Area titles fight back

[colinthfc]

The Midland's Area council is looking at reinvigorating the title in their Area, with each champion being obliged to defend the title every four months. The title has existed since the 1940's, originally even split further into divisions of the Midland's Area with Midland's North and West titles, but in recent years some titles have been vacant for a long time, or have not been defended regularly.

The Area council plans to publish a list of champion and contenders for each title every four months.

Champions and Contenders – January 2009

Heavyweight:

Champion: Title vacant

Contenders: Paul Butlin, Pele Reid, Luke Simpkin, Lee Swaby


Cruiserweight:

Champion: Carl Wright

Contenders: Mark Krence, Neil Simpson


Light-Heavyweight:

Champion: Tyrone Wright

Contenders: Rod Anderton, Adie Whitmore


Super-Middleweight:

Champion: Title vacant

Contenders: Sam Horton, Eddie McIntosh, Michael Monaghan, Tyrone Wright


Middleweight:

Champion: Tony Randell

Contenders: Kevin Concepcion, Max Maxwell, Michael Monaghan, Jez Wilson


Light-Middleweight:

Champion: Manocha Salari

Contenders: Martin Concepcion, Thomas Costello, Dale Miles, D Mitchell, Marcus Portman


Welterweight:

Champion: Title vacant

Next Fight: Rob Kenney to fight Jimmy Doherty on 27 February for vacant title.

Contenders: Karl Chiverton, Jimmy Doherty, Stuart Elwell, Dean Harrison, Andrew Alan Lowe, Scott Miller


Light-Welterweight:

Champion: Title vacant

Contenders: Tristan Davies, Dean Harrison, Rob Hunt, Gary Reid, Dave Ryan, Amir Unsworth


Lightweight:

Champion: Steve Saville

Contenders: Baz Carey, Martin Gethin, Dean Hickman, Amir Unsworth


Super-Featherweight:

Champion: Title vacant

Contenders: Barrington Brown, Steve Gethin, Craig Johnson


Featherweight:

Champion: Title vacant

Next Fight: Anthony Hanna to fight Steve Gethin for vacant title.

Contenders: Barrington Brown, Anthony Hanna, Steve Gethin, Craig Johnson


Super-Bantamweight:

Champion: Title vacant

Contenders: Anthony Hanna, Dougie Walton


Bantamweight:

Champion: Title vacant

Contenders: Andy Bell, Dougie Walton


Super-Flyweight:

Champion: Title vacant

Contenders: Usman Ahmed, Andy Bell, Wayne Bloy


Flyweight:

Champion: Title vacant

Contenders: Usman Ahmed, Wayne Bloy, Chris Edwards

[TBooze]

A nice idea, not without its merit, there is something special seeing a fighter go the Area-British-Commonwealth-European-World titles route, rather than the WBU Pan-Intercontinental Youth Latino International way.

But I remember even in the golden eras, many Area titles were vacant for long periods of time.

[GazOC]

Good news, I think more than giving the hotshots a starting point, Area Titles are great for giving the average pro a realistic title to aim for.

[TBooze]

Good news, I think more than giving the hotshots a starting point, Area Titles are great for giving the average pro a realistic title to aim for.


But it never seems to happen; it got really silly when you started have Midland titles added to Central titles, then as told, Midland East and West titles.....

If boxing in the 20s though to the 80s could not fill all the vacancies, then IMO it is not going to happen today.

What I do like was the introduction of the English title, and if you split that with a Northern, Central, Southern, Scottish, Welsh, Irish and Celtic titles, not to mention British Masters; do we really need the re-emphasis of the Midland titles?

I would gladly eat humble pie if the idea does work, but IMHO, it will not.

[GazOC]

They aren't saying they will split the Midlands title into East and West, just they they used to, also you don't split the English titles with the Welsh, Scottish and Irish ones, its seperate.

I think in most weights that the Northern, Midlands, Southern, Welsh, Scottish wasn't a bad system of titles when it was in effect. They were fought at a comparable level a lot of the time. Its no harm is a few of these titles stay vacant for a few years IMHO, they'll give small promotors and jobbing pros an money earning opportunity if nothing else.

[TBooze]

They aren't saying they will split the Midlands title into East and West, just they they used to, also you don't split the English titles with the Welsh, Scottish and Irish ones, its seperate.

I think in most weights that the Northern, Midlands, Southern, Welsh, Scottish wasn't a bad system of titles when it was in effect. They were fought at a comparable level a lot of the time. Its no harm is a few of these titles stay vacant for a few years IMHO, they'll give small promotors and jobbing pros an money earning opportunity if nothing else.


