Let’s be honest – boxing interim titles have become a bit of a joke. Once upon a time, winning a belt meant you were the best. Now? You might just be one of five people holding a version of the same title. Confused? So are fans.
Too Many Belts, Too Little Clarity
You’ve got your WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO… and now everyone and their dog has an interim title too. It used to be that an interim belt only came into play if the main champ was injured or inactive. Fair enough. But these days, sanctioning bodies hand them out like sweets at a school fair.
Take a look at the lightweight division, for example – there was a point where there were three “world champions” and an interim titleholder in the same weight class. That’s not just messy – it’s disrespectful to the fighters grinding to reach the top.
(You can see how this got ridiculous in the WBC’s lightweight scene in 2021.)
Sanctioning Bodies: Guilty As Charged
Let’s not pretend this isn’t about money. More belts mean more sanctioning fees, more fights billed as “world title bouts”, and more confusion for casual fans who think they’re watching the best vs the best – when they’re not.
Even respected fighters like Teofimo Lopez and Gennady Golovkin have spoken out about the state of boxing’s belts. And if the fighters themselves are fed up, surely it’s time for the governing bodies to listen?
I covered some of this a few years back in this blog post where I made the case for “One World, One Champion.” Safe to say, the situation hasn’t improved much since then.
Dillian Whyte: A Case Study in Frustration
If you want to understand how broken the system is, just look at Dillian Whyte.
Whyte was the WBC’s number-one ranked contender for over 1,000 days – that’s nearly four years – before he finally got a shot at the world title. Four years at the top of the rankings, holding the WBC interim title, taking on dangerous fights to stay relevant… and still being denied a crack at the main belt.
That’s not just unfair – it’s a complete failure of the system.
Imagine grinding through your prime, risking your place every time you step in the ring, all for a title that should’ve been yours ages ago. It’s hard not to feel like interim titles are just a way to stall real contenders and keep the money flowing elsewhere.
(You can read more about Whyte’s long wait and how it unfolded here.)
What Does an Interim Title Even Mean Now?
Originally, an interim champion was like a stand-in – someone holding the fort while the main champ was out injured. But now we see interim titles being introduced when the champion’s still active. That makes no sense.
If you’re not the best in the division, you’re not the world champion – end of. Let’s stop pretending otherwise.
Need proof? Just look at the WBA’s recent mess inTime for a Reset
Fewer belts. Clearer rankings. Real world champions. It’s not rocket science. Imagine the drama and hype of one champ per division – the way it used to be.
MMA fans don’t deal with this nonsense. There’s one UFC champion per weight class, and that makes every title fight feel massive. Boxing could learn a thing or two here.
Final Thoughts
Boxing interim titles were meant to be temporary fixes. Now they’re permanent clutter. If the sport wants to win back casual fans – and even keep diehards like us engaged – it’s time to cut the belt inflation and restore some meaning to the term “world champion.” the welterweight division, where multiple “champions” held different versions of the same belt. That’s not competition. That’s chaos.
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
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