Editors’s note: This is a new feature where we will try to find humor in the absurdity of the sanctioning bodies. Having coughed up the loot to become full media members of the WBC, we plan on getting our money’s worth. –GN
Today we start with a delightful dispatch from the World Boxing Council. The following text is completely unedited except for the addition of paragraph breaks for your sanity; it’s WBC official Zac Young’s thoughts on the alphabet body means to him.
If it feels like something a teenager would write about their sleepaway camp, then you’ve got a pretty good idea of what it’s like to be a member of the WBC. For his contribution below Mr. Young won a pair of gloves signed by Nonito Donaire and Fernando Montiel.
What the WBC means are three simple words; innovation, opportunity, and family.
However, the answer to this question is much more complex than these three simple words. The WBC has brought innovation to boxing as in examples such as; establishing twelve round title bouts, requiring pre-event weigh-ins, and providing for open scoring.
The WBC has provided opportunity through not only its world title fights, but more importantly through its many regional or minor title matches. Often these regional or minor championships are considered by the press and the public to be superfluous; however these titles are important for the opportunity they provide. The fighters benefit in that these championships not only serve as career motivators, but also arguably increasing their potential purses through these types of WBC sanctioned fights.
In addition these important title fights provide more opportunity for its ring officials to gain important experience at the championship level. From my own limited experience, family is the last word that defines the WBC. This is not simply through the feeling one comes away from after attending a WBC convention, but also through experiencing how the organization keeps its membership informed of any important news. Often this important news is simply to congratulate some member on an important date, accomplishment, or milestone.
Similar to any family there are sometimes sad news to share, which may make one reflect and appreciate all those that are still around in ones own personal families, as well as our extended WBC family. Thus, my answer to the question was not as easy as the three simple words I chose; innovation, opportunity, and family.
Although this is a contest where only one winner will have his/her thoughts expressed, it would be interesting to see what the WBC means to its diverse membership throughout the world and from various cultures. If asked what the WBC means to me? My answer is simply three words; innovation, opportunity, and family.
Note his (somewhat) rational justifications for the minor belts that infuriate many who follow the sport. Young just comes out and admits one big reason for the belts is to boost purses and create more sanctioning fees for the WBC. The candor is refreshing.
But his argument about the fights creating additional opportunities for refs and officials to get “championship level” experience is laughable. Labeling a meaningless fight a championship bout doesn’t magically increase its value to the participants. Championship level experience requires taking part in a championship level contest.
The idea that awarding a trinket after a bout makes it somehow more meaningful than otherwise is a perfect example of why the alphabet soup can madden even the most ardent fight fan. If only more fighters would follow the lead of Floyd Mayweather and tell the sanctioning bodies to take their belts and shove them.
