fair and square in the ring.

I've also seen one rule applied to one fighter, and a different rule applied to another in recent times...some people are allowed plenty of time to do what they want, and make their own decisions, or are awarded made up titles or automatic mandatories as and when they want, yet other fighters are stripped for nothing.

They don't see Martinez as a cash cow, it's as simple as that. A higher profile fighter would probably never have the same rules applied.

[edsel77x]

Some of the most exciting and scintillating fights are non champ fights.

These organizations make the belts worthless.

I hope that eventually things evolve a bit and start falling in place. To me it's like a marriage. How much so would you be willing to stay around when you are continuously let down, betrayed, treated discourteously. Everyone has a breaking point I guess.

I love the sport so much and regardless of what happens I don't think I can ever turn my back on it. I guess I'll be the sissy kneeling naked in the shower crying why...? wwwwhhhhhhhyyyyyyy? did the wbo write that letter, the wbc..... Diamond belt??????????

lol

Hey, I got a great Idea, why! why, can't this forum start up a mock or even a real sanctioning body? Like a ring magazine or something. Yahoo has a P4P list that they vote on? Why not this forum. That would be great! You guys should start up yours own P4P list!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What do you guys think?

Please respond, wheelie, davemurhpy, gavpowell, imasadlittleboy, Faulks, brooklynbrawler, grapevine241, ingonito- Welshdevilrob and the_budweiser/the oracle.

When I don't like what I see at the store I go to another store. It it is more expensive or still not happy with the product then I try and make it myself or go to garage sales, craigslist, ebay, amazon....

[davemurphy]

I know I'm swimming against the stream here, but the rule is 10 days and the gave him six weeks. I KNOW that he's weighing his options, but two divisions of contenders shouldn't have to wait to see which way Martinez is going to go. As Wheelchair says, they're not used to stripping anybody, and even in this case it's simply because Martinez holds both. I've never liked the Henry Armstrong Rule anyway, if he can defend at both 154 and 160 in a timely manner, I think he should be allowed to hold both for as long as he wants, but that's just me and NONE of the orgs allow that. So even though I agree Chair that there's no manditory in place and there was no rush to do this, I'm cutting the WBO some slack that I wouldn't the WBA.

 

If he can comfortably make weight in both divisions, then what's to stop him defending all 3 titles if he wants?

You're lucky if the organisations force a mandatory fight in much less than 12 months for some fighters, and he is more than capable of fulfilling his obligations to all of them.

He has won them all fair and square in the ring, so I'd rather see him lose them fair and square in the ring.

I've also seen one rule applied to one fighter, and a different rule applied to another in recent times...some people are allowed plenty of time to do what they want, and make their own decisions, or are awarded made up titles or automatic mandatories as and when they want, yet other fighters are stripped for nothing.

They don't see Martinez as a cash cow, it's as simple as that. A higher profile fighter would probably never have the same rules applied.

 

Brawler-

That's been the case since Armstrong held the three belts, I recall reading an old interveiw with Carmen Basilio about his Welterweight title being declared vacant when he beat Robinson for the MW Crown, and he pretty much agreed with it, that you shouldn't have two divisions of contenders all waiting to see what you were going to do. But then like you mention, those were different times, the days when there were only eight total.

 

My opinion is that if he can make the weight, and he can fullfill his mandatories in a timely fashion, then why not???? But the WBO had this rule on books before he won either of the titles, so he had to know he couldn't keep both.

 

Your Dead On about the enforcement of said Rules though, it's amazing how some high profile fighters get exemptions and special treatment, but when somebody on a lesser scale pulls an upset, then they're all over his butt and pushing him with deadlines. The WBC is the WORST. You just watch, Cornelius Bunderage upset Spinks last weekend for their JMW Title, I'll bet they'll be forcing him into some 90 day deadline, but then they let Vitali Klitschko lay out three years with their bogus Champion Emeritus label and hop right back to the front of the line at anytime of his chosing. Every know ANY MEXICAN fighter to EVER be given an ultimatum by the WBC? Like I say, they're the worst, but NONE of them follow any set of Rules, they just grant exemptions or issue ultimatums as they see fit.

