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Attracting Prominent
Champions
(IBO Editorial)
After defending his IBO light
heavyweight title in October, Antonio Tarver suggested that more
people in boxing should give the IBO "a good, hard look." It is
apparent now that they are doing it. The IBO is set for perhaps the
most significant, action-packed start to any year in its history.
IBO championships will be on the
line in Germany, England, Australia, South Africa, Monte Carlo and, of
course, the United States, as the only sanctioning body with
computerized rankings exhibits clearly that its impact spans the
globe.
Most conspicuously the IBO
heavyweight title, vacant since the legendary Lennox Lewis retired on
Feb. 6, 2004, will be at stake when Chris Byrd (39-2-1), No. 1 in the
IBO computer, faces Vladimir Klitschko (45-3), ranked No. 4, on April
22 in Manheim, Germany.
Lewis is expected to be there to
present to the winner the IBO title belt that he never lost in the
ring. It figures to be quite an emotional moment. Also expected there
to defend the family name is Vitali Klitschko, Vladimir's older
brother, who, after retiring recently as a heavyweight champion, looks
to see his brother become the next world champion.
The IBO has often been asked why
it has left its heavyweight title spot vacant until now. The answer,
from President Edward Levine: It has finally found the right fight
that would do justice to the lofty esteem which Lewis established for
the IBO Heavyweight title. Lewis fought for or held the IBO
heavyweight title in an amazing eight fights spanning 1999 and his
retirement.
The winner between Byrd and
Klitschko will join a growing number of IBO champions who are
recognized to be at the top or on their way to the top of their weight
classes world-wide. They include Tarver, bantamweight champion Rafael
Marquez and the winner between the March 4 super middleweight title
fight between IBO champion Jeff Lacy and Joe Calzaghe in Manchester,
England.
Other IBO champions who are in
distinct ascent include middleweight Raymond Joval, light welterweight
Stevie Johnston, lightweight Isaac Hlatswago and flyweight Vic
Darchinyan. Hlatswago defends his title against Aldo Rios on Feb. 25
in Johannesburg, South Africa, while Darchinyan puts his title at risk
on March 3 in San Ynez, Calif., against Diosdado Gabi.
The IBO also has a quite promising heavyweight, Israel's Roman
Greenberg, who is 21-0, fighting for its Intercontinental title on
March 18 against Russian Alex Vassilev in Monte Carlo.
The veritable explosion of
world-class boxers fighting for IBO recognition is partly the result
of the IBO's belief that top-flight boxers, promoters and managers -
the sport's truly frontline people -- need not have a sanctioning body
dictate to them just whom they will fight next. They have discovered
the importance of staying independent, which the IBO is unique in
offering.
The IBO believes that television networks which emphasize boxing are
in a better position than sanctioning bodies to match fighters in
bouts that will attract the most public interest, and thus make for
competitive fights. The IBO also gives latitude to its champions to
determine their next opponent. It can exercise veto authority over a
fight only when it may appear to be a mismatch, as suggested by
computer rankings, or when a champion is avoiding top opposition.
This is in stark contrast to
other sanctioning bodies, which often insist on playing matchmaker and
decision-maker over a boxer's future. This obviously has resulted in
much controversy within the sport when a champion is forced to fight
what some call a "political mandatory," meaning a fight arranged for
something far less than the best of reasons.
From its inception, the IBO's
mandate has been to bring more honesty, ethics and credibility to
boxing, and some common sense, too. It has been quite an undertaking
to establish objective, comprehensive computerized rankings, but it
clearly has been worth it. The IBO's computerized rankings remain the
most copied source of information in the sport and a standard of
judging talent in which all of those who truly care about boxing can
be proud.
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