Cursed History of the WBA ‘Regular’ Heavyweight Title

Photo credit: WBN

World Boxing News outlines the WBA heavyweight title split in 2011 and the belt’s cursed past over thirteen years, Phil Jay reports for WBN.

It’s no secret that WBN has closely followed the situation regarding the World Boxing Association’s heavyweight division over the years. For the most part, confusion has reigned supreme.

2023, the scenario sunk to a new low despite the belt being diminished in August 2023. A month later, the WBA reinstated the damaged title.

What is the WBA Regular Heavyweight Title?

In 2011, when WBN was barely a year old, David Haye fought Wladimir Klitschko amidst a frenzy from excited European boxing fans. They were finally getting the fight they wanted. And thanks to the WBA, four versions of the top division crown would be unified at the same time.

If Haye won – as the WBA belt holder- the possibility that fans could see the first three-belt heavyweight champion in ten years was confirmed. Wladimir’s brother Vitali held the WBC strap, the only other not on the line and in his younger sibling’s possession.

Haye knew the stakes were very high. Victory over Wladimir would lead to an immediate clash with his Vitali and the chance to go for all the marbles. Sadly, after a busted toe and a misfiring performance, Klitschko added the WBA title to his IBF and WBO.

But the WBA surprised everyone, declaring Klitschko their new ‘super’ champion. It signified the most controversial move in the history of championships in the heavyweight ranks.

The WBA would soon give boxing fans yet another belt to further muddy the waters.

The first WBA Regular champion

Sanctioning Alexander Povetkin vs Ruslan Chagaev in late 2011 for what was eventually named the ‘WBA Regular’ title, the WBA had brought about a situation that polarized fans wholly and immediately.

Those who wanted to see Olympic star Povetkin get his shot were all for it. However, the rest of the boxing community wondered why we needed another belt in the top division.

On the face of it, the move was seen simply as a ploy to garner more sanctioning fees from fighters.

Povetkin held the ‘Regular’ until 2013 when the WBA eventually ordered a fight with Klitschko. It was immediately thought that Klitschko vs Povetkin would mean the end of the short-term title. That was a wrong assumption.

Klitschko vs. Povetkin, which just so happened to be the most lucrative heavyweight title about since Lennox Lewis vs. Mike Tyson and was sanctioned by the WBA under an unbelievable purse bid of $17 million, would be the only time WBA sanctioning chiefs would insist the ‘Regular’ holder gets a full shot.

It’s not hard to see why.

WBA broken promises to WBN

At this time, WBN was in constant contact with Gilberto J. Mendoza, the VP but acting President of the WBA. He told WBN they would unlikely return to the ‘Regular’ championship once Povetkin dropped the title. It was a promise that had not been kept.

“Any representative or promoter has not contacted us over the WBA heavyweight title,” Mendoza told World Boxing News in January 2014. “But also, the WBA super and interim titles might change. We are not sure the regular title will be approved.”

Within two months, the WBA controversially called for Fres Oquendo and Ruslan Chagaev to battle it out for the vacant title.

A mess

Looking back, I bet they wish they hadn’t bothered. The belt has seemingly been cursed ever since. It was only contested four times in the next six years.

After missing his flight, Oquendo almost didn’t attend the Chavaev fight. They then fought out a highly controversial majority decision.

Chagaev had taken the title, but after an appeal, the WBA granted Oquendo’s request for a rematch. It never happened.

Injuries, delays, and a complete farce saw the WBA allow Chagaev to continue making defenses. He defeated Francesco Pianeta before Lucas Browne earned his mandatory shot.

Browne won the title in a shock Grozny beatdown, ending Chagaev’s career. Amazingly, Browne was then flagged for a banned substance.

Claims of Russian food tampering and a set-up followed before the Australian eventually cleared his name. But by this time, the title was vacant.

Vice President Mendoza had outlined a tournament that would be held, including the WBA ‘Regular’ and WBA ‘Super’ to crown one sole champion eventually.

Mendoza had again gone so far as to inform WBN he would phase out the ‘Regular’ belt after the completion of the competition.

Eight fighters were called up as the round-robin looked [pictured below].

