Winner of the WBSS will be undisputed champion at Cruiserweight
Further fuel has been added to the engine that is the World Boxing Super Series. The WBA has elected to name Dennis Lebedev ‘champion in recess’. This now means that the WBA will give its regular champion, the hard hitting Yunier Dorticos the go-ahead to unify. This is great news for both Dorticos and his foe on Saturday night, Murrat Gassiev. The reason being that the IBF does not allow unification fights with WBA ‘Regular’ Champions.
The WBA ruled that although strictly speaking Lebedev had to fight Dorticos as the mandatory. A unification fight is always beneficial for boxing, and on such a grand stage that the WBSS has already shown to provide. Lebedev provided both written and verbal instruction for him to consent to this decision.
Personally, I find this a smart move from the WBA. Who came under scrutiny for allowing Lebedev to only put his IBF title on the line in his losing effort to Gassiev in 2016.
Significantly, what this does mean is that for the first time ever the cruiserweight division will have its first ever four belt undisputed champion. Whilst Evander Holyfield and O’Neill Bell were previous undisputed champions, they only ever held the WBC, WBA & IBF belts simultaneously.
This does pose an interesting condundrum for the eventual winner and new undisputed champion. Both Tony Bellew and Dennis Lebedev are champions in recess. Giving them the first crack at the WBC and WBA titles respectively … The new champion may not be undisputed for very long.
By: Aaron Cooper
I think wba has far too many belt…and make the belt credibility in doubt
So Bellew has the chance to take one belt and Lebedev gets an opportunity to take another therefore breaking up the “undisputed” title holders claim.
Ffs, what a joke. Far too many belts in the divisions now, especially if the entire title of UNDISPUTED can’t change hands with just a single win.