Expert: Lian Shoemake - 4/26/2009

Question
HI! I am new to Boxing, I watched a few years back when Tyson was still boxing. I am confused as to why there are so many divisions. IE ( WBA, WBC, IBF ) I understand in all the mess that to be the WBC heavyweight champion is the most prestigious. If, and when someone unites and becomes the undisputed champion which I gather is ( WBA, WBC and IBF ) titles. How is it determined which title goes on the line, and does it mean the fighter gets has to fight more because of it? Last but not least. Tyson in his Prime VS ALI who wins!? That one was just for fun.

Answer
Hi Marshel,
Thanks for the questions.
The sanctioning bodies you referenced in your question all charge "sanctioning" fees for bouts involving their respective titles. Throw in the WBO (World Boxing Organization) as well.
My cynical answer is, that's the sole reason they exist: to collect sanctioning fees.
Another reason is that their is a structural deficit in boxing which allows so many different organizations to exist and sanction championship fights in the same sport. Plus, there is more prestige and money attached to bouts that are for a title, so it's in the interest of promoters and boxers to have multiple titles for which to compete.
A unified or undisputed champion must meet the obligations of each organization's title, i.e. mandatory defenses within certain time frames. It is those multiple mandatories against whomever a sanctioning body deems the mandatory challenger which make it rare for fighters to hold multiple titles, at least for long. Often, the sanctioning bodies strip their champions of their titles when those champions choose to fight anyone other than the sanctioning body's mandatory challenger. It's a mess.
As prestige is in the eye of he who possesses it, I'm not aware of any particular additional value to the WBC heavyweight title...at least not anymore.

Prime Ali stops prime Tyson around the 10th round ;)

Thanks again for writing, Marshel!

Regards,
Lian