Alphabet soup hard to swallow

In the modern commercialized era of professional boxing, there are 17 weight divisions from minimumweight (105-pound limit) to heavyweight (over 200 pounds). The ladder moves up from the minimumweight division to lightflyweight (108), flyweight (112), superflyweight (115), bantamweight (118), superbantamweight (122), featherweight (126), superfeatherweight (130), lightweight (135), superlightweight (140), welterweight (147), superwelterweight (154), middleweight (160), supermiddleweight (168), lightheavyweight (175), cruiserweight (200) and heavyweight.

Before the alphabet soup organizations expanded the weight categories, championships were fought only in the flyweight, bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, lightheavyweight and heavyweight classes. When promoters decided that making money was more a priority than preserving the integrity of the fight game, weight classes became a dime a dozen. The theory was the more championship fights, the more money to be made. Stretching the theory further, various boxing organizations were created to jump into the money bandwagon. The “battle cry” was the more champions, the merrier.

Today, the most popular (not necessarily, the most prestigious) governing bodies are the World Boxing Council (WBC), World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organization (WBO). There are others in the mix, like the International Boxing Organization (IBO), World Boxing Union (WBU), World Boxing Foundation (formerly World Boxing Federation) and International Boxing Association (IBA). The situation has clearly gone out of hand. Bodies sprout out not because organizers want to rationalize the confusing situation but because they want a piece of the action.

Unfortunately, the governing bodies are a necessary evil. A fighter can only gain recognition as a world champion if he is “recognized” by a sanctioning entity. Some fighters couldn’t care less. When Manny Pacquiao fought Marco Antonio Barrera in 2003, at stake was the “people”s world featherweight crown – recognized only by the Ring Magazine. None of the governing bodies was paid a sanction fee for accreditation. After Pacquiao beat Barrera, he was acclaimed as the “lineal” world featherweight champion – the consensus choice of non-aligned experts. Boxing purists, however, refused to recognize the title because it carried no imprimatur from a governing body.

For fighters, it’s a blessing that there are more world titles to shoot for. If promoters make money, the fighters make money, too.

So it’s a situation where everybody’s happy. Without the expanded divisions, no way Pacquiao could’ve captured eight world titles in different divisions. That couldn’t have been possible during the era of Henry Armstrong and Sugar Ray Robinson.

While fans grudgingly accept the existence of the alphabet soup organizations, what they can’t swallow is the wanton lust for money. To justify collecting sanction fees, the WBA has “bastardized” boxing even further by recognizing more than one world champion in a division. For instance, Juan Manuel Marquez is cited as the “super” WBA lightweight champion while Brandon Rios is the “regular” WBA champion. When Marquez and Rios defend their titles, the WBA collects sanction fees both ways.

Here’s another ludicrous example. In the featherweight division, the WBA recognizes three world champions – Chris John as the “super” titlist, Yuriorkis Gamboa as the “unified” champion (with the IBF) and Jonathan Barros as the “regular” titleholder. In the superwelterweight class, Miguel Cotto is the “super” champion and Austin Trout the “regular” titleholder. How crazy is that?

There seems to be no logical basis to install a “champion” in the “super” or the “regular” class. Why is there a distinction between Marquez and Rios? Will the WBA agree to match them up in a showdown? I doubt it because the WBA can earn double if both Marquez and Rios defend their “titles” separately.

Even WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. is confused. He’s aiming to unify the 118-pound throne but the WBA recognizes two world champions – Anselmo Moreno in the “super” class and Koki Kameda in the “regular” category.

By the way, there are also “interim” title fights where sanction fees are collected. Adding to the confusion, the WBC has instituted new championships in the “diamond”, “silver” and “youth” categories.

At the moment, Pacquiao reigns as WBO welterweight champion. He’s the world’s undisputed pound-for-pound king. Yet Andre Berto reigns as the WBC welterweight king, the WBA recognizes Vyacheslav Senchenko and Jan Zaveck is the IBF titleholder. The situation is ridiculous. How can any governing body recognize somebody else as world welterweight champion when Pacquiao is widely regarded as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter?

The Almendras Gym in Davao City was packed to the rafters as Powerade’s “B” squad beat the Davao Hall of Fame All-Stars, 117-105, in the main event of a triplebill celebrating “Araw Ng Dabaw” last March 11. Judge Jimmy Quitain, chairman of the Davao Sports Hall of Fame, said the fans were treated to an exciting contest where the players displayed their best form.

Powerade’s roster listed Gerard Francisco, Kenneth Duremdes, Cesar Catli, Neil Caceres, Eddie Laure, Ronjay Enrile, Rodney Santos, Dale Singson and Jason Misolas. The Hall of Famers showed up with ex-pros Dindo Pastor, Cadel Mosqueda, Jomer Rubi, Alvin Teng and Teroy Albarillo.

Francisco fired 26 points to fuel Powerade’s surge. Santos added 18, Laure 17, Duremdes 14, Caceres 13 and Enrile 11. For the All-Stars, former Cebu Gem Mike Maniego hit 25 and Teng chipped in 15.

In the other games, the Davao Legends nipped the University of Mindanao Legends, 83-81, and the Davao Collegiate All-Stars defeated Sanman, 105-101. Nick Serafica tossed in 17 points for the Davao Legends while Edwin Josol scored 19 for UM. Miguel Pacheco erupted for 26 points for the Davao Collegiate All-Stars. Sanman was led by Gonzaga and Berami who combined for 67 points.

In Panabo City two days later, Powerade “B” repeated over the Davao Hall of Fame All-Stars, 103-81, with PBA governor J. B. Baylon flying in from Manila to witness the game. Enrile shot 24 and Catli 20 to pace the Tigers. Maniego tallied 19 and Teng 16 for the All-Stars.