The mysterious Pound-4-Pound crown has never been seen by any boxer or boxing fan, yet the much ballyhooed award is seemingly one of the most coveted in boxing today.
No longer does it matter that one holds a World Championship Belt in his possession.
There are so many fighters laying claim to so many different titles, in so many different weight classes, in so many different organizations, that the former TRUTH in acknowledging the best in his weight class has been driven into extinction.
With the refusal of Floyd Mayweather, Jr. to pay the sanctioning fees and make his bout against Shane Mosely back in May of this year a battle for Mosley’s WBA welterweight crown, the obvious had been verified.
No one gives a nickel about the former prize of a lifetime, the World Championship Belt.
Denver’s Former World Lightweight Champion Stevie “lil but bad” Johnston took his championship belts with him whenever he attended any function connected with or without boxing and that distinction is what seperated him from all the others.
The pride which champions from the MAJOR weight classes (who were commonly referred to as “CHAMP’ wherever they went) displayed was visible by the trademark Championship Belt.
Boxing champions are now sadly indifferent regarding the belt that recognizes them as being the best in their weight class and that apathy remains part of the P4P debate.
Money is always important for any fighter who normally has come from a tough economic environment, but there has to remain in effect a value for the title WORLD CHAMPION.
Back in the 1970’s when the heavyweight division was the barometer of who the “king of the hill” was in boxing, no such phrase (Pound-4-Pound) existed and when you really think of it, the heavyweight crown is the ultimate P4P title and should be the barometer now.
Back then, Denver’s own heavyweight dynamo Ron Lyle took on the likes of Buster Mathis, Jerry Quarry, Jimmy Ellis, Jimmy Young, Muhammad Ali, and Ernie Shavers who were rough, tough huge men that had no problem getting in the ring with anybody.
Ron Lyle still speaks of his bouts that were all made in an attempt to become known as the Heavyweight Champion of the World and laughs at the term pound-for-pound.
Presently the Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir, so dominate the heavyweight division their combined records of 94 wins, 5 losses, with 86 of those victories coming by way of knockout, thoroughly disgusts American fight fans.
Had these Ukranian born Klitschko brothers been American and dominated the sport so convincingly, there would be statues erected, streets named after, and maybe even a run for Congress in their future.
Manny Pacquiao is a congressman in the Phillipines who became a candidate ONLY after gaining world-wide recognition because of his boxing fame.
The basically un-educated Pacquiao will soon find out that he has become a “victim of politics” and after just one term in office will return to the one place he can control everything, inside the ring.
Manny Pacquiao, a great fighter and personal favorite of mine, claims to be the best Pound-4-Pound fighter in the world or his FANS lay claim to the ficticious title.
But so does Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Zab Judah, Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito, Sergio Martinez, Amir Khan, and even Matthew Cyril Brogan from Green Bay, Wisconsin (who has yet to have his 1st pro bout) along with many others that are nowhere near the two champions in the heavyweight division.
Having in their possession the recognized belts of the WBC, WBA, and IBF makes them the undisputed Pound-4-Pound “Kings of the Boxing World” and is what Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko deserve and are owed recognition for.
If you are a true fan of the phrase “Pound-4-PoundChampion”, may we please see the crown this alleged champion wears? Shouldn’t at least his Championship Belt should be worn?
The utter nonsense of this ongoing P4P debate will come to an end just as soon as the Klitschko brothers retire and end their dominating reign in all of boxing, not just the heavyweight division.
The much anticipated return of The Great American (preferably white) Hope, is waiting impatiently.
Stephen Johnson feature writes for Inside Boxing.com, Until the Next Round.com, and co-hosts Inside Boxing LIVE!
