We are the ‘interim’ champions of the world
Published 13 October 2009By Gary Rice, Beauchamps Solicitors
Yuriorkis Gamboa is the “Interim World Boxing Association Ordinary World Featherweight Champion of the World”. The Cuban was a gold medalist at the 2004 Olympic Games and won his absurdly named title after beating Jose Rojas in April.
The story does not end there. Chris John is the “World Boxing Association Ordinary World Featherweight Champion of the World”. He has successfully defended his title 12 times since winning his own “interim” title back in 2003.
John last defended his title at the end of February and his fight ended in a draw. A rematch is scheduled at the end of June. Despite this, Gamboa competed for and won the “interim” crown on the 17th April. This rather absurd state of affairs arises out of the rules of the World Boxing Association which, quite rightly, allow interim championships where a world champion is unable to defend his title within a prescribed time period for medical reasons, legal reasons or other justifiable reasons. However, it does not appear that any such reasons have been put forward in this case. How about shortening the name of the title for a start?
Article obtained from the website of Beauchamps Solicitors. Article reproduced with their kind permission.
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- Tags: Boxing