Failed WBA heavyweight tournament

Included was Browne after lobbying to overturn his WBA ban. Due to ‘The Big O’ Oquendo still not being given his shot from the Chagaev mess – and continually winning rounds of legal battles to do so – they were pitted together in the semi-finals.

It represented a sort of bye through the first round.

For his part, ‘Super’ champ Klitschko was already facing Tyson Fury in November 2015. Luis Ortiz would then take on Alexander Ustinov for the interim title.

So now, there were three titles on the spinning plates propped up by the WBA sanctioning fee merry-go-round. Whoever eventually came out on top would be the sole ruler. But only one of those bouts ever took place – Klitschko vs Fury.

Breaking up the belts

As we all know, Fury won but spiraled out of control and eventually gave up all the belts following the Dusseldorf upset. But this situation killed the tournament plans stone dead.

Browne missed out, Oquendo did yet again, and the ‘Regular’ strap somehow ended up in the hands of Mahmoud’ Manuel’ Charr.

Charr defeated Alexander Ustinov in November 2017 when the WBA sanctioned the fight out of the blue. Under the terms of Browne having his name cleared, it seems Charr was never ordered to face Browne. This was due, maybe in part, to ongoing litigation by Oquendo.

How Ustinov was approved is anyone’s guess.

Eventually, a fight with Charr was stipulated with Oquendo in 2018 before Trevor Bryan claimed the interim version. But again, the WBA had three boxers holding titles. Not to stop there, the WBA then invented the WBA Gold Championship, which Joe Joyce first held. Now, they had four. To add insult to injury, the aging Oquendo still awaited his chance.

The baton passed to Charr and Bryan to fight and finally remove the interim version. The fight never happened. Charr and Bryan held a purse bid won by Don King for $2 million before Oquendo said, ‘Hold on, I won a legal challenge to that.’

Rather than fighting, Oquendo wanted to take a monetary settlement as he approached his fifties. He kept that legal action going to recoup his losses.

Interim titles abolished

Only when the WBA faced allegations of racism by a judge, they finally abolished the interim titles in all divisions.

Bryan then fought Daniel Dubois, who was the interim champion. Dubois took the regular championship but was not recognized as a world titleholder due to the diluted nature of the belt.

Eventually, Dubois lost to Usyk, and the belt was supposed to be gone forever. It proved not to be the case as Charr fought legally to have himself re-coronated as secondary champion.

EC Boxing Photo credit: WBN

He faces Kubrat Pulev on March 30 in the first defense of a title he won 2017. Fans have grown tired of broken promises by the WBA, who have since unified several divisions but not the most lucrative.

We are still waiting for one sole champion in the heavyweight division. Unsurprisingly, the weight class earns the most sanctioning fees of all.

Phil Jay is an experienced boxing news writer and has been the Editor of World Boxing News since 2010.

As ‘Iron Mike’ brands himself ‘TBE’ and there’s nothing ‘Pretty Boy’ can do about it

Despite Floyd Mayweather trademarking it for years, Mike Tyson has taken the boxer’s ‘The Best Ever’ slogan for himself, WBN reports.

Tyson stole Mayweather’s long-time trademark as the former undisputed heavyweight champion emblazoned his clothing, and who would argue with him?

Despite Floyd Mayweather trademarking it for years, Mike Tyson has taken the boxer’s ‘The Best Ever’ slogan for himself.

Tyson stole Mayweather’s long-time trademark as the former undisputed heavyweight champion emblazoned his clothing, and who would argue with him?

Mayweather undoubtedly won’t be happy with the move, which coincides with another interview where the ex-pound-for-pound king branded himself better than Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, and Sugar Ray Leonard.

Mike Tyson takes Floyd Mayweather’s TBE

Speaking on The Pivot Podcast, Mayweather opened up the debate on ‘TBE” after a period of tranquility.

“I’m still the face of boxing,” claimed Mayweather despite retiring for seven years. “I appreciate guys like Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, and Sugar Ray Leonard – so many guys who paved the way for me. But there’s only one Floyd Mayweather. These fighters are not better than me.”

On the new generation, Floyd added: “Young fighters, coaches, and managers say, ‘Oh, you’re better than Floyd, you’re better than Floyd.’ That’s good, that’s motivation for the fighter, you can tell him that. But deep in his heart? He doesn’t believe that.”