I do not think it does any harm, it is just that I look at my BBB of C Yearbook for 2009 (pages 193/194) and see vacant titles for the Central Area at 112, 115, 118, 126, 200 and Heavy.

Midlands Area at 112, 115, 118, 122, 126, 130, 140 and Heavy;

Northern Title at every single weight; Northern Ireland at every single weight.

Scottish Titles at 112, 115, 118, 122, 130, 135, 175. 200 and Heavy.

Southern Area at 112, 115, 118, 122, 126, 130, 135, 147, 168, and Heavy.

Welsh at 112, 115, 118, 122, 126, 140, 154, 160, 168, 175, 200 and Heavy.

And the Western Titles at 112, 115, 118, 122, 126, 130, 135, 140, 147, 160, 175, 200 and Heavy....

[GazOC]

Hopefully this will be one of the areas that Robert Smith will be addressing. He seems very keen on getting the British titles back on track, I think any weight under 126 will struggle for boxers at area level though.

[TBooze]

Hopefully this will be one of the areas that Robert Smith will be addressing. He seems very keen on getting the British titles back on track, I think any weight under 126 will struggle for boxers at area level though.


Particurlarly when you look at 112, at Christmas I think the Boxing News had three fighters rated at the divison (in their Britsh ratings of all active pros)....

Like I said it does no harm, and does hark back, to a better era of boxing (IMO). But sadly, I just do not see it working that well, hope I am seriously wrong though.:good

[GazOC]

Yep, maybe I've got my rose tinted specs on with this eh?;)


I went to a local exhibition of boxing memorabilia with a load of fight posters from the 1930s- 1960s just after Xmas and the one thing that struck me was the number of Flyweight and Bantamweight area title fights on the cards. Pretty much every show had one on there. Different times.

[TBooze]

Yep, maybe I've got my rose tinted specs on with this eh?;)


I went to a local exhibition of boxing memorabilia with a load of fight posters from the 1930s- 1960s just after Xmas and the one thing that struck me was the number of Flyweight and Bantamweight area title fights on the cards. Pretty much every show had one on there. Different times.

Too right, bring back rationing.

That will, sort us fat F****** out! And create proper 112, 115, 118, 122 and 126 divisions!!!

Seriously though, you make a good point, I guess standards of living, mean in due course, the lower weights will struggle more and more....

[PaddyD1983]

:happy:happy:happy:happy:happy:happy

I've been saying that these should come back to prominance for a while. Hopefully other areas will follow the lead.

Out of curiosity though, who is the sanctioning body? If it's local councils then it's not going to be easy... for example, which council can legitimately call itself 'north'?

The BBBC needs to get hold of this and sort it all out.

Love the idea though and hope it's successful.

[TBooze]

The Northern Area controls the Northern titles under the BBB of C. Referee's, Timekeepers, Ringwhips and Inspectors all work under one of the Areas.

For example of the 'A' Star refs; Richard Davies is from the Southern Area; Phil Edwards the Central Area and Terry O'Connor the Midlands Area.

[Max Molyneux]

Can't see these guys defending every four months. Your lucky to get 3 fights a year out of the average boxer!

[PaddyD1983]

The Northern Area controls the Northern titles under the BBB of C. Referee's, Timekeepers, Ringwhips and Inspectors all work under one of the Areas.

For example of the 'A' Star refs; Richard Davies is from the Southern Area; Phil Edwards the Central Area and Terry O'Connor the Midlands Area.

:good

Thanks man, every day's a school day!

[PaddyD1983]

Can't see these guys defending every four months. Your lucky to get 3 fights a year out of the average boxer!

Why is that though? It's not a boxer's preference. I know a few pro's who'd be happy to fight every 8-10 weeks but getting an opponent and a venue is usually the problem. An area title, if well managed, could avoid this and give boxers legitimate opposition regularly.

It may also take the emphasis away from an undefeated record. If kids with 8-0 become 14-2 but it makes them better boxers due to increased activity then we may some more of our domestic prospects kick on to world level in a shorter time frame.

[TBooze]

Can't see these guys defending every four months. Your lucky to get 3 fights a year out of the average boxer!


The level we are talking about includes those war horses that sometimes get into the ring 20 times a year.

[saturday_kid]

I like the idea of area titles. They give fighters who maybe never will be world level something to aim for.

I've saw some cracking fights for Midlands titles round here. As mentioned in the article the Saville/Carey fight was a corker!

[achillesthegreat]

Good to hear. Area titles are quick stepping stones but still great to see a fighter go the traditional route. The WBU etc is disgraceful.