[edsel77x]

Crooks

[iamasadlittleboy]

I know I'm swimming against the stream here, but the rule is 10 days and the gave him six weeks. I KNOW that he's weighing his options, but two divisions of contenders shouldn't have to wait to see which way Martinez is going to go. As Wheelchair says, they're not used to stripping anybody, and even in this case it's simply because Martinez holds both. I've never liked the Henry Armstrong Rule anyway, if he can defend at both 154 and 160 in a timely manner, I think he should be allowed to hold both for as long as he wants, but that's just me and NONE of the orgs allow that. So even though I agree Chair that there's no manditory in place and there was no rush to do this, I'm cutting the WBO some slack that I wouldn't the WBA.

 

If he can comfortably make weight in both divisions, then what's to stop him defending all 3 titles if he wants?

You're lucky if the organisations force a mandatory fight in much less than 12 months for some fighters, and he is more than capable of fulfilling his obligations to all of them.

He has won them all fair and square in the ring, so I'd rather see him lose them fair and square in the ring.

I've also seen one rule applied to one fighter, and a different rule applied to another in recent times...some people are allowed plenty of time to do what they want, and make their own decisions, or are awarded made up titles or automatic mandatories as and when they want, yet other fighters are stripped for nothing.

They don't see Martinez as a cash cow, it's as simple as that. A higher profile fighter would probably never have the same rules applied.

 

Brawler-

That's been the case since Armstrong held the three belts, I recall reading an old interveiw with Carmen Basilio about his Welterweight title being declared vacant when he beat Robinson for the MW Crown, and he pretty much agreed with it, that you shouldn't have two divisions of contenders all waiting to see what you were going to do. But then like you mention, those were different times, the days when there were only eight total.

 

My opinion is that if he can make the weight, and he can fullfill his mandatories in a timely fashion, then why not???? But the WBO had this rule on books before he won either of the titles, so he had to know he couldn't keep both.

 

Your Dead On about the enforcement of said Rules though, it's amazing how some high profile fighters get exemptions and special treatment, but when somebody on a lesser scale pulls an upset, then they're all over his butt and pushing him with deadlines. The WBC is the WORST. You just watch, Cornelius Bunderage upset Spinks last weekend for their JMW Title, I'll bet they'll be forcing him into some 90 day deadline, but then they let Vitali Klitschko lay out three years with their bogus Champion Emeritus label and hop right back to the front of the line at anytime of his chosing. Every know ANY MEXICAN fighter to EVER be given an ultimatum by the WBC? Like I say, they're the worst, but NONE of them follow any set of Rules, they just grant exemptions or issue ultimatums as they see fit.

 

Spinks lost the IBF not WBC title

The WBA title at Cruiserweight has been a joke (not defended in something like 2 years)

WBO Middleweight crown was dormant for a while as well...

[davemurphy]

Spinks lost the IBF not WBC title

The WBA title at Cruiserweight has been a joke (not defended in something like 2 years)

WBO Middleweight crown was dormant for a while as well...

 

Ah, thanks, I was wrong on the Spinks org, I should've checked, but I still think Bunderage will get the "Unwanted Champ" treatment that goes with a journeyman type winning a World Title. As for the WBA Cruiser Title, I saw just today that the WBA has FINALLY stripped Guillermo Jones after not fighting since Sept 2008.

[edsel77x]

Have the organizations always been so crooked?

[Wheelchair]

In a word, yes!

[davemurphy]

Have the organizations always been so crooked?

 

It's been the one thing in Boxing that you've been able to consistently count on smell//

[edsel77x]

we need like a non-profit sanctioning body or something...

[iamasadlittleboy]

Edsel thats why plenty of folk support rings title, it's got no sanctioning fees. Folk like ESPN, Fightnews (great site), ESPN and IBO (their rankings anyway) are great to try and work out whos the best.