Pivot host Ryan Clark then put another iron in the fire when he aired another excerpt from the Mayweather conversation.

“They’re boxers, I’m a box office,” he quoted Mayweather, adding: “We’ve seen it all in Vegas now, every big combat sport, the Super Bowl, F1, and still nothing like a Floyd Mayweather mega-fight.

“In comparing himself to boxers of yesteryear and today, Floyd points to his ability to earn money and create it.

“Like he said, who made $750 million in ninety minutes fighting or playing sports? There’s only been one. The GOAT debates will continue, but you can’t argue how he changed the game! TBE.”

Tyson says Mayweather is not TBE

Speaking about Mayweather calling himself “The Best Ever,” Tyson has never really been on board through his years behind a microphone as a podcast host.

He previously said about Mayweather: “Floyd’s a great fighter, don’t get me wrong. He had 50 fights. Listen, Sugar Ray Robinson had 40 fights. He lost one. Then he had a 78-fight winning streak.

“Forty, lost one, then a 78-fight winning streak, goddamn. [Julio Cesar Chavez] was 87-0 before he lost. Don’t tell me, ‘You’re the greatest fighter,’ with 50-0.

“You’re great, no doubt about it, but 50-0? Chavez had 90. He was fighting like, what? Eight times a year? Against whoever was in the rankings. He wasn’t picking, it was, ‘Whoever you want, come on,” added Tyson.

The debate will rage with fans forever, but Tyson can always proclaim to be the pioneer of Pay Per View, paving the way for Mayweather and the rest to follow.

Takuma Inoue vs. Jerwin Ancajas result: New champ wins with body shot in ninth

Inoue (19-1, 5 KOs) raked Ancajas with a powerful right to the midsection in round nine and the southpaw challenger didn’t take the hint. Almost immediately the champion doubled up with the same punch, which landed on the liver and dropped Ancajas for the count.

“I knew my opponent would be the best,” said a jubilant Inoue during his post-fight interview. “I didn’t know what to expect, but I’m really glad that we got this result. My opponent was so skilled and so strong, which gives me so much confidence. I hope to show a new side of me moving forward.

“I have so much gratitude for my father (and trainer Shingo) and my brother. I’m just so grateful for them.”

The Ancajas left hand found the mark early although the Japanese star was able to pull back and take the full weight off that shot. Inoue was looking to counter punch, which is what was expected, while the Filipino marched forward looking for harder blows.

But something you don’t see too often occurred in the third when the habitually light hitting Inoue hurt Ancajas badly with a pair of rights. The challenger’s legs looked wooden for a few seconds, which is probably the reason that Inoue elected to close the gap and fight inside.

Those tactics didn’t work in the fourth when Inoue was nailed with a heavy right hand. It was the best punch the home fighter had taken to that point and convinced him to switch back to the outside game. From that posture, Inoue began to score again with terrific rights to the head.

Inoue’s speed and superior craft were proving decisive by the middle rounds. Against the southpaw, he was managing to keep his left foot outside Ancajas’ right foot and that created the path for the laser-quick right hand down the middle. The challenger simply couldn’t solve this.

In round seven, Inoue came back inside. This was telling because it was clear that Ancajas’ power wasn’t concerning him. The action was more competitive, but Inoue was now having the edge up close because he was quicker and busier.

Not to be outdone, Ancajas came back with perhaps his best round of the fight in the eighth. The Filipino lefty focused his attack on the body and Inoue’s work was inaccurate throughout. It wasn’t a breakthrough from Ancajas by any means but it tightened up the scoring.

However, all that was academic when Inoue polished off his opponent in the very next round. This was a career-best performance from the champion and a message of intent has been sent to the other bantamweight titleholders.

Ancajas falls to 34-4-2, 23 KOs.

Takuma Inoue vs. Jerwin Ancajas fight card

• Takuma Inoue def. Jerwin Ancajas via KO 9 (0:44) for the WBA bantamweight title
• Junto Nakatani def. Alexandro Santiago via TKO 6 (1:12) for the WBC bantamweight title
• Kosei Tanaka def. Christian Bacasegua Rangel via UD 12 (119-108, 117-111, 116-111) for the WBO super flyweight title
• Riku Masuda def. Jonas Sultan via KO 1 (2:21); Bantamweights