Matchroom Boxing and Zuffa are pushing boxing toward seven world championship titles after Eddie Hearn’s promotional company once again described the IBO as a world title, while Dana White continues to promote his own championship belt.
The latest example came on October 16 when Matchroom announced George Liddard’s challenge against Michel Soro for the IBO middleweight title in Monaco on December 12.
The press release opened by declaring that Liddard would challenge for his “first World Title” on one of boxing’s most prestigious nights.
Soro was also described as having reclaimed a world title in June, while Liddard was said to be on the brink of world honors.
At no point did Matchroom distinguish the IBO championship from the four major world titles recognized through the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO.
Matchroom’s IBO Recognition
World Boxing News raised the same issue with Hearn five years ago.
The debate followed Maxi Hughes winning the IBO lightweight championship and signing with Hearn, who described the achievement as picking up “a piece of the 135lbs division.”
Then-IBF champion Sunny Edwards questioned the attention being given to the organization.
“What’s the current obsession with IBO titles on Matchroom shows?” Edwards asked.
Five years later, Matchroom is still using the same approach.
The IBO has operated for decades, and its champions deserve recognition for their achievements. However, the organization has never gained the same standing as the four established major sanctioning bodies.
And there was a time when Anthony Joshua press releases never even mentioned the ‘fifth sanctioning body’ when the Londoner reigned as WBO, WBA, IBF and IBO champion.
Zuffa Makes It Seven
The situation has become more complicated following the arrival of Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing.
White introduced his own championship system earlier this year, with Jai Opetaia becoming the promotion’s inaugural cruiserweight champion after defeating Brandon Glanton in March.
Zuffa’s belt operates outside the traditional sanctioning structure, but the promotion continues presenting it as a world championship.
However, to his credit, White has since refrained from adding any further Zuffa belts and has begun recognizing the sanctioning bodies in a massive U-turn.
WBN’s previous analysis included a PBC belt displayed during Sebastian Fundora’s fight week with Keith Thurman, although it appeared ceremonial and has not developed into another recognized championship.
The Ring remains a separate championship recognition system rather than another sanctioning body, leaving the four established organizations, the IBO, the WBA Regular and Zuffa at the center of the current debate.
The WBA Regular World Title
The WBA Regular championship adds another complication because it comes from one of boxing’s four established major sanctioning bodies.
The organization has operated with more than one world champion in the same division, distinguishing its primary titleholder from a secondary Regular champion.
That means the WBA can have two fighters holding belts described as world championships in the same weight class, even though the Regular title is not generally treated as an additional major belt when determining an undisputed champion.
The IBO creates a similar problem to the WBA Regular title, with fighters being presented as world champions despite neither championship carrying the same recognition as the four major belts.
Liddard has earned his opportunity against Soro, and winning the IBO title would be another significant achievement for the unbeaten British middleweight.
However, that does not automatically put the championship on the same level as the four major belts.
Five Years of Title Confusion
The four major organizations still determine the established championship structure, including the belts required to become undisputed champion.
That structure has not officially expanded, but Matchroom’s promotional language, the WBA’s secondary championship and Zuffa’s new belt have brought three additional world-title designations into the conversation.
Five years after WBN challenged Matchroom over the IBO and WBA Regular, the same promotional approach remains.
The difference is that boxing now has Zuffa adding another belt to a problem the sport had already failed to solve. It’s a wonder the fans can keep up if the media can’t.
- Phil Jay
