Fight legend Manny Pacquiao and upset-minded Brandon Rios will fight for something called the WBO International Welterweight title tomorrow night in Macau, China.
If you’ve never heard of it, don’t fret.
The meaningless title was created for this bout and is as credible as a $3 bill in the United States. The great Manny Pacquiao is fighting in China so it does seem odd no real and legitimate title is at-stake given the event’s historical significance and enormity.
Perhaps the World Boxing Association (WBO) took it upon itself to create a meaningless title and corresponding belt to mark the occasion and/or add to the event’s credibility or luster?
But Manny Pacquiao, an all-time great and international icon, is fighting. Is a nothing-title at-stake required to make the event legitimate?
Tomorrow night’s winner will be wearing a championship belt so he’ll at least look the part after the bout.
Incidentally, and for casual fans who are scratching their heads and trying to make sense of boxing’s numerous belts and titles, there are four official “title-holders” in the welterweight division, one of which is the lineal welterweight champion.
CHAMPION: Floyd Mayweather, Jr RING Magazine/WBC Tim Bradley: WBO Adrien Broner: WBA Devon Alexander: IBF
And while title-holders (or belt-holders) who represent any one the four recognized sanctioning bodies (WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO) are also recognized in boxing as world champions, the owner of the coveted RING Magazine belt is his division’s true champion because he holds he direct lineage that traces back to the first champion in his division(s).
As owner of the prestigious RING Magazine title in two divisions, Floyd Mayweather is the real and legitimate champion at welterweight and jr middleweight.
The WBO’s world champion (or belt-holder) in the welterweight class is Tim Bradley thereby making the WBO International title irrelevant.
Why couldn’t the WBO have awarded the winner a trophy belt or sorts without creating a bogus title?
The WBC Diamond Belt, for example, is nothing more than a very elegant trinket the winner can throw over his shoulder after the fight and eventually hang on the wall at home. It doesn’t represent a real title.
There was absolutely no need for the WBO to create yet another boxing title.
Perhaps we should create a FightSaga.com welterweight title?
Or better yet, maybe the WBO can create a World welterweight title, an International World welterweight title, and a Yada-Yada-Yada welterweight title to go along with its WBO (regular) welterweight title and newly-created WBO International welterweight title?
