BOXING legend Floyd Mayweather has blasted the sport for having so many belts, saying that ‘everybody’s a champion’.
At the weekend Teofimo Lopez became undisputed lightweight champion by easily beating Vasyl Lomachenko – despite there still being another two belts at lightweight he hasn’t got.
Mayweather might look happy here, but he is NOT amused with the number of belts in boxingCredit: Getty Images – Getty
That’s because the WBC decided to have a ‘franchise’ strap, which Lopez won, and a ‘regular’ version, that Devin Haney holds.
While Gervonta Davis will fight Leo Santa Cruz this weekend with the WBA ‘regular’ lightweight belt on the line.
There has even been talk that Tyson Fury would become the WBC ‘franchise’ heavyweight champion should the board want another fight for the regular belt.
The number of belts and champions in the sport has left Mayweather fuming, saying that it need ‘cleaning up’ as it is ‘bad for boxing’.
Speaking to Showtime Sports’ YouTube channel, the 43-year-old, who retired undefeated, said: “The WBC, the WBA, the IBF and the WBO, y’all have to clean this sh-t up. Y’all have to clean this up.
“This is bad for boxing. Ain’t a such thing as no super champion.
“You guys are just taking extra money from all these fighters, getting extra money from sanctioning fees. And this goes for my company as well.
“We gotta clean this sport of boxing up. This s***, this don’t look good.
Anthony Joshua holds four world titles, but the IBO belt is often scoffed atCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Tyson Fury holds the WBC heavyweight belt and the Ring Magazine strapCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
“When you look on TV now, everybody’s a champion. You see all these fighters posing with a belt.”
Mayweather went on to explain how when a fighter wins a belt, they have to ‘pay a fee’ to actually get their hands on the goods.
So the governing bodies will be getting money for interim, regular and super/franchise champs along the way.
Mayweather will go down as one of boxing’s best everCredit: Reuters
Mayweather added: “I don’t care if it’s Top Rank, if it’s Golden Boy [Promotions], if it’s Mayweather Promotions, if it’s PBC – there’s too many champions in the sport of boxing right now.
“Too many champions. It’s not a such thing as a super champion, not at all. And I’m not taking nothing away from no fighter. It’s too many belts.”
Mayweather, who is set to fight YouTuber Logan Paul in an exhibition fight next, was speaking during a live training session with his protege Davis.
The 25-year-old Baltimore boxer fights Leo Santa Cruz this weekend looking to keep his undefeated record intact.
Floyd Mayweather set to end retirement and fight YouTube star Logan Paul in sensational exhibition bout this year
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
